Looking expensive doesn’t have to break the bank. This applies to your home decor. Find out how to make your humble abode look bougie on a budget.
- Refine Your Home Decor Skills
Expand your interior design knowledge. Some of the best tips include:
- Less is more
- Mix patterns
- Alternate textures
- Pick a color palette
There are plenty of pins on Pinterest, interior decorators on Instagram, and shows on HGTV. These can teach you the ways. If you’re still stuck, take everything out of a room before redecorating. Treat each room like a blank slate. This way, you won’t get overwhelmed with options and knick-knacks that are hard to part with.
- Spring for Nice Hardware
Not only will good quality hardware look more expensive, but it will also last longer. It’s an investment that won’t go down the drain. Home decor trends wax and wane, so it’s okay to save a little money there. Instead, use your hard-earned cash on something that will stand the test of time, like solid door handles. The little details will catch the eye and add to the aesthetic of your home.
- Set the Mood with Lighting
Lighting can change the game. This applies to lightbulbs and light fixtures. The easiest way to add warmth to a space is by choosing warmer-colored lightbulbs under some light-filtering lampshades.
For light fixtures, there are lots of options to choose from. The choices that will look the most expensive are bold chandeliers, pendant lights, recess lighting, and funky lamps. Don’t just think of your lighting as functional, but remember that it should be fun.
- Use Mirrors to Trick the Eye
Mirrors can make a room look bigger. You can find large mirrors at thrift stores or garage sales for cheaper prices. If it needs a little fixing up, give the frame a metallic sheen and texturize it to look a bit weathered. This gives it a chic, vintage look. Then, place it behind the couch or on a bare wall. This will give the illusion that your room goes on farther than it really does. This is a great tip for apartments with less square footage.
- Slap On Some Paint
Don’t underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint. If something in your home looks outdated, ask yourself if you can paint it. This will make it look new and fresh. Some ideas of interior items to paint are:
- Accent walls
- Old furniture
- Ceilings
- Baseboards
- Fireplaces
- Cabinets
Specifically, use pops of color to add drama to a space. You can even use painter’s tape to create clean lines or designs on an accent wall or ceiling. Look into textured paints, like the chalk variety, to add further interest to a room. Chalk paint is also great for creating antiqued furniture, like weathered dressers or side tables. For baseboards, always stick with black or white to keep them looking clean and polished.
- Bring the Outdoors In
Once you have picked a bright orange or royal blue accent wall, accessorize it with some green. Instead of layering on some more paint, think about bringing the outdoors inside. Plants, real or fake, are a great way to breathe life into your residence. Make sure any pets or children you have are not in the vicinity of any toxic plants. Other than that, you can do no wrong. If you can keep plants alive, more power to you. If you want something more low maintenance, look into succulents.
Another way to claim the freshness of the outdoors for your interior is by opening up your space. If you have a sliding glass door, you can open it up in the warmer months. Get some nice outdoor furniture and maintain it. Bring the cushions in so they don’t get moldy. Get some sheer curtains to outline the entry to the outdoor living room.
You can even think about bringing wicker furniture inside. You normally don’t see outdoor furniture in a dining room, but that’s what makes it unique. Your guests will assume that you paid top dollar for something that you actually got on clearance at your local home improvement store. Just stick to wicker or rattan, and stay away from plastic pieces.
- Get the Right Size
A fancy rug can look cheap if it is too small. There are ideal sizes for rugs, curtains, wall art, and more. Make sure you do some investigating before making a purchase, especially online. Break out the measuring tape. Your couch shouldn’t cover the entire rug. Wall art can look more expensive when arranged in the right way. Curtains look better when they reach from ceiling to floor.
- Splurge on Daily Necessities
Towels, bed linens, throw pillows, and blankets are usually used daily in a home. This means that they go through more wear and tear. A surefire way to keep your home looking great is to invest in good quality linens.
- Organize
Lastly, make sure everything has a place, and everything is in its place. Organizers don’t have to have a high price tag to be functional. When your home is clear of clutter, it just looks better.
Whatever way you choose to update your home, just remember that you have to love it. Don’t think too much about what others think. After all, you’re the one that sees it every day.