Key Points
\nWindow treatments and textured fabrics will make a room look more opulent.Take time to declutter every room in your home.Add focal points such as oversize vases, eye-catching light fixtures, and area rugs.<\/p>\n
Decorating any room<\/a> can be a challenge when your wants and budget don\u2019t align. Still, there are ways to make any room look and feel lavish without spending your entire paycheck.\u00a0<\/p>\n We asked interior designers how they make a room look expensive, even if it\u2019s not<\/a>\u2014no one has to know. Read on for their six best tips.\u00a0<\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n Dustin Halleck<\/a> for JAM Interior Design<\/a><\/p>\n Add Window Treatments <\/p>\n A bare window can look underdressed, but one outfitted with drapery boasts endless upsides. Window treatments<\/a> not only give you privacy and an easy way to filter sunlight, but your ceilings will look taller and your space overall more upscale.\n<\/p>\n Adding window treatments is a go-to trick for Julie Mitchiner of JAM Interior Design<\/a> to make a room look expensive.\u00a0\u201cWindow treatments, and particularly drapery, really add a finishing layer that makes a room feel more complete,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n If you see dollar signs flashing in front of you just thinking about drapes, don\u2019t worry; Mitchiner says they don\u2019t have to be custom to make a room feel luxe. Opt for velvet panels for a warm, lavish look, and start with communal living spaces<\/a>, like your living room<\/a> and dining room<\/a>.<\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n Dustin Halleck<\/a> for JAM Interior Design<\/a><\/p>\n Texture, Texture, and More Texture <\/p>\n Take it from Kathy Kuo<\/a>: the more opulent fabrics you add to your space (even if they\u2019re faux), the more expensive it\u2019ll look. \u201cI love adding a variety of luxurious textures to a room to get a look that feels very upscale and expensive,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n Think velvet pillows, cashmere throw blankets, and hair-on-hide rugs\u2014anything you instinctively want to touch. \u201cSmaller accent items instantly elevate a room and give it a very sophisticated, moneyed vibe,” Kuo says.<\/p>\n Cut Out Clutter <\/p>\n Imagine a pile of junk mail on your dining room table or a nightstand overflowing<\/a> with a week\u2019s worth of water glasses. Do any of those spaces say \u201cexpensive\u201d to you?\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen decorating, less is more,\u201d Cassie Fruggiero, a real estate agent with Cutter Luxe Living<\/a> says. \u201cClutter makes a space appear smaller<\/a>\u2014as well as plain uninviting.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n To up the luxe factor of any room, take time for a serious decluttering session<\/a>. Consider everything you\u2019re displaying, from coffee table books to appliances on your kitchen<\/a> countertops to the pile of shoes overtaking your entryway.<\/a> Showing off fewer and more meaningful items is not only budget-friendly, but less stressful to look at, too.<\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n Simply Sam<\/a><\/p>\n Showcase an Oversized Vase <\/p>\n To make a room look luxe, display a \u201clook at me\u201d vase with an eye-catching floral arrangement\u2014the bigger, the better.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAdd a large vase, the kind and scale you see at hotels and restaurants,\u201d entertaining expert and cookbook author Odette Williams<\/a> says. “Even in a small space, this can have great splendor.\u201d<\/p>\n Tip<\/p>\n If routinely filling a vase with fresh blooms isn\u2019t in your budget, go with faux greenery, dried flowers, or even foraged branches from your backyard instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n Alvin Wayne<\/a><\/p>\n A Little Light Makes a Big Difference <\/p>\n Think of lighting as a “two birds, one stone” situation. Not only is lighting a functional necessity, but a cool fixture can double as a striking art piece.<\/p>\n \u201cA decorative sconce can make a huge impact on an empty wall and create a luxurious feeling in any room, or a sculptural lamp can double as a piece of art,\u201d Leslie Dapper, lead designer at Rumor Designs<\/a> says. Best of all, there are plenty of budget-friendly options to shop.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sam Lund of Simply Sam<\/a> agrees. \u201cLighting is often the focal point of a room and can add elegance, funk, and style,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s a quick way to change the look and can be done with any budget.\u201d<\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n Dustin Halleck<\/a> for JAM Interior Design<\/a><\/p>\n \nFollow us to see more of our stories on Google.\n<\/p>\n Follow Us On<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Add a Rug\u2014and Then Another <\/p>\n Color, pattern, warmth, and a soft landing for your feet. Need we go on? The benefits of adding a rug<\/a> to any space, whether a living room<\/a>, hallway, or bedroom, are numerous\u2014including making a room look more expensive, even if the rug was a steal.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRugs can make any room look put together, which creates a more thoughtful and intentional space,\u201d Lund says. Your cold feet will thank you, too.<\/p>\n