It was the early 害羞草研究所�90s and Laura Ashley flower prints were hot.

Ami McKay was a budget-conscious student living alone for the first time, and to cosy up her bedroom, she bought a Laura Ashley sheet set, sewed the sheets together and made a duvet cover. She also picked up a lacy fabric and fashioned a canopy over the bed, pinning the four corners to the ceiling.

With just a few pieces of fabric, her room was transformed.

Today, McKay is president and principal interior designer at Pure Design Inc., a Vancouver design firm. Being young and on a budget was a blessing, she said: it forces you to be creative.

害羞草研究所淔or 20 to 30 year olds, it害羞草研究所檚 such a fun time because you害羞草研究所檙e only as limited as your mind,害羞草研究所� McKay said.

害羞草研究所淵ou can do things on a next-to-nothing budget.害羞草研究所�

In terms of 害羞草研究所渂ig impact, small investment害羞草研究所� design elements, Sharayah Moffat picks plants, paint and cabinet hardware as her Top 3.

害羞草研究所淚 always like to play with different sizes when I害羞草研究所檓 designing and styling (plants),害羞草研究所� said Moffat, founder and principal designer of Salt & Ink Design Studio, based near Winnipeg.

Moffat likes a tall floor plant combined with smaller accents on shelves and coffee tables. She gives a shout-out to Ikea for having an affordable selection, with many options ranging between $10 and $30.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 about playing with layers and sizes,害羞草研究所� she added. 害羞草研究所淵ou can have a darker leaf to a lighter leaf, to colourful, and really have some fun with mixing and matching.害羞草研究所�

Paint, meanwhile, is a dramatic change that, when you supply the labour, doesn害羞草研究所檛 break the bank.

Moffat害羞草研究所檚 last favourite style detail is cabinet and furniture hardware 害羞草研究所� knob pulls, handles, hinges. She considers this an inexpensive upgrade with endless variety, and a go-to recommendation for her clients to freshen up a kitchen and avoid pricey renos.

害羞草研究所淓tsy is a great spot to look for those one-of-a-kind pieces,害羞草研究所� Moffat said. 害羞草研究所淵ou can go vintage, you can go modern, you can really transform the look. It害羞草研究所檚 one of those things where if you want to change it up a bit in a few years, it害羞草研究所檚 five bucks a handle.害羞草研究所�

McKay is a fabric fan 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 inexpensive at fabric stores, and basic sewing is manageable. You can even skip labour entirely with sewing tape to press together edges of fabric.

For window treatments, McKay loves caf茅-style curtains; a charming height that starts halfway down the window. It害羞草研究所檚 ideal for bathrooms, breakfast nooks, kitchen windows, and is easy for do-it-yourself projects.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a way of being able to look outside and still have privacy,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淵ou can see the sky, you害羞草研究所檙e looking at trees. I use it all the time with all my projects.害羞草研究所�

For walls and ceilings, McKay likes decals as dramatic room-changers 害羞草研究所� great for renters, as they don害羞草研究所檛 damage walls when removed. Etsy has a great selection, she added.

害羞草研究所淎nd the secret to making a house feel cosy is lighting up the corners, the four corners of a room, and that害羞草研究所檚 not with overhead lighting,害羞草研究所� McKay said.

害羞草研究所淭he up light 害羞草研究所� they害羞草研究所檙e really affordable, they害羞草研究所檙e at Home Depot 害羞草研究所� it just goes on the floor and it has a stand. You can have it behind a sculpture, behind a sofa, behind a plant, and it just creates the ambience.害羞草研究所�

Other must-haves for decorating on a budget, according to McKay: statement pieces from thrift stores, picking up mementos as you travel, and extra-large rugs.

When it comes to choosing the right size of rug though, she害羞草研究所檚 noticed many clients need help.

害羞草研究所淭he problem I see so often is people put really small rugs in the space and it looks wrong, and people don害羞草研究所檛 know what害羞草研究所檚 wrong 害羞草研究所� the house doesn害羞草研究所檛 feel right, psychologically,害羞草研究所� McKay said, noting there are affordable rug options available, including natural rugs.

害羞草研究所淭he secret is really the oversized rug. Go as big as you can. So make sure, if you can, to have all your sofa legs and chair legs on the rug.害羞草研究所�

Roommates are a reality for many young renters, especially in expensive cities. Both designers said consulting and collaborating in shared spaces is key.

But definitely invest in decluttering and organization solutions, Moffat added. It害羞草研究所檚 hard to enjoy a beautiful room if everyone害羞草研究所檚 junk is everywhere.

害羞草研究所淲hen we害羞草研究所檙e living with people, the frustration begins when you have to take care of somebody else害羞草研究所檚 stuff, because it害羞草研究所檚 in your way,害羞草研究所� Moffat said. 害羞草研究所淎nd so find those solutions where you don害羞草研究所檛 have a ton of space 害羞草研究所� finding wall storage through hooks, finding shelving, finding that organization.害羞草研究所�

Go thrifting, consider refurbishing a quality item, and, when you害羞草研究所檙e able, invest in long-term pieces. Moffat works on the construction side as well, and notes the carbon footprints and landfills associated with constant production.

害羞草研究所淛ust remember that purchasing cheap quality multiple times is actually more expensive than investing in high quality,害羞草研究所� Moffat said.

害羞草研究所淪o a lot of times we will go and find that cheap furniture place, and we害羞草研究所檒l get a couch, and it害羞草研究所檒l cost maybe $500. But there害羞草研究所檚 opportunities to go second-hand 害羞草研究所� maybe the fabric isn害羞草研究所檛 up to date, or it害羞草研究所檚 not your style 害羞草研究所� but invest in those key pieces and don害羞草研究所檛 just buy for the sake of buying.

害羞草研究所淓ven accessories 害羞草研究所� accessories are very trendy, right? And so finding those pieces second-hand, and reducing the amount that we have to produce, is really important.害羞草研究所