A taste of luxury, at very little cost

No cash for a renovation? Five small ways to improve your home for under $500.

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Hang a porch swing
Hang a porch swing
A comfortable porch swing will quickly become your favorite spot for reading the newspaper, sipping a drink, or just riding the afternoon breezes. If you don't have a porch, hang it from a sturdy tree branch - or from a stand. Among the best options: the woven-rope offerings at nagsheadhammocks.com, which run from $300 to $500 (plus $200 or more for an optional stand).

Tools: a tape measure and a power drill.

Time to do the job: 30 minutes.

NEXT: Plant a backyard orchard
Last updated April 24 2009: 5:54 AM ET
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