Making your place a carbon copy of page 24 from the Pottery Barn catalog is cool ... if you have the personality of a mannequin. Otherwise, it's kind of a rookie decorating move. Use these cheap tricks to get a customized, uplifting living space that's totally you.

How to: Play around with feng shui
The design system has been used to create wealth and harmony in Chinese homes for thousands of years. Takes about that long to master it, too. Fortunately, you can cheat your way to good vibes by using its five key elements (fire, earth, water, wood, metal) to bring some good chi to your environment.

First, pick the part of your life you want to change and the sector of your home that corresponds to it, like "Health / Family" in the east, "Prosperity" in the southeast, "Love and Marriage" in the southwest, "Career" northwest, etc.

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Then use the elements as follows to manifest the transformation you need:

To stimulate, use the fire element: Create a mini alter with several candles in a triangular formation or hang artwork with a red color scheme.

To stabilize, use the earth element: Put cool gemstones in a square bowl or use an interesting river rock as doorstop.

To soften, use the water element: Add a trickling fountain or hang blue curtains with a wave print.

To expand, use the wood element: Display natural elements like flowering tree branches or a rectangular, antique wooden desk.

To strengthen, use the metal element: Install brushed aluminum shelving or use round metallic candle holders.

Numbers, plants and shapes also have special meaning. You can't go wrong with eight pieces of bamboo in a clear glass vase -- the number signifies wealth and luck. We'll take both.

How to: Amp up the color
The easiest way to change the feel of a room is with a can of paint. If you're toying with a hue makeover, think about what emotions you want to inspire in the space. Blues are great for bedrooms -- they signify peace and tranquility -- but so is red, the color of passion. Yellow signifies cheerfulness, making it perfect for a bathroom or kitchen. Can't commit to something that bright? Look at the predominant color in your closet and work from there. Even black can work on a wall. Use chalkboard paint or lacquer a cool vintage wood panel or window.

How to: Mine the past
You've probably collected a bunch of old scarves your mom passed down or fabric scraps from over the years and buried them in your drawers. Why not transform grandma's tea towels into a pillow or add an old lace handkerchief as a curtain accent? You can also resurrect gorgeous vintage prints even if you only have a scrap left. This site lets you create your own fabric pattern, which totally beats scouring the ugly prints at your local craft shop.

Need more DIY decorating ideas? Check out these cool transformations.