Good design doesn't have to be expensive, and I'm tired of the excuse that budgets kill creativity. I redesigned my kitchen for under $800 using IKEA cabinets, open shelving from reclaimed wood, and a single bold backsplash — friends assume I spent five figures. Constraints actually push you to make bolder choices, while unlimited money often leads to lazy, over-styled spaces that lack personality. The real barrier is taste and effort, not cash, so let's stop pretending otherwise.