Lauri Ward's Use What You Have Decorating (Berkley Publishing Group, 1998) is an easy to understand guide to turning awkward rooms into well-designed spaces, without spending a dime. How? By showing readers how to properly place and showcase their existing furnishings.

The premise is really that simple. Ms. Ward founded her company, Use What You Have Interiors, on this very idea, that people often have furnishing they like, but aren't using them to the best advantage.

Use What You Have Decorating is an interior design book for non-designers.

The book is divided into two parts. In Part 1, The Ten Most Common Decorating Mistakes and How to Correct Them, Ms. Ward demonstrates, through text, photos, and illustrations, such things as creating conversation areas, finding balance, how to deal with different heights of furnishings, and using your artwork effectively.

The section is divided into ten chapters, allowing readers to fully explore each design principle presented by the author. One of the more attractive aspects of this book is the kind of rooms the author uses to illustrate her improvements. These rooms are not the glitzy rooms seen in high-end design magazines; they are average rooms with furnishings of the sort seen in typical homes. No $12,000 couches. No Ming dynasty vases.

It's easy for readers to envision how their own rooms can be improved using Ms. Ward's advice. And that's the whole point of the book, to illustrate to readers how to use what they already have.

In Part 2, Making Your Home Even More Beautiful, the author discusses various design elements such as paint and wall coverings, flooring and rugs. She also provides a detailed look at window treatments, including blinds, shades, and curtains.

With before and after photos, illustrative drawings, and well organized chapters, readers are sure to find Use What You Have Decorating an essential book to creating comfortable, inviting rooms using the furnishings they love.