When Marcy Rogge needs to brighten up the kitchen in her Warrenville, Ill., condo, she heads for a tile market.



Then she'll ponder whether she should arrange the tile pieces in a frame or just hang them on the wall.



Choose a color scheme and a mix of textures, patterns and colors, Rogge suggests. "You don't have to be an artist. Just arrange the tiles in a way that's pleasing to you."



Small projects that can be completed within an hour go far in transforming the look of a kitchen. Use your creativity to find exciting ways to make your kitchen more appealing.



If you want to copy Rogge's idea, first choose where you want to put the tiles (backsplash, above the stove, dead space under a cabinet), then measure the selected space.



Next, buy your tiles and lay them out within that space on a horizontal plane. Play with the tiles until you're satisfied with the design.



Professional organizer Leslie Jacobs of New Britain, Conn., says decluttering is a quick way to make a kitchen look new. "Get rid of everything - as much as you can - unless it is something you use every day, like a toaster or coffee maker." Resist the urge to put out decorative items that have a lot of pattern. It only creates visual clutter.



The same is true of putting too many items on the front of the refrigerator. Jacobs suggests using the inside of cupboard doors to display children's drawings.



Jacobs says it's a good idea to toss ugly cabinet knobs from the 1960s and 1970s. Knobs and handles are like jewelry for your cabinetry. They are accent pieces.



"I staged a house that had very plain, vanilla-white Formica cabinets. I changed the handles from 1980s contemporary gray plastic to simple pewter handles. Everyone who walked in that kitchen commented on how nice the cabinets were," she says.



Go for simple, modern curtains that are short and washable. Or opt for blinds that provide lots of sunlight during the day and privacy at night.



Natasha Stocker of Inspired Spaces Design in Sonoma County, Calif., says replacing cold fluorescent bulbs with warm or full-spectrum versions can cast a fresh glow on the whole space. Likewise, put a series of battery-operated lights under overhanging cupboards to create a moonlight glow.



"I'm always a fan of a big bowl of fruit on the counter," Stocker says. "It makes any space feel fresh and alive."