by Barbra Meisenheimer, Vancouver Mall

Community Librarian Fort Vancouver Regional Library District

As we get older, many of us begin to think about downsizing.

I recently went through my bookshelves and donated several boxes of books to Friends of the Library for their book sale. I’ve also begun to think about the fact that at some point I’m not going to be able to go up and down the stairs as easily as I do now. Sometime, and I hope it is many years down the road, I may have to sell my house and move into something smaller.

No matter what stage of home-sizing you’re at in your life, here are some books that will help you decorate your dwelling on a budget.

Use-What-You-Have Decorating: Trans-form Your Home in One Hour with Ten Simple Design Principles — Using the Space You Have, the Things You Like, the Budget You Choose by Lauri Ward. Without relying on fad or fashion, Ward demonstrates the most common decorating mistakes and shows how they can be corrected. This book will show you how you can transform a room without spending a dime, using what you already own.

Budget Living: Home Cheap Home: A Room-By-Room Guide to Great Decorating: 500 ideas show you how to develop your own style on a dime. One of the highlights of this book is cheap fixes to hide decorating problems. Included are many before and after photographs.

Home Therapy: Fast, Easy, Affordable Makeovers, another book by Lauri Ward, gives real-life stories of home makeovers. Highlights include tips on moving to a smaller space and clearing the clutter, and coming to terms with an overstuffed home.

Decorating on eBay: Fast and Stylish, on a Budget by Barbara Guggenheim, offers great advice whether you’re seeking a new look or just acquiring a few new pieces. This gem will help you create your dream house without a huge price tag.

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District has 13 libraries in Clark, Skamania, Klickitat and Cowlitz Counties. Call (360) 695-1566 or visit www.fvrl.org for more information.