Nesting on the cheap

Spending more time at home? You can spiff it up for less.

Innermost 5-in-1 shade: A quick fix for shady corners, Innermost's plastic shade is easily assembled and can be constructed as one large fixture or two smaller hanging lights.

As a blogger for her website Design Sponge, Grace Bonney has always had a strong interest in making her surroundings stylish and comfortable. But with her wedding on the horizon, and a layoff from House and Garden magazine in her recent past, Bonney's surroundings have never been more important to her.

"With the way that the economy is, I can't really afford to go out to eat anymore," she says on the phone from her apartment in Brooklyn. "So I'm spending a lot more time at home. I'd rather put money into fixing up the inside of my house, because there's no way that I can afford to do much outside the house."

Bonney is far from the only one cutting back spending on outside diversions. An independent polling company recently found that more than half of Americans are going out to eat less than they were just six months ago. The economic woes felt by Boston's arts organizations and declining retail sales demonstrate that people are spending more time at home, and less time in restaurants, shopping malls, and theaters.

"I had the option of staring at blank walls, or starting to finally do some work on my apartment," says Jessica Blatnik of Cambridge, who was laid off from her banking job in late November. "I used part of my severance to buy paint supplies, and I finally got some work done around my place."

She not only painted the walls, but spent several afternoons trolling the area's second-hand furniture stores to furnish her home. She even reupholstered a lounge chair that someone had put out for the trash.

"It's not as gross as it sounds," she explains apologetically. "It was in very good condition."

The renewed interest in nesting could explain why potter and designer Jonathan Adler was one of the few retailers who saw sales rise over the Christmas holiday, making it his strongest season to date.

"My general design philosophy is that your home should make you very happy," Adler says. "It should be like a big dose of Zoloft, and that ethos is probably more necessary now than ever with everything going on."

Adler theorizes that unlike the fashion industry, which is currently getting walloped by the economy, the home design market will not be hit terribly hard because people see work on their homes as an investment.

"Home design isn't as ephemeral, and it doesn't just get hidden away in your closet," he says. "I think people feel better about spending $50 on a nice piece of pottery that they'll have forever and that their heirs will hopefully fight over, rather than $2,500 for this season's handbag, which is getting dusty on a closet shelf by next season."

To help you make the most of your nest, we've compiled a list of product suggestions that offer a cheap solution to home projects you've been putting off - and suddenly have time for.

Innermost 5-in-1 shade

A quick fix for shady corners, Innermost's plastic shade is easily assembled and can be constructed as one large fixture or two smaller hanging lights. The shade sells for just $43 (lighting hardware is not included), not bad for a fixture that looks like it's part sea anemone, part George Nelson design project. Available at www.allinonedecor.com.

Mibo tile tattoos

Unless you're prepared to spend Saturdays at Home Depot learning how to re-tile your bathroom - and investing in the tools and tile to do it with - there are few options for dealing with a bathroom full of outdated, loathsome tiles. The clever Brits at Mibo have come up with a way to hide them. Their tile tattoos are sold in sets of six and adhere to tile with a bit of water. When you're tired of them, they can be removed with no residue. Four-inch tattoos are $16, six-inch and subway tile tattoos are $18. Available at www.2jane.com.

Blik wall decals

Easy, inexpensive, and endlessly splashy, wall decals have become a standard for renters looking for temporary ways to brighten white walls and parents looking to amuse kids. But wall decals have moved well beyond the dorm and the nursery. Among its many collaborators, Blik has teamed with the estate of Charles and Ray Eames for a series of wall decals featuring the pair's designs. They range from $40 to $52 at www.whatisblik.com. More expensive, but incredibly stylish, wall decals can be found at www.fermlivingshop.us.

Wood block prints from Perla Anne

South Carolina artist Stacey Bradley creates her art by hand-carving images into blocks of wood, rolling the blocks with ink, and printing. The result gives each of her prints a unique look. "I started with block printing greeting cards, but realized I could do the same thing on a larger scale," she says. Her prints are a charming mix of mid-century icons (the Eames chair, the Polaroid camera) and classic motifs (birds, flowers). Her art is available for just $15 at www.perlaanne.etsy.com.

Inhabit and Mio wall flats

The bamboo pulp wall tiles can be permanently affixed to walls, but for a quick style fix, Inhabit sells a semi-temporary adhesive tape. Create textured art installations by painting the tiles and grouping them together. If the price tag of $86 for a box of 10 is too steep, Inhabit also sells second-quality - you know, slightly irregular - tiles for $4.50 apiece. www.inhabitliving.com. Mio, which was founded by a pair of Philadelphia brothers, also makes a paper-based tile that can be temporarily or permanently installed. The Mio paper tiles sell for $32 per dozen at www.mioculture.com.

Window shades by Addie Gartland

Think of Addie Gartland's shades as vinyl art canvases that appear only at night. She initially made a splash with shades sporting portraits of Johnny Cash and the Ramones, but is now weaning herself off of celebrity shades after Woody Allen spotted his likeness on one and sent a cease and desist. Shades can be custom fitted and purchased for $75 each at www.drinkanddream.com.

Stencils (yes, stencils)

Once the domain of crafty grannies, stenciling has veered into hipster territory thanks to Brooklyn graphic designer Ed Roth. The founder of the company Stencil1 recently wrote his first book, "Stencil 101," which includes 25 reusable stencils, and step-by-step instructions for stenciling walls, furniture, and textiles. The book is $24.95 at www.stencil1.com. He also sells other designs on his website, with most stencils selling for $10.50.

Window film from Emma Jeffs and Strössel

Maintaining privacy while still getting natural light is challenging for those of us who are not particularly interested in hanging sheer or lace window treatments. The British designer Emma Jeffs and Swedish company Strössel both have created stylish, translucent window films that permit light but blur the view. It's applied to windows with a simple mix of water and soap. The hardest part is the measuring and cutting. Emma Jeffs films are available for $76 at www.designpublic.com, Strössel window film is available for $24.36 at www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com.

Tempaper temporary wallpaper

A trio of Hollywood set decorators have made wallpapering (once a project that could challenge the most talented do-it-yourselfer) easy with their repositionable papers. Their designs, which favor the Art Nouveau period, are a peel-and-stick activity. Make a mistake? Pull it off and reapply. Tired of that wallpaper in the bathroom? Pull it off and put it in the entryway instead. Each 11-yard roll sells for between $75

to $85. Available at www.tempaperdesigns.com.