A poor real estate market means that it's time to personalize the home

A few years ago, when people were continually buying and selling houses, it was always advisable to keep rooms neutral and plain. The Marin Independent Journal suggests that now is the time for that trend to change.

The difficulty of finding a new home can be an opportunity to invest in the home you already have. The source has found that home improvement spending is on the rise for just this reason.

"When people were buying and moving, we stressed making your home a reflection of what everyone likes," interior design expert and TV personality, Lisa Laporta, told the newspaper. Now, Laporta says, it's time to have houses "reflect what we love. "

This means that you can finally inject your personality into home. Apply paint or wallpaper in unique colors or patterns and decorate rooms with themes or displays.

One way to add flair to rooms is to hang up bamboo shades.

Bamboo shades boast an array of organic textures and colors that can complement any room's new personality. From beach tan basics to the unique exotics, these shades are meant for rooms with personality.