Live large without paying the price

Love it or leave it: If it’s cheesy, it will look cheesy. You have to live with it in your home, so you have to love it. Buying something just because it’s a good deal is a mistake.

Fabric fix: The more fabric in a room, the richer it looks. A throw on a couch, extra material in curtains or nice fabric in drapes gives a feeling of opulence.

Make it count: Plopping down a lot of things simply clutters and cheapens a room. Instead, invest in one significant piece that takes over the room. Even a striking, well-placed plant in a great pot can decorate an entire corner.

Inexpensive updates: This isn’t a new idea, but people forget that you can reinvent a room with a couple of gallons of paint. Adding accessories such as candles or accent pillows works too.

Bargain hunting: I pay homage daily to Michael Levine fabrics at the L.A. Fabric Mart. For carpet and wood floor covering, there are great deals at Hernandez Carpet Brokers in Commerce; for marble, slate and limestone go to Western National Tile and Granite in North Hollywood. For accessories and pillows, try Marshall’s.

-- Maryann Hammers