52 ways to make your home look more expensive

52 ways to make your home look more expensive

Whether you’re looking to fix up your home to put it on the market or just want to bring some fresh updates to your living space, you don’t have to spend a lot to get big results. Here are 52 inexpensive ways to make your home look more expensive.

Treat each room as a blank slate

Treat each room as a blank slate
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Take note of the pre-existing features in your home that you can highlight. Architectural details such as crown moulding, wooden beams, hardwood floors, built-in bookshelves, and mosaic-tile backsplashes are all worth focusing on. These details don’t just look expensive; they are expensive. Make them as prominent as possible – keep them clean, clutter-free and the focal point of the room. For example, don’t splurge on an expensive painting just to have it compete with a show-stopping fireplace.

Add a pop of colour

Add a pop of colour
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“Paint is extremely inexpensive and makes a big difference,” says interior designer Keysha Jillian. “Whether you need to tone down a colour or add a bold colour to liven up your space, colour is great for changing the overall feel of a room.” A nice wash of colour might only cost around $20 for 4L.

Pick towels you’re actually excited to use

Pick towels you’re actually excited to use
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It’s time to get rid of those dingy old bath towels – discoloured whites and bleach-stained colours make your space look dirty and cheap. Proudly display crisp white, or colour-matching fluffy towels like the kind you would find in a fancy hotel or spa. “This will immediately trigger a feeling for your guests, and they will have a more luxurious feeling towards the space,” says designer Drew Henry.

Swap out your throw pillows

Swap out your throw pillows
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Throw pillows are an easy way to accessorise and brighten a room, whether you buy them or make your own. Jillian says homeowners should throw out their older throw pillows and replace them with bright, fuller pillows – or just buy crisp new pillow covers. “Mix and match colours and textures, and blend different groupings,” she says. But more is not better. “There can be too many pillows, so make sure you don’t go overboard.”

Add moulding

Add moulding
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If your walls are bare besides the occasional artwork, consider adding moulding to the baseboard, chair rail or ceiling. “It doesn’t even have to be a gaudy, Victorian-style moulding – a simple and single-shape, single-depth piece of moulding will do the trick,” says interior designer Erica Leigh Reiner.

Hang art on the walls

Hang art on the walls
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From family photos to DIY art, framed works can make a house feel like a home. Before mounting any work, figure out where everything should be placed and the proper way to hang it. “Make sure the art you select is the right size and scale for the wall you’re decorating, and remember you don’t need artwork on every empty wall,” says Jillian. “If you feel creative, a great way to get inexpensive artwork is to create your own. Head to your local craft store and you can find everything you need to create a beautiful canvas or framed custom artwork.”

Accent with accessories

Accent with accessories
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Magazines are a great source of home decorating ideas and inspiration for how to accessorise a room. However, you can shop around for a budget-friendly version of anything you see in a design magazine. “Accessories vary significantly in cost, but if you’re looking for a great deal there are plenty of discount home stores that offer stupendous finds, says Jillian.

Create DIY ‘built-in’ structures

Create DIY ‘built-in’ structures
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The key to making any piece – from bookshelves to kitchen cabinets – look custom is to have them fit into your home perfectly. The easiest way to achieve this look is to have them extend all the way from floor to ceiling. A bookshelf that spans an entire wall will almost always look more expensive than one that stands alone. Luckily, with a bit of forward planning, this project can be tackled in one or two weekends.

Update old fixtures

Update old fixtures
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A quick and easy way to decorate cheaply is to update old fixtures, especially in the kitchen. Knobs, handles, drawer pulls and light switches are small, inexpensive details that give your home a high-end sheen.

Here are 12 more DIY home improvement projects that practically pay for themselves.

Throw a splashback on it

Throw a splashback on it
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A DIY splashback is great for jazzing up a kitchen, bathroom or laundry room without breaking the bank. A tile splashback is an inexpensive way to add an expensive look. Try subway tile, which is an affordable option that doesn’t go out of style.

Update window treatments

Update window treatments
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Those drab curtains have to go. Bring an instant update to a room with new window treatments – curtains, Roman shades or blinds. Or, if you have attractive window trim and privacy shades of some kind and you like the minimalist look, you can skip window treatments all together.

Add visual space with a mirror or two

Add visual space with a mirror or two
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Your eyes – and potential buyers’ eyes – will be tricked into thinking a space is larger than it actually is with some sneaky mirror placement. Large mirrors will reflect the room back, making it appear more spacious – even twice its actual size.

