Want your place to look like one of those home design websites you drool over? Of course you do! The problem is, your budget might not match your design aspirations. Making your home look high-end isn’t always about spending a ton of cash. It’s a matter of taking time and care to arrange things in an eye-pleasing way and making small, inexpensive updates that have a big impact.
Here are a few tricks to pull if you want to add the vision of luxury :
Declutter : Nothing says “this home isn’t worth much” like tons of knickknacks, piles of books or other miscellaneous items that should be tossed or stored. Going through your rooms and getting rid of anything that doesn’t mesh with your personal style is a great first step toward transforming your home from average to exceptional. The next step is to tackle anything that piles up – toys, shoes by the door, mail on the dining table. At the very least, find places for your stuff to live in a more organized way; an upgraded closest with beautifully sorted nooks and crannies looks luxurious.
Eliminate grunge : You may not have time for intensely cleaning on a weekly basis, but a deep cleaning once or twice a year is an easy way to make your home look more luxurious. Go through your home and search for overlooked areas that have become dirty and downright gross. You’ll want to pay special attention to the grouting.
Add or rearrange lighting : Designers use lighting to define spaces and separate rooms, making a small space grand. Think of your living room – where you might have a reading nook, sofas and chairs for company and a television. Visually differentiate among the areas by using different kinds of lighting, such as adding a table lamp by your reading chair and sconces behind your couch for conversation. Consider a dimmer for overhead lights. Architects and designers swear by them.
Upgrade your hardware : Don’t have a kitchen renovation in the budget? You can get a similar effect for much less by swapping out old, dated hardware for new. Tired of your brushed-steel drawer pulls? Try gold, bronze or even crystal or make an adventure of it and scour your local thrift store for vintage hardware that screams your style. Changing the faucets and countertop is another change that can make your home look much pricier. If you have the budget, exchange your dated sink accessories for something fresh that matches your brand new hardware.
Repaint : There’s no simpler way to make an old home look new than painting. This is the most important part, repaint and choose beautiful colors for an instant makeover. You can’t go wrong with classy neutrals. Minimalists might love a bright white combined with a golden accent wall; DIY decorators might enjoy a tasteful, sandy tan tone, which pairs well with any number of woods.
Focus on the devil in the (décor) details : Does your home feel a little “meh” and you’re not sure how to change it? Try combining décor items that add visual interest to an otherwise bland area – perhaps a shelf or console table. Organize around a theme so that the décor items are unified and tell a visual story. Go around your house and cull items you love that need a new home. For example, take that silver tray you’ve been wanting a use for, add a glass tumbler with a fresh flower and a white bowl filled with something of your choice. Another way to go is to group together multiples of the same object which can be an instant update. Decorators often use odd numbers because they are said to be more appealing.
Before you know it, you’ll be posting pictures of your new home!
