“Fall is a great time to redecorate because as the weather cools people start heading indoors again,“ says Jonathon Fong, a Los Angeles-based interior decorator and author of “Walls that Wow.” “Home is more important again whereas summer was all about the outdoors. We want to make our homes comfortable, cozy and beautiful again. And when we decorate during the fall, we can show off our efforts at the holidays.”

So what are the hot trends and easy do-it-yourself decorating upgrades that will be hot this fall? Fong and artist Matthew Lew offer a few tips:

Bright, aggressive color

“The hot colors in home décor this fall will be brighter, happier versions of traditional fall hues – butter yellow, orange, persimmon and all shades of blues,” predicts Fong. “These are colors of optimism, and in the current economy, people want to be surrounded by hope. These happy colors put you in a good mood.”

“The hottest colors for room redesigns this fall will be aggressive color combos, using colors like scandal red or lobster paired with yolk yellow or custard,” says Lew, whose work has been featured on “Extreme Makeover Home Edition,” HGTV’s “Divine Design” and CBS’s “The Early Show.”

“People want a splash of color in their homes,” Lew adds. “The aggressive color combinations are great because they can make a bold statement very simply without overdoing it. I think people are attracted to that, especially with the economy right now.”

Texture that’s easy to achieve

Adding texture to a wall is another trend, especially if it’s a simple texture – such as stripes – that homeowners feel confident doing themselves, Fong says. Patterns, vinyl lettering or decals, and even wallpaper murals are great ways to add interest to boring walls.

Both designers agree wallpaper murals will continue to be popular, both for their versatility and ease installation by DIY homeowners. “Wallpaper murals are one of my favorite design options because they make a huge impact in a room at an affordable price,” Fong says. “If you were to have a decorative painter replicate some of the great designs available in wallpaper murals, it would cost thousands of dollars.”

If you’re intimidated by the idea of a mural, you can start out smaller by adding wallpaper murals elsewhere in your décor, Fong suggests. “Cut the mural into smaller pieces and frame the individual pieces. Put it on a door. Mount it to a piece of wood and make a headboard or a dressing screen out of it,” he says.

Finally, when you’re ready for your fall design spruce up, Lew and Fong have a few tips for creating a design you can love:

* “Think baby steps,” Fong says. Decorate a small wall or section of a large wall first. Give yourself a day to get used to your new wall.

* Consider your favorite colors and how you can use them to make your design “say what you want it to say,” Lew suggests.

* Go beyond paint and texture. Try fabric, paper and metal, Fong urges. Get creative, but don’t forget simple tricks too. “Sometimes the simplest thing is a mirror,” Lew says. “It opens up the entire room and brings in light.”

* Keep it real. “Look at your wall’s dimensions and be realistic,” Lew says. “Sometimes having the entire wall covered is too overpowering and a smaller scale would look better. For example, you might want to use part of the wall as a mural and then paint the other portions a similar color.”

* “No matter how it turns out in the end,” Fong says, “say you meant it to look that way.”

The first thing you are going to need to do is clear out the large, bulky items so you can see what needs to be done. That means move out the bikes, lawnmower, and patio chairs.

Now take some advice from doityourself.com and ask yourself:
* Which tools do I use the most?
* Which tools do I rarely touch?
* Which tools do I need quickly when I do need them?
* Do I really need that box of moldy, damp magazines?

Your job here is going to arrange your garage to be as convenient to your needs as possible. Assign sections of your garage to house certain items. For instance, keep all of your lawn tools in one corner or along one section of wall. This means that the pruners, the rakes, your lawn gloves and anything else you use in the yard should be in this area. Likewise, keep a section solely devoted to your hand tools like screwdrivers, wrenches and the sort. Why would you want your electric hand drill being stored in the same location as your hoses anyway?

A workbench with built-in drawers and shelves can keep your tools clean and organized. Many come with durable surfaces and hooks for hanging tools. Having everything at hand will make your future projects easier to start (and complete).

Now that you’ve invested your time clearing the floor, consider looking up to your rafters for storage options. Home stores have a variety of options to choose from:

Rack Storage

Rack storage is great for storing boxes and other packaged items. They’re easy to install as they simply get screwed into your ceiling rafters. They can hold and impressive amount of weight, but definitely check the weight limits before putting anything too heavy on them. Best of all, your stored items will still be visible, so if you need to get into that box of cable wires, you know exactly where to find them.