Get rid of something super old or ugly

Get rid of something super old or ugly
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If a dated light fixture or piece of furniture constantly makes you groan, get rid of it. The project doesn’t have to break the budget: drab wall colours can easily be painted, and outdated knobs and hardware can be inexpensively replaced. Even dated kitchen cabinets can be painted white and instantly brought out of the ’80s.

Use bookshelves for more than books

Use bookshelves for more than books
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Lines of books don’t have to look like a stuffy library. “Intersperse them with a few framed photos and interesting bookends,” says design expert Ana Cummings. “Make sure it is neat and tidy – that alone speaks volumes.”

Add a rug

Add a rug
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An area rug can transform and pull a room together. “Rugs help ground furniture groupings, define rooms and add more interest to an area,” Jillian says. You don’t have to pay a lot, but look for rugs that will last even with heavy foot traffic and in colours that complement the space.

Make walls shine

Make walls shine
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Lustrous wallpaper adds dimension to an otherwise flat area. Go for just a hint of shine with a semi-gloss or lustre sheen to keep it classy, not gaudy, says Reiner. “Stick to simple neutral or semi-neutral colours, but look for a paper with a hint of a shine the light can bounce off,” she says.

Stick to classic neutral walls

Stick to classic neutral walls
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When in doubt on paint colour, choose a classic neutral. Colours like beige, grey and yellow will always look fresh and on trend. What’s more, they pair well with everything. Limit bold accent colours to accessories and you’ll never have to repaint an entire room because a bright colour choice got to be too much.

Choose deep colours

Choose deep colours
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If neutral colours aren’t your thing, bold colours can scream ‘elegant’ with a bigger punch, says interior designer Douglas Graneto. “Deep hues with shiny finishes are the way to go,” he says. “For example, a deep navy wall with gold and purple contrast within the decor can exude a glamorous energy that for sure can feel luxurious.”

Don’t match finishes perfectly, coordinate them

Don’t match finishes perfectly, coordinate them
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Certain stains and finishes play well with others, but the vast majority do not. If you’re looking to match your floor to your cabinets, or your taps to your doorknobs, go for an exact match, or make a real contrast; aim for at least three shades darker or lighter. An almost match has the tendency to look cheap.

Make a statement

Make a statement
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Dining room tables, stand-out rugs, light fixtures, chandeliers and sofas all have the ability to upgrade a home’s sense of style. Identify a few key pieces that you see and use often (especially if they’re ones that are visible from several other rooms) and decide if it makes sense to budget for a splurge.

Light up the room

Light up the room
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Natural lighting and source lighting is very important to a room. “Make sure you don’t block windows, and be sure to add table and floor lamps throughout your space for a huge statement,” Jillian says. The look of a bigger room is priceless. Pricey light fixtures might be better suited for your wedding registry.

Want to reduce your energy bills? Here are three easy steps how to make your home more energy efficient.

Personalise your towels

Personalise your towels
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Find plain white towels too ho-hum? Add a simple DIY detailing to basic towels to show off your signature style, suggests luxury interior designer Charmaine Wynter. “Just select a coordinating ribbon colour and pull out your sewing machine,” she says.

Mix up your bedroom set

Mix up your bedroom set
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The easiest option won’t always pack the biggest punch. “If you have a dresser in a bedroom with a matching mirror, it makes the room much more interesting if you hang a different mirror over the dresser,” says interior designer Myrf Bowry. No need to throw that matching mirror out, she says; just hang it in another room.

Add voluminous accessories

Add voluminous accessories
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Expensive items tend to have weight and volume. Avoid flimsiness at all costs: add an extra panel of curtain to your curtain rod, and search for quality carpets and throws that feel great to the touch. Additionally, accessorise with weighty accent pieces; vases, picture frames, and ornaments should all feel like they’ve got something to them.

Opt for custom-fitted blinds

Opt for custom-fitted blinds
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“Any badly fitting blind within the recess looks cheap if not sized correctly to the window,” says interior designer and stylist Nicola Croughan. Spending just a little more on a made-to-measure style is much more elegant, she says. She recommends picking plush Roman blinds and wide-slat wood blinds, and says to pick a water-resistant roller blind for bathrooms and kitchens to prevent mould.

