Low-cost remodels are sign of the times

As real estate begins to rise from the depths of the recession, is it time to dust off those remodeling plans? WalletPop asked two experts for tips on low-cost ways to make your home sparkle in 2010 without digging too deeply into what remains of your savings.

Jennifer Gilmer, a kitchen and bath designer, says the key may be to figure out what you really want most and then focus on that, rather than on a complete gut and remodel. Fernando Pagés, a builder and author of "Affordable Remodel: how to get custom results on any budget", says the key, especially now, is to think of your home as a refuge, not an investment.