Who does not want to live in an elegant and luxurious home? Even if you want to live in a home that looks more extravagant than your current space, you can still achieve that look without breaking the bank.
With a few smart little interior design tips and tricks, you can create a stylish home that looks like a million bucks. From de-cluttering tricks that don’t cost a cent to choosing a few beautiful items that add that extra touch, you can create a luxurious and impressive home without breaking the bank.
Here we share 7 interior decorating ideas to improve your home on a budget that are more about focusing on the details than being decadent with the amount you spend.
1. Eliminate clutter
You can free up your space for free; all it will cost you is your time. While it’s great to display personal items—it’s what makes your house your home, after all—too many knick-knacks can create a confusing look, leaving you without a clear focal point.
Decluttering your home is a basic interior design tip that allows you to create a stylish and expensive aesthetic without spending a cent. When it’s free, you have nothing to lose and you’ll end up with a calmer and tidier space.
There are many decluttering methods to help you get started. Then, once you’ve achieved a clutter-free space, you can stay up-to-date by following the one-in-one-out method.
2. Open the windows
A greater sense of space can be achieved by enlarging the windows. Without paying for major construction work, the illusion of grandeur can be achieved by increasing the height of the cornice and widening the width. This will increase the area of the window and make it look more luxurious. Your curtains can then be drawn to reveal more glass, while extra-long curtains will create a sophisticated draping effect on the floor.
3. Get rich with fabrics
Velvet, silk and faux fur are highly tactile fabrics that add a rich, opulent aesthetic to an interior. And since they don’t come cheap, there are some clever tricks to get this look without paying a lot.
Want a pair of silk curtains? What if you opted for a Roman blind instead? You’ll still have the look, but you won’t need as much curtain fabric. Even if you decide to invest in silk curtains, you can make them the focal point of the room and save money elsewhere. I once invested in a pair of Chinoiserie silk curtains for my bedroom and loved their design so much that I never regretted the price.
However, fabrics aren’t about going big or going home. You can add small pieces of velvet and faux fur to cushions and covers while using a less complex choice of textiles for your sofas.
4. Turn on and pair
Interior designers love to use lighting to add drama and glamor to a room. Think big, bold ambient lighting that sparkles and illuminates the entire room, and carefully placed task lighting that provides more subtle light.
For a ceiling shade, try this matte black tapered shade with a brushed brass interior ($50, Rejuvenation). I have something similar above my dining room table, and the metallic finish adds a touch of glamor without being too ornate.
Interior designers also like to work in pairs to light up the house. Have you noticed that two identical table lamps are often placed on the table in the living room? Tall lamps with elegant, clean lines create a sophisticated aesthetic. This pair of gold lamps has elegant glass bases ($89, Amazon).
5. Rearrange your furniture
You don’t have to spend a fortune on furniture to create an expensive aesthetic. Instead of spending a lot less on counterproductive department store sales, upgrade what you already have or search your local thrift stores for a solid piece of furniture.
Picking up a can of paint can also do wonders for sprucing up a desk or dresser that’s past its prime. I recently redecorated my guest bedroom and painted the top of an inexpensive console table with Farrow & Ball paint, adding gold trim to the edge. The cost of painting is minimal compared to buying a new piece of furniture.
And if painting isn’t your thing, a simple hardware change can completely change the look. Again, for a sleek look, keep the design simple and choose a matte or brushed metallic finish. These satin brass cabinet knobs ($5, Home Depot) are elegant and understated.
6. Think about scale
The golden ratio in interior design is based on the theory of thirds and is found throughout nature. It is based on creating an aesthetic that is pleasing to the eye and is often referred to as the 60-30-10 rule and is essential if you want to create a home aesthetic in your own home.
The golden ratio helps balance the proportions in a room, from achieving the right balance of furniture to properly hanging art and balancing dominant and accent colors. When the proportions are perfect, you will have a room that is perfectly balanced and pleasing to the eye.
Let’s take the example of the living room; furniture must cover at least 60% of the floor area. If it is below 60%, the room will probably look too bare; if it’s above 60%, it will look cluttered.
Start by focusing on proportions, not size, and how the elements of your home fit together. A couch won’t look as good if it’s too small or too big for the space, or if a nice rug takes up a fraction of the floor space.
7. Be fresh with flowers
Fresh flowers are an inexpensive way to enhance the style of your home. Creating the look of a boutique hotel, they add a touch of class to any room and leave behind a beautiful persistent fragrance.
Whether you opt for glass or ceramic vases, make them look expensive and choose styles with clean lines and minimal patterns.