It was the early 含羞草研究社�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.

含羞草研究社淔or 20 to 30 year olds, it含羞草研究社檚 such a fun time because you含羞草研究社檙e only as limited as your mind,含羞草研究社� McKay said.

含羞草研究社淵ou can do things on a next-to-nothing budget.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚 always like to play with different sizes when I含羞草研究社檓 designing and styling (plants),含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 about playing with layers and sizes,含羞草研究社� she added. 含羞草研究社淵ou can have a darker leaf to a lighter leaf, to colourful, and really have some fun with mixing and matching.含羞草研究社�

Paint, meanwhile, is a dramatic change that, when you supply the labour, doesn含羞草研究社檛 break the bank.

Moffat含羞草研究社檚 last favourite style detail is cabinet and furniture hardware 含羞草研究社� 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.

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

McKay is a fabric fan 含羞草研究社� it含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 ideal for bathrooms, breakfast nooks, kitchen windows, and is easy for do-it-yourself projects.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a way of being able to look outside and still have privacy,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淵ou can see the sky, you含羞草研究社檙e looking at trees. I use it all the time with all my projects.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淎nd the secret to making a house feel cosy is lighting up the corners, the four corners of a room, and that含羞草研究社檚 not with overhead lighting,含羞草研究社� McKay said.

含羞草研究社淭he up light 含羞草研究社� they含羞草研究社檙e really affordable, they含羞草研究社檙e at Home Depot 含羞草研究社� 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.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 noticed many clients need help.

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

含羞草研究社淭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.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檚 hard to enjoy a beautiful room if everyone含羞草研究社檚 junk is everywhere.

含羞草研究社淲hen we含羞草研究社檙e living with people, the frustration begins when you have to take care of somebody else含羞草研究社檚 stuff, because it含羞草研究社檚 in your way,含羞草研究社� Moffat said. 含羞草研究社淎nd so find those solutions where you don含羞草研究社檛 have a ton of space 含羞草研究社� finding wall storage through hooks, finding shelving, finding that organization.含羞草研究社�

Go thrifting, consider refurbishing a quality item, and, when you含羞草研究社檙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.

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

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

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