It was the early 香蕉视频直播�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.

香蕉视频直播淔or 20 to 30 year olds, it香蕉视频直播檚 such a fun time because you香蕉视频直播檙e only as limited as your mind,香蕉视频直播� McKay said.

香蕉视频直播淵ou can do things on a next-to-nothing budget.香蕉视频直播�

In terms of 香蕉视频直播渂ig impact, small investment香蕉视频直播� design elements, Sharayah Moffat picks plants, paint and cabinet hardware as her Top 3.

香蕉视频直播淚 always like to play with different sizes when I香蕉视频直播檓 designing and styling (plants),香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 about playing with layers and sizes,香蕉视频直播� she added. 香蕉视频直播淵ou can have a darker leaf to a lighter leaf, to colourful, and really have some fun with mixing and matching.香蕉视频直播�

Paint, meanwhile, is a dramatic change that, when you supply the labour, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 break the bank.

Moffat香蕉视频直播檚 last favourite style detail is cabinet and furniture hardware 香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淓tsy is a great spot to look for those one-of-a-kind pieces,香蕉视频直播� Moffat said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou can go vintage, you can go modern, you can really transform the look. It香蕉视频直播檚 one of those things where if you want to change it up a bit in a few years, it香蕉视频直播檚 five bucks a handle.香蕉视频直播�

McKay is a fabric fan 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 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香蕉视频直播檚 ideal for bathrooms, breakfast nooks, kitchen windows, and is easy for do-it-yourself projects.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a way of being able to look outside and still have privacy,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淵ou can see the sky, you香蕉视频直播檙e looking at trees. I use it all the time with all my projects.香蕉视频直播�

For walls and ceilings, McKay likes decals as dramatic room-changers 香蕉视频直播� great for renters, as they don香蕉视频直播檛 damage walls when removed. Etsy has a great selection, she added.

香蕉视频直播淎nd the secret to making a house feel cosy is lighting up the corners, the four corners of a room, and that香蕉视频直播檚 not with overhead lighting,香蕉视频直播� McKay said.

香蕉视频直播淭he up light 香蕉视频直播� they香蕉视频直播檙e really affordable, they香蕉视频直播檙e at Home Depot 香蕉视频直播� 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.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檚 noticed many clients need help.

香蕉视频直播淭he problem I see so often is people put really small rugs in the space and it looks wrong, and people don香蕉视频直播檛 know what香蕉视频直播檚 wrong 香蕉视频直播� the house doesn香蕉视频直播檛 feel right, psychologically,香蕉视频直播� McKay said, noting there are affordable rug options available, including natural rugs.

香蕉视频直播淭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.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播檚 hard to enjoy a beautiful room if everyone香蕉视频直播檚 junk is everywhere.

香蕉视频直播淲hen we香蕉视频直播檙e living with people, the frustration begins when you have to take care of somebody else香蕉视频直播檚 stuff, because it香蕉视频直播檚 in your way,香蕉视频直播� Moffat said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd so find those solutions where you don香蕉视频直播檛 have a ton of space 香蕉视频直播� finding wall storage through hooks, finding shelving, finding that organization.香蕉视频直播�

Go thrifting, consider refurbishing a quality item, and, when you香蕉视频直播檙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.

香蕉视频直播淛ust remember that purchasing cheap quality multiple times is actually more expensive than investing in high quality,香蕉视频直播� Moffat said.

香蕉视频直播淪o a lot of times we will go and find that cheap furniture place, and we香蕉视频直播檒l get a couch, and it香蕉视频直播檒l cost maybe $500. But there香蕉视频直播檚 opportunities to go second-hand 香蕉视频直播� maybe the fabric isn香蕉视频直播檛 up to date, or it香蕉视频直播檚 not your style 香蕉视频直播� but invest in those key pieces and don香蕉视频直播檛 just buy for the sake of buying.

香蕉视频直播淓ven accessories 香蕉视频直播� accessories are very trendy, right? And so finding those pieces second-hand, and reducing the amount that we have to produce, is really important.香蕉视频直播