5 budget ways to make your home look expensive
Want to achieve champagne looks on a lemonade budget? Just follow these killer home hacks…
Whether you’re renting or renovating we’re betting you want your interiors to look luxurious. luckily, John Lewis Partner and interiors expert Will Law has on hand to dispense the best tips for creating upmarket home looks for down-to-earth prices…
1. Find free wall art
An inexpensive way to add prints to your home is by framing wallpaper samples. Choose a large scale design so that you can get a good crop of part of the pattern, without seeing a repeat. If you want to add depth, include a mount. This also works with fabrics, greeting cards and postcards.
The newest and chicest prints to look out for? Here are just a few…
2. Paint the skirting boards
You can add big impact to a space by breaking away from conventional ways of decorating. Next time you freshen up your paintwork, remember there are options instead of the traditional white gloss. Try adding colour to the typically whitewashed areas like the skirting board or window frames. Either blend these in with your wall colour or opt for a contrasting shade to boost your home's personality.
Here are some of the bold shades that should be on your radar…
3. Hide your clutter
Smaller storage options are just as effective at tidying things away as larger ones like expensive sideboards or cupboards. With the rise of the work from home lifestyle, it’s all about neat little nooks for items like laptop chargers and work-related papers. Make a feature out of your storage by opting for a high-shine lacquered storage box, or a modern take on a woven basket in a bright colour pop.
4. Add your own features
Living in a modern property that lacks architectural detailing such as coving or architraves? Retro-fitting them can be costly and seem incongruous with your home’s period, so a novel way to add interest is with paint. Simply mask out the areas where you want to add character, and paint in a feature colour.
5. Sand and stain woods to match
Things start to look unbalanced in a room if the finishes clash. With wood surfaces, you shouldn't mix cool and warm tones. You don’t necessarily have to cut out 50% of the furniture pieces on offer to you though: the perfect coffee table or chair could be made to fit your interior with a simple sand and stain in your chosen tone.