Storage Pulleys

Do you have a bicycle that keeps getting in your way when you’re trying to work in your garage? Storage pulleys work great for getting that bike out of the way by lifting it into the air. Install it close to the wall and maximize your floor space.

Garage Lift

Garage lifts are similar to the storage pulley systems but they are designed to handle a much heavier and bulkier load. Some can handle loads of up to 100 lbs.

Heavy Lift Hoists

For storing items weighing up to 250 lbs., install a heavy lift hoist in your garage. This unit features a hoist that raises and lowers a storage lift using a gear drive.

Large Accessory Storage Units

These units are specially-made to safely store large items like canoes, truck caps and so on. While these large items may still be somewhat obtrusive even when off of the floor, lifting them will provide you with more floor space in which to work in your garage. Just watch your head!

There are options for any budget. You can do something as simple as buy hooks for about ten dollars and hang your bike from the ceiling.

Once you’ve got everything off the floor, you might want to consider some attractive and practical flooring.

Rubber Floor Mats

Rubber floor mats are great for garage floors and you can even get them sized to order from many companies. They help reduce the amount of dirt and snow you track into your home and they offer a gorgeous finish to your garage. In addition, they are easy to clean and spills can be easily managed. If you have ever tried scrubbing stains out of your garage floor, you will appreciate that! Rubber floor mats are anti-slip, non-conductive and fire-retardant, which makes it an ideal flooring solution for a garage that doubles as a workshop.

Garage Floor Tile

Ever dream of your garage looking like a showroom? Garage floor tiles can help you get the look you want! Available in a wide range of colors, designs and styles, garage floor tiles simply interlock and remain where you put them. Some also offer self-adhesive backing. High quality tiles can stand up to chemical spills and other auto-related liquids which makes them a perfect choice if your garage really is a garage!

Containment Mats

Similar in scope to the rubber floor mats mentioned earlier, containment mats are simply smaller versions which fit right under your car. These mats are excellent during the winter months for catching the snow, slush and ice falling from your vehicle and they prevent the water from spreading all across your garage floor.

Floor Paints/Coatings

If your garage is well-insulated and you don’t have moisture problems, then a simple paint job on your floor may be all you need to give your garage a fresh look. There are a number of epoxy coatings and sealers available on the market which also come in a variety of colors. There are also some new products in stores, like industrial-grade polyurea flooring. Polyurea is an innovative 3-step application that results in an extremely durable floor, safe from cracking and chemically resistant to most common garage chemicals, even salt!

Now look around and enjoy the neatness and order you have created. Next time you need the shovel, you know where it will be – right where it belongs, with the tools. Remember–put it back!

A recent American Institute of Architects Home Design Trends Survey showed that homeowners are rethinking how they use the square footage they have. They are converting previously unused areas, such as basements and attics, and incorporating outdoor areas into their design plans in an effort to boost their home’s livability and value. Some are also using additions to create better flow between existing rooms and make living areas more practical.

“It’s all about maximizing space and making a home feel larger,” said Sonny Nazemian, president and CEO of Michael Nash Custom Kitchens & Homes, Inc. in Fairfax, Va. He and his design team recently won a 2009 CotY Award for a two-story, 1,250-square-foot addition they built on a 2,300-square foot house. The remodeler helped the homeowners reconfigure their existing spaces to optimize traffic flow, create new living areas and improve storage.

“Before the project, the house felt extremely small,” Nazemian said. “The first floor was cramped and they had a small dining room and narrow family room. By adding 12 feet on the back of the house, the living spaces became much larger.”

The remodeled home now boasts a gourmet kitchen with a bigger and brighter breakfast area. The small dining room became a laundry room, and Nazemian made space for a new dining room. Upstairs, hallways and a bedroom were expanded, and a bathroom was added.

Reworking the home’s footprint also created a spot for a “man cave,” or lounging area for the husband. Outfitted with a couple of lounge chairs, a television, custom shelving and sound system, the man of the house now uses the 10 x 20-foot bonus room to watch games with family and friends.

“When you add 10 or 12 feet to a home, it can change the entire configuration,” Nazemian said. “In just three to four months, we really transformed and opened up this space.”