What could I use to make a homemade photography studio in my home?

I want to finally start with my photography and I need ideas on what would be good to use for lights, backdrops, things to use for up close portraits for when I'm doing photography in my home. At least until I get the money to invest in equipment. Although, for now I'm looking for some useful things I can find in my home that I could use to make my pictures look great. I heard using just curtains or a blanket works good for a backdrop but I just want some more ideas. By the way, I'm working with Photoshop CS5 a Nikon D80 Not sure what lenses I have but they are nice!

There isn't much needed to create a decent and well illuminated subject within the home.

A curved piece of kraft paper can serve as a seamless backing for a flower study or small subject. A blanket will suffice too but generally, muslin backdrops are used. Natural light can be replicated but nothing beats the real thing (something about a light source that's traveled hundreds of light years that creates the most soft and perfect lighting).

Imagination is your palette.
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