It’s getting hot outside, but inside…things may be looking lukewarm. Sounds like the perfect time to summer-fy your house!

Infuse your stale interior with blasts of color that inspire thoughts of fun and sun — without pulling out the paintbrush and putting in all that sweat. Adding bright splashes of color and switching things around will give your place an easy, peasy (and sweat-free) face-lift on a dime.

Summer-fied living room: before (blah) and after (ta-da!)

Strip it down. Your living room, that is! Remove all decorative items in preparation for a fresh start (bonus: sell some of that old stuff to put toward redecorating).

Swap it out. Swapping your area rug will change the entire complexion of the room. If you shop around, you can get some really good deals (homedecorators.com or overstock.com are two of this Recessionista’s go-to sites). Get your old rug cleaned and store it away for your next change-up. Or, if you have some really good friends…why not swap rugs with them? What’s old to them will be completely new to you!

Get your feng shui on. Moving even one item can change the space’s entire feng shui. Play with the positioning of furniture to ensure quality air flow, and remember to leave ample space for sunlight to drench the room.

Pillow pick-me-up. Buy (or borrow) some new throw-pillow covers – bonus if they play off that new rug! Try something vibrant to really pump up that blasé beige couch. Yellow and coral are both great choices, and they’re uber-trendy right now.

Get centered. Liven up your coffee table with a creative centerpiece used for some other purpose in your house, such as a stack of books from your office or a mirrored tray from your bedroom. Simply moving the object from another part of the home will make it feel new again, or layer multiple objects (think books on top of the tray) for an even more interesting effect.

Bring the outside in. Add fresh flowers in unexpected places (the bookshelf, the mantle, or a windowsill) for that finishing touch. They’ll make the space feel more organic — and smell delish.

Alycia Lane is a morning news anchor for the L.A.- based NBC station.  A multiple Emmy, Edward R. Murrow and Golden Mic award winner, she has worked on-air in other major TV markets such as New York, Miami and Philadelphia – before landing in the City of Angels.  Her other passions include yoga, cooking, baking, interior design and all things domestic.