What low-budget methods create period realism and how to document the making-of?

[MasonC]

I'm a film student working on my senior thesis project, a short period piece, and I'm fascinated by the practical filmmaking techniques used in big-budget historical dramas. I've watched every making-of documentary I can find, but they often gloss over the gritty details of on-set problem-solving. For industry professionals or serious hobbyists, what are some of the most ingenious low-budget solutions you've seen or used to create convincing period environments, costumes, or visual effects? How do you approach planning and documenting the making-of process for a smaller project to build a portfolio, and what are the key behind-the-scenes moments that actually teach an audience about the craft, beyond just showing a time-lapse of a set being built?