Post-vacation cleaning is an ideal starting point for spring cleaning and home improvement projects. But if the sagging economy isn’t inspiring pricey updates, you can still create a new look, add pizzazz, or make a decorative statement on even the smallest budget. Just add your own creativity to some helpful tips from some innovative decorators.

Here are some great ways to get the most out of decorating projects on a budget. If you’re stuck with ideas on how to make low-cost, high-impact changes to your home, check out my list of must-see shows; “Design Cents”, “FreeStyle”, “Mission Organization” and “Design on a Dime” on HGTV and “Sell This House” on A&E. Each of these offers a lot of inspiration and creative solutions that cost little to nothing.

Looking for free decorating ideas? Start at home …

Design Tip # 1: Buy … At Home
When was the last time you rearranged your furniture? Now take one more step. Have you swapped important pieces or accents between rooms lately? Try buying your own home to create a fresh look at no cost – it’s easy and inexpensive.

Changing accent pillows, artwork, rugs, or some accent pieces between rooms is a simple job; and rearranging larger pieces like chairs, shelves, and wall units within and between rooms can create a whole new feel. And don’t forget to check cabinets and storage areas for helpful finds. Do you need inspiration? Watch a few episodes of “FreeStyle” and “Design Cents” on HGTV for tons of free room makeover ideas.

Design Tip # 2: Order Your Way To Style
Often times, the basics in a room are fine, but any sense of style is lost in clutter. The culprits include too many accessories clustered on tables, walls lined with decorative furniture, and piles of magazines, books, DVDs, toys, games, and more. In these cases, a good cleaning can feel like a room makeover for free.

To order, take some moving boxes and mark them: Save, Trash, Donate, Another Room, and Store. Begin sorting, working around the room until the surfaces of the floor, table, and shelves are clear. Next, look at your furniture with a critical eye. Eliminate delicate filler pieces that serve no decorative or useful purpose. Save the pieces that you like, especially those that can be used for storage.

Once you know what you want to keep in the room, start putting it together again. Don’t be afraid to move furniture or pictures, and remember tip no. 1 – you can find the perfect accent for this room in another. To see no-cost clutter-cleaning solutions in action, watch some “Mission Organization” episodes on HGTV.

In decoration, this is how a little money can go a long way …

Design tip number 3: paint your way to a high-impact, low-cost look
Decorators differ on many things, but virtually everyone agrees that a coat of paint is the quickest way to liven up a mediocre look on a tight budget. A new coat of paint is just that: fresh. Covers stains and wear to give a room a clean, new feel. Updating walls only requires a few gallons of paint, and smart uses of color can tie together an appearance more effectively than the hundreds spent on new furniture.

If you like your existing wall color but still want something new, try painting an accent wall or sponge an accent color over existing paint on a wall or two. Check the “Oops” container at the paint store for great deals on accent wall paint; you can find the perfect color for just a few dollars.

In just one day’s work, painting a room or some accent walls can eliminate decades of boredom, usually for less than $ 50. Need ideas? The designers of A&E “Sell This House” are masters at flipping rooms with a little paint.

Design tip number 4: when in doubt, turn it on
Give dark or dingy-feeling rooms an instant makeover with new or redesigned lighting. Regardless of the color scheme and furnishings, most rooms can be attractively styled with the right lighting by following a few tips from the pros.

In large bedrooms and living rooms, avoid stark ceiling lights that cast harsh shadows and make rooms feel cramped and small. Instead, place table lamps, floor lamps, and small accent lamps in the right places to create a comfortable soft-light wash. You’ll find stylish yet inexpensive lamps at most home and department stores and even consignment stores, or shop their other rooms and storage nooks for free finds.

Curio cabinets, bookshelves, and display cabinet lighting also combat shadows while highlighting interesting pieces and collections. Installing inexpensive accent lights and strip lighting under cabinet couldn’t be easier with the sleek new battery-operated and plug-in styles. These lights are also ideal for illuminating kitchen workspaces. See the many ways inexpensive lighting can be used as a decorative tool in “Sell This Home.”