Budget-Friendly Tips for Transforming Your Living Space with Big Changes
It was the early ‘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.
“For 20 to 30 year olds, it’s such a fun time because you’re only as limited as your mind,” McKay said.
“You can do things on a next-to-nothing budget.”
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In terms of “big impact, small investment” design elements, Sharayah Moffat picks plants, paint and cabinet hardware as her Top 3.
“I always like to play with different sizes when I’m designing and styling (plants),” 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.
“I think it’s about playing with layers and sizes,” she added. “You can have a darker leaf to a lighter leaf, to colourful, and really have some fun with mixing and matching.”
Paint, meanwhile, is a dramatic change that, when you supply the labour, doesn’t break the bank.
Moffat’s last favourite style detail is cabinet and furniture hardware—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.
“Etsy is a great spot to look for those one-of-a-kind pieces,” Moffat said. “You can go vintage, you can go modern, you can really transform the look. It’s one of those things where if you want to change it up a bit in…