Create your own statement artwork

Create your own statement artwork
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If your room lacks a pre-existing focal point, create one using artwork. One option is to create a multi-panel piece (one picture blown up and printed onto three panels hung next to each other) or a gallery-type display of frames.

Keep your home clean

Keep your home clean
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Follow the rule of threes (objects look best when organised in odd numbers, especially threes) and leave a generous amount of white space on your walls and surfaces. When it comes to looking luxe, less is always more. File paperwork out of sight, find a home for everything, and clear the clutter.

While you’re at it, you may want to improve the air quality of your home and discover how to keep that pile of shoes looking tidy.

Up your thread count

Up your thread count
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No matter what your bedding style, increasing the thread count for your sheets will instantly make your sleep space more luxe, says Wynter. Your home won’t just look expensive – it will feel it.

Add a centrepiece

Add a centrepiece
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No need to wait for a dinner party to elevate your usual table setting. Something as simple as fresh-cut flowers can make it seem like you’ve put time and effort into your dinner table, says Henry.

Hunt for real stone

Hunt for real stone
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Real granite and limestone benches look more luxe than your typical acrylic, but unfortunately, their prices usually reflect that. If you’re willing to do a bit of hunting, though, you might be able to slash the price tag, says Bowry. “You can sometimes find a great deal on a real stone top at your local stone yard, in the remnant section,” she says.

Focus on taps

Focus on taps
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If you only have room in the budget for one high-end bathroom feature, make it a quality tap. Pairing it with plain, wallet-friendly tiles will actually highlight the money spent, says interior designer René Dekker. “If you look in the window of any high-end jewellery store, you will see that the finely crafted items, the gold and diamonds, are always displayed against plain neutral backgrounds which show them off much better … the same concept will work in your bathroom,” he says.

Look entertaining-ready

Look entertaining-ready
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If you have a dining room table you don’t use unless company is visiting, keep the settings there to fake your way to looking like a master host. “A staged tablescape will make the space feel more elegant,” says Henry.

Don’t put form above function

Don’t put form above function
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A gorgeous new couch won’t look chic when kids and pets ruin it. That said, durable doesn’t have to be drab. Designer Kelly Barnett, recommends indoor/outdoor fabrics for attractive pieces that can withstand some wear and tear. “I’ve cleaned red wine off my performance velvet swivel chairs with a wet cloth,” she says. “These fabrics are extremely durable and give upholstered pieces a much higher-end look than microfibres.”

Don’t have a pet yet but are setting your home up to include one? Find out how to pick the best pet for your family.

Pick basic bedding

Pick basic bedding
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You might think deep-hued satins would be key to an expensive-looking bedding set, but keeping it simple will make the room seem bigger since the bed takes up so much space. “Keep the doona covers white and you’ll instantly feel the lightness of the room,” says Isobel McKenzie, editor of interior design site NONAGON.style.

Give boring products a worthy home

Give boring products a worthy home
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Even cleaning products deserve luxury treatment. “Decant your favourite handwash into a hand soap dispenser,” says Wynter. “Voila! Instant luxe.”

Up the fluff factor

Up the fluff factor
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An inexpensive throw pillow will seem so much more luxurious when you replace the original insides with a feather insert. “They just look and feel so much better than foam,” says Cummings.

Ditch the old toothbrush holder

Ditch the old toothbrush holder
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Upgrading your toothbrush holder and soap dish is a low-cost way to add flair to your bathroom. Pick a sleek, modern set that matches the rest of your décor, suggests interior designer Dayna Hairston.

Pick basic dishes

Pick basic dishes
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Shelling out on fine china isn’t the only way to create a stunning table setting. “White dishes have a low-price tag with a high impact,” says Henry. Pair them with gold cutlery for a trendy, high-brow look.

Keep toys to a minimum

Keep toys to a minimum
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It’s easy to let toys take over the whole house, so Barnett has a rule that big toys need to stay in bedrooms. Once those are out of sight, board games and crayons won’t seem so obtrusive – especially if they stay in their rightful places.

Seek out softness

Seek out softness
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“Velvet or velour has both a luxurious feel and look,” says Croughan. “In fact, most soft-to-touch fabrics work best.” Go bold with a deep jewel tone or pair a neutral colour scheme with pastel ‘ice cream shades’, like mint green or blush, she says.

