It was the early 91裸聊视频�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.

91裸聊视频淔or 20 to 30 year olds, it91裸聊视频檚 such a fun time because you91裸聊视频檙e only as limited as your mind,91裸聊视频� McKay said.

91裸聊视频淵ou can do things on a next-to-nothing budget.91裸聊视频�

In terms of 91裸聊视频渂ig impact, small investment91裸聊视频� design elements, Sharayah Moffat picks plants, paint and cabinet hardware as her Top 3.

91裸聊视频淚 always like to play with different sizes when I91裸聊视频檓 designing and styling (plants),91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 about playing with layers and sizes,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淵ou can have a darker leaf to a lighter leaf, to colourful, and really have some fun with mixing and matching.91裸聊视频�

Paint, meanwhile, is a dramatic change that, when you supply the labour, doesn91裸聊视频檛 break the bank.

Moffat91裸聊视频檚 last favourite style detail is cabinet and furniture hardware 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淓tsy is a great spot to look for those one-of-a-kind pieces,91裸聊视频� Moffat said. 91裸聊视频淵ou can go vintage, you can go modern, you can really transform the look. It91裸聊视频檚 one of those things where if you want to change it up a bit in a few years, it91裸聊视频檚 five bucks a handle.91裸聊视频�

McKay is a fabric fan 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 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. It91裸聊视频檚 ideal for bathrooms, breakfast nooks, kitchen windows, and is easy for do-it-yourself projects.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a way of being able to look outside and still have privacy,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淵ou can see the sky, you91裸聊视频檙e looking at trees. I use it all the time with all my projects.91裸聊视频�

For walls and ceilings, McKay likes decals as dramatic room-changers 91裸聊视频� great for renters, as they don91裸聊视频檛 damage walls when removed. Etsy has a great selection, she added.

91裸聊视频淎nd the secret to making a house feel cosy is lighting up the corners, the four corners of a room, and that91裸聊视频檚 not with overhead lighting,91裸聊视频� McKay said.

91裸聊视频淭he up light 91裸聊视频� they91裸聊视频檙e really affordable, they91裸聊视频檙e at Home Depot 91裸聊视频� 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.91裸聊视频�

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, she91裸聊视频檚 noticed many clients need help.

91裸聊视频淭he problem I see so often is people put really small rugs in the space and it looks wrong, and people don91裸聊视频檛 know what91裸聊视频檚 wrong 91裸聊视频� the house doesn91裸聊视频檛 feel right, psychologically,91裸聊视频� McKay said, noting there are affordable rug options available, including natural rugs.

91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�

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. It91裸聊视频檚 hard to enjoy a beautiful room if everyone91裸聊视频檚 junk is everywhere.

91裸聊视频淲hen we91裸聊视频檙e living with people, the frustration begins when you have to take care of somebody else91裸聊视频檚 stuff, because it91裸聊视频檚 in your way,91裸聊视频� Moffat said. 91裸聊视频淎nd so find those solutions where you don91裸聊视频檛 have a ton of space 91裸聊视频� finding wall storage through hooks, finding shelving, finding that organization.91裸聊视频�

Go thrifting, consider refurbishing a quality item, and, when you91裸聊视频檙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.

91裸聊视频淛ust remember that purchasing cheap quality multiple times is actually more expensive than investing in high quality,91裸聊视频� Moffat said.

91裸聊视频淪o a lot of times we will go and find that cheap furniture place, and we91裸聊视频檒l get a couch, and it91裸聊视频檒l cost maybe $500. But there91裸聊视频檚 opportunities to go second-hand 91裸聊视频� maybe the fabric isn91裸聊视频檛 up to date, or it91裸聊视频檚 not your style 91裸聊视频� but invest in those key pieces and don91裸聊视频檛 just buy for the sake of buying.

91裸聊视频淓ven accessories 91裸聊视频� accessories are very trendy, right? And so finding those pieces second-hand, and reducing the amount that we have to produce, is really important.91裸聊视频