In a perfect world, you’d be able to replace you old sofa or couch the second its color started to fade, or the moment you realized that you were out of clean cushion sides to flip over. But this is the real world, and investing in a brand new piece of furniture at the drop of a hat (or a glass of grape soda) is usually out of the question.

Here are some affordable tips to dress up and old soda or couch:

• Slipcovers. Sometimes as cheap as $20, slipcovers are a great way to breathe new life into an old piece. To really feel like you’re sitting on a different piece of furniture, try selecting a color or pattern completely unlike the fabric you’ll be covering up.
• Throw pillows. Available in all shapes and sizes, throw pillows can add some contrast to an otherwise dull piece of furniture. You can even place them strategically to hide stains or worn areas. For a cool effect, try changing your throw pillows to match the current season by selecting floral prints in the spring, bright colors in the summer, oranges and reds in the fall, and holiday characters and symbols in the winter.
• D.I.Y. repairs. Your sofa might not be as run-down as you think it is. Take a home sewing kit to those ripped stitches and attack stubborn stains with a powerful at-home cleaner. What have you go to lose?

With these tips, you can revive you sofa or couch for cheap and put the money you saved towards something much more important. It’s enough to make you want to put your feet up and relax!