Shed some light

Shed some light
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Quit making lighting a second thought, says McKenzie. “Very often in luxury homes and apartments, you’ll find that the lighting is subtly done but brings your attention to certain areas,” she says. Installing warm LED strip lighting on top of a bookshelf or under a mirror adds interest and dimension.

Hunt around for new options

Hunt around for new options
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When you find a bed or couch you love, you might be tempted to buy the whole set to guarantee a good match, but that can look cheap, says Bowry. “All homes are much more interesting if things coordinate but are not all matchy-matchy,” she says.

Go big

Go big
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Hiking up the size of your décor creates a big impression, even if the pieces aren’t too pricy, says designer Gail Dunnett. “We love to use large-scale art and décor, like a massive canvas that takes up an entire wall or a well-oversized thick-framed mirror that leans against the wall instead of hanging, to create a space that’s impactful, memorable and grand,” she says.

Create a gallery wall

Create a gallery wall
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A well-composed gallery wall will exude elegance, thoughtfulness and will stand out to visitors,” says interior designer Jillian O’Neill. A gallery wall can pack a big punch and highlight the effort you put into your décor, but they can look like a mish-mash if they aren’t designed well. To create a cohesive look with minimal effort, choose frames that work together. Picking two or three colours like black and gold or silver and white will help the display look coordinated, even if the pictures inside don’t match as much, says O’Neill.

Don’t go overboard on colour

Don’t go overboard on colour
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Sprinkling just one or two accent colours throughout the home will add a pop that looks cohesive without going over the top. “Adding too much colour will immediately make it feel shabby chic or Boho, which is nice but a very different vibe than luxe,” says Henry.

Brighten up the laundry

Brighten up the laundry
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Don’t ignore design in your laundry just because you don’t love spending time there. “Laundries are a great room to paint a fun colour that you may be scared to use on other places,” says Bowry. “Rugs and artwork also make the room more inviting.” She recommends parents hang their kids’ artwork there. Your little ones will feel special with their art displayed proudly, but you can keep your pricier pieces in the rooms guests see.

Refresh instead of replacing

Refresh instead of replacing
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A fresh coat of paint isn’t the only DIY job you can use to liven up a drab space. Staining your kitchen cabinets will give them a whole new look and won’t set your budget back by much, says interior designer Blima Ehrentreu. “We often like to two-tone our kitchen design,” she says. “It adds a unique quality to the cabinetry.”

Add interest to a bathroom

Add interest to a bathroom
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Living rooms aren’t the only rooms that can benefit from a statement wall. Creating one in the bathroom will create a big impact where guests won’t expect it. “Changing a wall with a different colour or tile gives the space a subtle and distinctive design element,” says Ehrentreu.

You may want to add a plant or two as well. Here’s what to look for when buying bathroom plants.

Pay attention to details

Pay attention to details
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Your furniture and appliance choices might be the first things people notice, but giving details special attention makes it seem like you spent even more time and money creating your space. “Switching out small fixtures and hardware in the home for more thoughtful pieces can make the design of the home feel more intentional, which, in turn, makes it feel more expensive,” says designer Justina Blakenly. Replace a dated flush mount light with a modern style, or swap plastic wall plates for metal, she suggests.

Create a vignette

Create a vignette
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An otherwise ‘dead space’ can be dressed up to make the whole room look more styled. “Areas like coffee tables, consoles and empty corners of a kitchen bench are all prime real estate for a well-dressed vignette (a small grouping of items that tells a story in a visually pleasing way),” says Cummings.

Harmonise with colour

Harmonise with colour
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Creating the perfect colour palette is more complicated than grabbing three of your favourite colours. Taking the time to perfect your colour scheme will make your home look worthy of a catalogue. “I advise my clients to focus on a colour family, or to pick hues that complement each other – not contrast,” says designer Gil Walsh, author of Gil Walsh Interiors: A Case for Color. “Too many bold colours or a soft palette that lacks depth tends to fall flat.”

Show off timber floors

Show off timber floors
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Replace carpet with hardwood floors to make your space feel bigger, suggests Hairston. “Carpet tends to trap in dust and particulates and absorbs moisture which can leave an odour,” she says. “Hard surface timber flooring is easier to clean, is allergy-friendly and can provide a more updated and modern look to your home.” Layered area rugs will add more visual interest than floor-to-floor carpeting.

 

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Source: RD.com

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