Want a home that looks high end, but don’t have the budget to go out and blow thousands of pounds on furniture and fixtures? You’ll be pleased to hear that it can still be done- there are ways that you can give the impression that you’ve spent a lot more than you have. Here are a few examples of how to go about it.
Repair walls, and give them a coat of paint
Homes that look high end tend to be pretty flawless. So cracked walls, scuffs, peeling wallpaper or yellowing paint will all instantly bring down its appearance. Painting is one of the cheapest ways to completely transform your home, and it’s something you can do yourself if you’re careful and take your time. Start with your woodwork, sand down skirting boards, doors and other wood fixtures and then paint with a brilliant white gloss. Remove fussy wallpaper, and make repairs to the walls- use a pot of ready to use wall filler to make this easy. Fill in cracks and holes, and once dry sand it down for a flawless finish ready for paint. If you’re unsure when it comes to colours, it’s always a safe bet sticking with neutrals- white, cream and very light grey all work well. While designers often use bold or striking colours in high end homes, if you get this wrong it can look brash and cheap. Light, smooth walls throughout will make your home look and feel spacious and bright and create a blank canvas for everything else in the room.
Replace the fixtures and fittings
When you walk into a home that has a high end feel, it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes it look so nice. Sure, the decor is fresh and the layout is good- but it’s often the smaller touches that don’t initially jump right out in your face. Things like plug sockets and light switches, curtain poles, door handles and other fixtures all contribute and make a huge difference over all. A good tip when you’re replacing these in your own home, is to choose a type of metal and keep it consistent throughout. It could be brushed or stainless steel, it could be copper or rose gold, or it could be a dark or black coloured metal. Choose a metal that works well with the colours and style of your home and your fixtures will complement everything in a subtle way. It’s not something that’s going to cost you thousands of pounds so is relatively inexpensive to do, but look great. Fixtures like tiles and taps can also make a difference. Instead of replacing the entire kitchen, replace tiles with a backsplash which is far cheaper, and replace the kitchen sink or just the taps from a site like tapwarehouse.com. Along with some new handles on your kitchen cupboards, it can really freshen things up.
Make your own sumptuous curtains
Sumptuous, luxurious curtains with lots of fabric and heavy backs that block out the light are practical and also look incredibly high end. The issue here is that curtains can be very expensive, especially if you’re after more fabric and for bigger windows. A good way to get around this, if you have any kind of sewing skills, is to make them yourself. Purchasing fabric as well as backing fabric will be far cheaper than buying them ready made. You’ll also have a far bigger selection of colours, patterns and types of fabrics compared with ready made curtains. If you have a sewing machine then put it to use, otherwise see if anyone you know has one you can borrow. There are tutorials online explaining what to do, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. Create beautiful curtains that look like they cost four times the price!
Replace the lighting
The lighting in a home makes such a big difference. It’s something that’s easily overlooked, but regardless of how nice your property is, the right lighting is needed to show it to its full potential. When it comes to ceiling lighting, choose a style based on the theme of your room or home. It could be anything from a glamorous chandelier to an industrial looking piece with exposed filament bulbs- whatever you like. The trick is to choose a piece which is the right size for the room that you have. You don’t want it to overpower the room, nor do you want it to look lost. To be able to adjust the light and tailor it to what you’re doing, you’ll need to add lamps too. As a bonus, if you invest in smart lighting, you can easily adjust the warmth or brightness with your phone or voice activated speaker. Otherwise, go with dimmable lamps and choose styles that compliment your decor.
Find art that you love
A home that looks high end will almost always have beautiful artwork up on the walls. Which could cost hundreds, or even thousands of pounds- however you can easily find pieces you love for a snip. Attend galleries from up and coming artists and buy a piece that catches your eye, or you could scour markets or car boot sales for people selling second hand wall art for cheap. If it’s a larger piece it will tend to look expensive regardless of what you paid for it- as long as it looks nice and works well with your theme then go for it! However, don’t just buy art for the sake of it, make sure it’s a piece you genuinely like and are happy to look at.
Add living plants
Living plants are a fantastic, unfussy way to decorate. If you’re not into having lots of ornaments and bits and bobs on display, plants can make the place look homely and add interest without the need for all of that. A large potted plant can fill an empty corner, and smaller varieties can be put on desks, on bedside tables in the bedroom, on coffee tables and other surfaces to liven the place up. Fresh flowers are another option, and they needn’t cost as much as you think. Sure, a big bouquet from a florist can set you back £30 or more, but have you ever checked out the bunches at the supermarket? You can find them for as little as a couple of pounds, and could even buy two bunches if you have a bigger vase to fill. They can last up to a fortnight, and can add colour and texture to your home. They can give the impression that you’ve spent a lot more than you have.
Upcycle old furniture
Your furniture will make a huge difference to the look of your room. If yours look worn, dated or mismatched then you’re never going to achieve a high end look- but running out and buying everything new might be out of your budget. The best way to get around this is by upcycling, which is fun as well as practical. You could either use the furniture you already have, or find cheap or free items that people are giving away that you could renovate. Often, a good sand down, a coat of white chalk paint and some new handles are all you need to make an old piece of furniture look modern and stylish again. If your furniture is mismatched, painting it all the same colour and adding matching handles will give the appearance that it all belongs together. It’s not expensive to do, and can give you a much higher end look at home without breaking the bank. Do check out tutorials and how-to guides before taking the plunge, as the right preparation and techniques will give you the best finish.
Keep it clean
Finally, such a simple yet effective way to make your home look its best is to keep it clean. Regularly declutter, give away or throw away things you no longer need or use, and find the right storage solutions for what’s left. That way you can easily grab things or put them away, and no piles of clutter or mess start building up. Come up with a cleaning routine that suits you and your family, so that the bathroom and kitchen is being scrubbed regularly, the bins are being taken out, the dusting and hoovering is being done and things like bedding and soft furnishings are being washed. If you get into habits of doing a little each day, it’s easy to keep on top of and you’re not having to spend hours at the weekend. If you’ve put the effort into making your home look its best then it makes sense that you’d keep it clean and tidy to showcase it to its best potential. Iron your bedding, plump up cushions and plug in some air fresheners so it smells nice!
What tips do you have for anyone looking to spruce up their home and make it look more expensive- on a budget?
Disclosure: This is a featured post.