30 Ways to Make Your House Look Expensive on a Budget

30 ways for how to make your home look expensive and intentional the easy way without costing you the high end designer bucks.

30 ways to make your house look expensive on a budget - dining room with navy blue paint and mural wallpaper

I blame TikTok for this post. (By the way, I feel really old over there, but I digress.) 

The other night, the house was feeling all cozy and cute with our lamps turned on and I thought, “Ah. I should take a little video of our foyer and dining room.” (Because they were literally the only two rooms not covered in laundry at the moment, ya know?)

Next thing I knew, TikTokers were commenting on that random video that it looked like “Nancy Meyers core” and “Luxe!” and saying, “It’s giving Pride and Prejudice vibes!” 

Who are these people and how do I tell them that basically half of this place is thrifted? 

So anyways, that sent me on a tailspin of ideas for this post of ALL the little ways for how to make your house look expensive (and basically fool everyone that you’re a designer worthy of Mr. Darcy, apparently). 

How to Make Your House Look Expensive on a Budget

1. Paint Doors a Contrasting Color

Instead of the standard, basic white, painting your doors a different color is a great way to make your home look more expensive. Most of ours are painted Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron.

But you could also try a steely gray or a mushroomy taupe. Go bold with a punch of color, if that’s your style. Choosing anything but plain white makes your home feel custom without needing to spend a lot. Here’s how to paint interior doors.

white hallway with black doors

2. Add Molding, Wall Trim, or Architectural Details

There are so many different ways to DIY molding and wall trim out there. Or you can beef up your existing crown molding with this quick trick or make a grid wall as a focal point. 

However you can add millwork or some form of wall treatment to your spaces is a huge plus for adding a layer of luxury. 

black bedroom with linen poster bed

3. Go Large with Wall Art

One of the best ways to make a room feel luxe is to add large statement-making wall art. It doesn’t have to be expensive at all. We built this large scale art using a shower curtain. Or create this large art with plywood and lattice strips. Visit the thrift store to find large canvases to paint over. It’s one of the easiest ways to stretch your decorating budget.

Even though it isn’t actually that expensive to create, large scale art gives the illusion that it cost a couple thousand dollars. 

how to make your house look expensive - use large wall art

4. Change Out Your Hardware

It’s amazing how taking basic cabinets and adding unique knobs can create major wow factor. 

Add some interesting drawer pulls to a plain dresser. Or swap out your doorknobs around the house for ones with a vintage (or ultra modern) vibe. Those small details make such a difference.

how to make your house look expensive - swap out hardware on cabinets

5. Declutter

If you really want to know how to make your house look expensive for totally free, decluttering doesn’t cost a thing. This is especially important in small spaces. 

You don’t necessarily have to be a minimalist, but the goal should be to make a “home” for every item in a room. You don’t even have to be an interior designer to improve your space in that way.

white living room with marble coffee table and Pottery Barn sofas

Creating colorful, eclectic, quirky gallery walls is so much fun, but if your goal is to create the illusion of “high end”, scaling back on the variety of colors, shapes, and textures achieves that luxe room look. 

Choose art or photos that are within a similar color palette. Incorporate frames that are similar (or identical) in size and shape. Arrange them in a geometric layout like a grid or stair step.

The more uniform and symmetrical the art and layout, the more streamlined your gallery wall will look. 

audubon art gallery wall in an entryway with bench

7. Add Flowers or Plants

Every room needs at least a couple of plants or fresh flowers (or faux) for adding some life to a space. Think spa. Greenery just adds that little bit of zen to a room. 

These are some of my favorite faux flowers that look realistic to place in a vase. 

white painted hallway with plants and runner rug

8. Use White Bed Linens

When you visit a luxury hotel, the sheets are always white. They feel clean and crisp (and bonus points: they can be bleached). 

By using white sheets and duvets in your bedrooms, you’re evoking that same luxurious look of a hotel in your home. These are my favorite budget-friendly sheets, and these are my favorite splurge sheets

white bedding and green curtains in a guest bedroom

9. Use White Towels

Just like with white bedding, use white towels to create a high end spa feeling in your bathrooms. It’s one of the most inexpensive ways to create that high-end look. Bonus points: white towels can make a huge difference in your skincare too since you can more easily bleach away bacteria. 

These are some of my go-to budget bathroom towels

how to make your house look expensive - use white towels

10. Hang Your Curtains “High and Wide” and Kiss or Lightly Puddle the Floor

Design tip: Hanging floor-to-ceiling window treatments on curtain rods high above window frames and wider than the window trim gives the illusion of high ceilings and large windows. This makes the space look larger overall. Make sure they’re long enough to hang floor to ceiling so the hem of your curtains barely touch the floor (or slightly puddle for a more relaxed, romantic look). 

I love these luxury for less curtains from Amazon

how to make your house look expensive - hang curtains high and wide

11. Customize Your Lighting – When In Doubt, Oversize It

If you don’t know how to make your house look expensive at all, start with the light fixtures. 

