#1: Try stenciling walls or furniture.

Head over to CuttingEdgeStencils.com to peruse regency-, Moroccan-, and nature-inspired stencils (depending on the design, they're in the $20-$40 range). Instead of going through the trouble to re-paint a whole wall and create traditional white stencil motif, simply pick a color that will pop against a white wall. To make it feel really fancy, try using a gold or silver metallic paint. Works just as well to refresh pieces of boring furniture: Try rectangular regency designs on drawers or tabletops.