Americans spend an average of 38 hours stuck in traffic each year, according to one 2011 study. If you're going to spend such a long time in your car, you might as well make it a pleasant experience. Decorating your car is a great way to personalize it and make it feel more like your home away from home. Here are four fun ideas for decorating your car:

1. Customize your interior.

Customize standard features of your car for a whole new look. Try covering your car seats with seat covers. They're inexpensive, and they come in every color of the rainbow. As an added bonus, seat covers will also protect your car seats from dirt and damage routinely caused by kids or pets. Purchase a steering wheel cover in a coordinating color for a harmonious, colorful aesthetic.

2. Don't forget the outside of your car.

You don't have to paint the outside of your car in order to decorate it. Bumper stickers and window decals are inexpensive, low commitment ways to dress up your vehicle. If you're passionate about a certain political or social cause, get a bumper sticker promoting your views. Alternately, if you happen to like zombies, you can find many "zombie hunter" themed decals for your car. Your options are only limited by your imagination.

3. Think outside the box.

Don't be afraid to try new things with your decorations. Try a fun twist on the common "family decal" theme by displaying your family in bobblehead dolls. Find a vendor who provides custom bobbleheads and bring photos of your entire family. They can make you a personalized bobblehead family to display in your car. You can also have any type of bobblehead made for your car, so get creative. 

4. Play with scent.

Decorating your car doesn't have to be a solely visual endeavor. Engage your other senses while you decorate by introducing a favorite scent to your car. Try vanilla or cinnamon scented air fresheners for a delectable smell that will remind you of warm cinnamon rolls. If you're a lover of the great outdoors, a classic pine-scented air freshener might be just the thing for you. 

Whether you love driving or hate it, decorating your car can make each drive a little more pleasant. Let your car reflect your personal style and aesthetics. These four tips provide some basic ideas for customizing your car in simple, inexpensive ways.