Unlike competitors on home makeover shows like "Top Design" or "Design Star," Summer Baltzer never imagined she'd end up a TV host...

But the interior designer happened to be doing a local spot for a Los Angeles TV station when the creators of HGTV's "Design on a Dime" saw her and rang her up. Since then, she's helped scads of viewers make over rooms in a single day, and on a tight budget. We got the real story on how the crew chooses their lucky makeover winners, her tips on inexpensive ways to redo a room, and how to figure out what your style quotient is.

Q. How do you decide who gets a makeover on your show?

A. We have a lot of people e-mailing and sending pictures, but we only have $1,000 and a day, so we have to be realistic. We generally sway toward a couple who couldn't afford to do it themselves. But we also want most people to be able to relate to the room, so if it's a choice between a bedroom and a weight room, we're going to choose the bedroom because everyone has one.

Q. A lot of people are feeling pinched right now financially. Any advice for inexpensive ways to revive a tired room?

A. Paint is the number one thing. It transforms the look of a room and how you feel in a room. Also, I always tell people, "go shopping in your own home first and see what you can find." And I tell people to rotate their collections - with your artwork, with your collectibles - just switching around your things. Edit, revamp your floor plan. I like to switch and rotate furniture as well. It can look brand new in a brand new room. From there, if you have a little spending cash - Target, HomeGoods, Walmart, Ross, and Marshalls. I always recommend those.

Q. What are the big trends in interior design right now?

A. Gray is a very popular tint that has been coming on strong. Most designers are going with neutrals and then laying on color over that. But designers are trying to get away from the mass manufactured look. You want unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that you find at a flea market or a swap meet. Whenever we're in a crisis period, people return to more nostalgic times, they want things a little more warm and cozy. You start to surround yourself with more vintage things, less garish, less over-the-top stuff. You want your room to reflect your personality, not the retailer's personality.

Q. Some people are drawn to many different interior styles. How do you know which one to go with?

A. Start buying magazines and pulling out pictures. And you don't have to hire a designer to do a whole room - you can have a designer go shopping with you for a day or two days if you don't trust yourself. A lot of places have in-house design services, and they can help.you for a day or two days if you don't trust yourself.

By Hayley Kaufman
Story Courtesy of: bostonglobe.com