Swap out the dreaded “boob lights” and builder grade lights for ones that are more expressive of your style. (These shaded chandeliers are the perfect blend of modern and traditional.)

It’s better to choose a light fixture or chandelier that is slightly oversized than one that is too small for the room. You can DIY this sunburst light fixture here. Keep an eye out for chandeliers or fixtures from the thrift store that you can spray paint.

sunburst light fixture in a playroom with a fireplace

12. Add Built-Ins

Built-in shelving, window seats, or closets can be so expensive, but if you know how to make them yourself using IKEA hacks, they’re a great beginner level carpentry project that can customize a room for way less than the real thing. 

See how to build your own custom closet using IKEA shelves. Or you can make these DIY built-in shelves for a living room or playroom. 

DIY built in closet shelving using IKEA bookcases

13. Choose Natural Materials

Whenever possible, incorporate materials that are found in nature. Go with real marble instead of laminate (like this marble coffee table I thrifted) or pick solid wood furnishings rather than veneer (that you can often find secondhand for less). 

Leather, antique brass, and crystal feel luxe in comparison to their cheaper alternatives, and you can often score them on Facebook Marketplace or at antique stores. The end result when pulling those materials together creates the feeling that your house is luxurious and expensive too. 

marble bathroom countertop with wood vanity and Venetian mirrors

14. Use Appropriately Sized Rugs

See this post for more help in choosing the best sized rug for your room. When walking into a space that has a too-small rug, it immediately feels off balance. 

If you live in an open concept home, rugs can help define individual living spaces. 

Check clearance sections on store websites for rugs (here’s the list where I recommend to buy rugs), or set up notifications on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Many people buy rugs and change their minds but can’t return them, so you can swoop in to get the deal. 

home office with navy blue IKEA cabinets and work table with rolling armchairs

15. Layer Your Lighting

Designers often recommend for a room to have 3 types of lighting: ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. 

  • Ambient or “general” lighting – canned lights, chandeliers, ceiling-mounted fixtures, buffet lamps, etc.
  • Task lighting – lights to help you see tasks better such as under-cabinet lights, desk lamps, table lamps, reading lamps, etc.
  • Accent lighting – lights used to create a feeling of “atmosphere” such as picture lights, candlelight, wall-mounted sconces, etc. 

In the living room below, the chandelier is the ambient lighting, the floor lamp and table lamp are the task lighting for reading, and the wall-mounted sconces beside the TV are the accent lighting. 

Layering those 3 types of lighting adds depth to a room and helps set the mood. 

Bonus points: put them on dimmer light switches!

living room using the 3 types of lighting - ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting

16. Go for Down or Down Alternative Throw Pillows One Size Larger

Ditch the floppy poly-fill throw pillow inserts for down or down alternative ones to make your beds and sofas feel a little more upscale like those in expensive homes. If possible, choose inserts one size larger than your throw pillow covers. 

(Tip: Hit the clearance aisle of TJ Maxx or HomeGoods to find super marked down or damaged down pillows. Toss or donate the cover and use the insert to replace a poly-fill one in a cover you already own. I’ve found down inserts for around $5-8 as an affordable way to get the look.) 

add down pillow inserts to throw pillow covers on a bed

17. Paint Walls and Trim the Same Color

A fresh coat of paint can do so much for the overall look of your home. If you’re feeling extra brave, paint the ceiling too! The end result makes a huge impact with the illusion of a room of more square footage. 

Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog teen girl bedroom with faux shiplap walls

18. Incorporate Heirloom Quality Pieces

You can find high quality furniture pieces and decorative elements at estate sales and flea markets for a total bargain! And now that grandmillennial style is “in”, that creates even more opportunity to grant vintage furniture a new lease on life. You would be surprised what touch of luxury is waiting to be discovered in your local classifieds at a bargain.

See how to clean wood furniture here and make it look brand new. 

wood dresser in a toddler girl bedroom

19. Update Your Lamp Shades

Lamps can date a room instantly, but you can get fresh updates to your style by simply swapping out an old lamp shade for one that’s more modern on the existing base. It’s one of those small changes that creates a whole new look without the need of purchasing an entirely new lamp. 2700 Kelvin light bulbs can achieve a feeling of coziness.

See more inexpensive designer dupe lamps here.

how to make your house look expensive - swap your lamp shades - living room end table decor with a lamp and empire lamp shade

20. Use Neutrals Wisely

When budget is tight, stick to neutrals as your “base” for a simple way to achieve sophistication- like curtains, furniture, area rug, paint colors. Then, allow pops of color and trends to shine through your home decor accents and personalized the look of any room.

