Giving your home a fresh new look or just sprucing it up for company doesn’t mean having to spend a fortune or sometimes anything at all. There are many ways to make the most of what your space has to offer that are extremely budget-friendly—a major consideration for many trying to make ends meet in an economic downturn. Best of all, these simple fixes won’t just be kind to your wallet but to the environment too, making it a win all the way around.

1. Bring in the green.
What’s greener than good old fashioned actual greenery? Pick up some plants at your local nursery to brighten up your indoor space or if you have the time grow your own in a windowsill from seed. Either way, you won’t have to spend much to add a lot to your home.

2. Clear out clutter.
One really easy, but perhaps not particularly fun, way to get your home looking good is to recycle or donate the things you no longer want or need. You’d be amazed how much better a room can look just by taking out unnecessary clutter, plus, you may even be able to make money by selling the items at a garage sale.

3. Repurpose old things.
Part of great interior design is getting creative. Just because an object started off its life one thing doesn’t mean you have to use it that way. For instance a dress that no longer fits but still have a great pattern can be repurposed as a throw pillow or a valance. Use your imagination and you may come up with some really great ideas.

4. Use eco-friendly paint.
There are few things that instantly spruce up a room like a fresh coat of paint but unfortunately many types of paint are full of dangerous chemicals. In the spirit of being greener, however, numerous companies have come out with paints lower in volatile organic compounds. Check your local store for these paints and see what you can do with them in your home.

5. Reorganize a room.
When was the last time you rearranged your living room? Is there a way you could put the furniture that might work or look better? Experiment with moving furniture around a room or even from one room into another. One other advantage is that you’ll finally be able to clean up those hard to reach places and make your room look even better.

This post was contributed by Kathleen Baker, who writes about an online health care administration degree. She welcomes your feedback at KathleenBaker3212 at gmail.com