Is your bedroom looking blah? Need to give it an upgrade so it looks more "hotel" than "motel"? Kristan's got some great tips for creating a custom bedroom makeover for free.

"There's a lot to be said for items you already own. A room makeover doesn't always have to be about the money. Sometimes it's about the extra effort, the garnish if you will," says Kristan, who's putting her philosophy to the test by making over Kristie's bedroom.

Follow Kristan's tips below to create your custom bedroom makeover:

It's not just making your bed that can change the look of a room, but how you make it. Most people believe that all they need to do is make their bed and the room will look neat and tidy, but how many times have you gone into a hotel and wished your own bed looked all lofty and inviting like a hotel? "To get that hotel look, start by folding down your comforter twice to create depth. Then, if you sleep with a second blanket fold that down too, but make sure it's a different color than your comforter," says Kristan. "You don't want the bed to look all matchy matchy." Now you should be able to see the comforter, the blanket and the top of the flat sheet. For a finishing touch and extra-luxe look, you can iron your pillowcases and the top of your flat sheet.

Next, put the pillow shams on your bed, then put your sleeping pillows over the shams. "This helps to break up the colors and keep your bed from looking too 'bed-in-a-bag' with everything monochromatic and matching," says Kristan. "You can also add decorative pillows, if you have them, to finish the look."

"Everyone makes the same mistake when it comes to curtains," says Kristan. "We just jam them back to let light in." Instead, take an extra minute or two and spread the rings apart and "pop" the middle of the curtain out to create custom-looking pleats. It adds richness to your room while allowing you to see more of your beautiful curtains.

Lighting in your bedroom should be warm and ambient. This can be achieved by swapping out your halogens and high watts for something less harsh. Since most people do like a more powerful light to read by, Kristan suggests a little splurge. "For 10 bucks, you can hook your bedside light to a dimmer to create ambient lighting," she says. Candles and flowers also lend added warmth and mood to a room.