HOW TO MAKE ANY ROOM LOOK EXPENSIVE ON A BUDGET

Here’s the truth: you don’t need to spend tens of thousands to upgrade your home. You don’t even need to gut walls or call in a contractor. With these 8 designer tricks, your space will look so polished your friends will assume you landed a promotion.

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SWAP YOUR BASIC LIGHTING

HANG YOUR CURTAINS HIGHER

Anyone, designer or not, can point out "builder bulbs" from a mile away. You know... those fixtures with the cloudy glass and chrome finish? The ceiling...breasts? Get. It. Out. You're better off without them. This is something you should invest in, if anything. Look for lights with a pop of color, an antique finish, or clear glass to show off those beautiful vintage bulbs.

PSA: If you aren't confident with electrical, please call a professional. It's better to be safe than sorry. If you're going DIY, turn that breaker off please... or all of them. Find a simple install video here.

DO NOT mount your curtain rods right above the window frame. Instead, hang them as close to the ceiling as possible. You’ll likely need longer panels so they skim the floor, but this instantly makes ceilings feel taller.

Want to take it up a notch? Extend the rod a few inches wider than your window. This tricks the eye into seeing a bigger, grander window.

Bonus tip: Use a double rod. Hang heavy, solid curtains on the front rod, and airy sheers on the inner rod. The filtered light through the sheers will subtly tint the room with whatever neutral color you choose—soft, layered, and high-end.

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HANG OVER-SIZED ART

REPLACE CABINET HARDWARE

Tiny art makes a room feel cluttered and unfinished. One oversized piece says, "I know what I’m doing."

Blow up a favorite photo, paint your own abstract canvas, or thrift something big and swap out the frame. The key is scale: go bigger than you think you should. Trust me—large art feels luxe even if it cost $30 and an afternoon with a paint roller.

You know what screams "builder-basic?" Those shiny, outdated cabinet pulls. Replacing them takes about 20 minutes and changes the entire vibe of a room. Go for matte black, brushed brass, or even leather-wrapped pulls if you’re feeling fancy. It’s like putting jewelry on your kitchen.

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LAYER TEXTURES - GET CRAZY

EDIT RUTHLESSLY

A room that feels flat usually looks flat, too. Designers fix that with texture: linen pillows, velvet throws, raw wood, smooth ceramics. The more contrast you have between soft and structured, matte and shiny, rough and sleek...the more expensive it going to feel. Even a single woven basket next to a sleek metal side table creates depth. I'm serious.

Here’s the real secret: expensive homes don’t have more stuff, they have less, but higher quality. Remove clutter, hide cords, and leave some breathing room around your decor. Suddenly, that $25 vase from Target looks like it came from a gallery.

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USE LARGER RUGS

ADD GREENERY

Tiny rugs kill good design. They make rooms feel like they’re floating. Instead, choose a rug large enough that your furniture sits fully on it (or at least the front legs). The bigger the rug, the bigger the room feels. Plus, it makes even simple furniture look anchored and intentional. Find a great rug size guide here.

Nothing says "designed" like a well-placed plant. A tall fiddle leaf fig in a woven basket fills empty corners, while trailing vines add movement to shelves. Black thumb? Go faux. High-quality fake plants have come a long way, and no one will know the difference. Like the lighting, these are an investment.

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