It’s much easier to change those smaller accents later versus changing an entire room of large bold, patterned pieces.

white Pottery Barn York sofa in a living room with black French doors and linen curtains

21. Don’t Hold Back on Bold, Rich Hues

On the flipside of #20, don’t be afraid to punch a room with a hit of bold, rich color if your heart says to go for it! 

I love using navy blue paint because it’s dramatic and sophisticated but can still act as a neutral when you want it to. It creates a more expensive look for just the cost of paint. If you’re going to go all in, go all in

The best guideline for creating a luxe looking home in case choosing paint colors scares you: pick the paint colors at the very top or very bottom of the paint color sample strip. There’s a feeling of sophistication when it comes to high contrast spaces. 

navy blue dining room and white buffet table with picture frame molding and gold mirror

22. Mat Your Photos

There’s something about adding that thick, white paper mount around a photo. It’s a luxurious upgrade to art that makes it feel special and important. 

You can find all kinds of picture frames out there already matted at Target or Walmart, or pick up a mat at the craft store for around $5-10 to fit any frames you already own. 

how to make your house look expensive - mat your photos - family photo gallery wall in black frames on a staircase

23. Make an Impact with Wallpaper

Nothing says custom in a house quite like wallpaper. If you’re afraid of commitment, go with peel and stick instead of the pasted type. 

how to make your house look expensive - add wallpaper - chinoiserie wallpaper in a toddler girl bedroom

24. Add a Backsplash

One of the most budget-friendly ways to upgrade the look of your kitchen is to add a backsplash to the drywall under your cabinets. 

If tile is too pricey or you don’t feel quite skilled enough, this DIY pressed tin backsplash is a fast, tool-free, inexpensive alternative.

One day, we plan to fully remodel this kitchen, but that backsplash helped refresh it a lot.

white pressed tin backsplash in a kitchen with white and green cabinets

25. Be Mindful of Your Home’s Scent

Run a diffuser with some of your favorite essential oils, warm wax melts, light a candle, get a plug-in fragrance diffuser. These charcoal bags are great for absorbing old house smells and cooking smells. Indoor plants can make a big difference to help cleanse the air as well. 

Whatever you choose, the smell in our homes creates a sensory experience unlike any other. That one change can do so much. 

Related: How to Make Your House Smell Good Naturally

how to make your house look expensive - be mindful of your home's scent - diffuser on a nightstand with nightstand decor

26. Mismatch Your Furniture

Resist the urge to buy all of your living room furniture or bedroom furniture as one set from the furniture store. 

Instead, swap out one of the matching dressers with a dresser in another bedroom to allow variation. It’s an interior design trick that can make your rooms look more custom.

how to make your house look expensive - mismatch furniture in bedrooms and living rooms

27. Reflect Light in Dark Spaces with a Large Mirror

One of the best interior design tricks to make a house look expensive is by reflecting light on dark walls opposite from windows with a mirror to help rooms feel bigger and brighter. 

I love these antique gold mirrors especially that add a luxe quality. 

antique gold mirror in an entryway above foyer chest

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28. Put Toys In Cabinets and Bins When Not In Use

Utilize bins, closets, and cabinets as one of the most effective ways for keeping toys out of sight after play time. (Bonus: It teaches kiddos the responsibility of clean=up time too.) 

Related: Secret Toy Storage in the Playroom + the Chicest Amazon Storage Furniture

how to make your house look expensive - put toys in bins and cabinets - playroom cabinets with tapestry and modular chairs
toys hidden in a basket

29. Thrift for Vintage Items

Use this post for a list of the best items to look out for at the thrift store. By mixing old and new decor, your home feels a bit more steeped in history and adds a layer of sophistication without a lot of money. 

how to make your house look expensive - thrift vintage items - vintage black writing desk in a guest bedroom with green velvet curtains

30. Be Intentional with Household Items

There are plenty of ways to make household items more aesthetic. Decant hand soap into glass soap dispensers, keep cooking utensils in a displayable container, store Q-tips in an apothecary jar, pick a “pretty” toilet brush… it’s the little things you use all the time that add up to a better daily experience. 

But it also reduces visual clutter by eliminating plastic packaging. The reduction of clutter makes your space feel more inviting to you and others. 

black and white bathroom with retro tile and tightrope walker art
how to make your house look expensive - put household items in pretty containers - kitchen counter decor

Got any other budget-friendly ideas you’d add in about how to make your house look expensive? 

Whew! 30 ways is a long list, but I’m sure there are more out there. 

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29 Comments

  1. Great ideas! I was looking at #26 and noticed the five drawer chest of drawers. How do you open the drawers? I see small ‘slits’ on each drawer but no knobs or pulls. Just wondering.

  2. Absolutely love these sweet tips and ideas. Comes as perfect timing for us as we attempt to add the finishing style to our tiny house. I need that gentle nudge to use a splash of color…and the door ideas is perfect.

    1. The doors really do add SO much! It’s one of those things you don’t really think about and usually doors need a fresh coat of paint every so often anyway, so why not? 😉