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100 Cheap Decor Ideas That Look Expensive
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Treat Each Room as a Blank Slate
Take note of the preexisting features in your home you can highlight. Architectural details such as crown molding, wooden beams, hardwood floors, built-in bookshelves, and mosaic-tile backsplashes are all worth focusing on. These details don’t just look expensive; they are expensive. Make them as prominent as possible—keep them clean, clutter free, and the focal point of the room. For example, don’t splurge on an expensive painting just to have it compete with a show-stopping fireplace. If you’re thinking about painting make sure you check out these 10 incredible painting tips.
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Add a Pop of Color
“Paint is extremely inexpensive and makes a big difference,” says Keysha Jillian, lead interior designer and owner of K. Jillian Designs, based in Tampa, Florida. “Whether you need to tone down a color or add a bold color to liven up your space, color is great for changing the overall feel of a room.” A nice wash of color might only cost around $31.99 for a gallon.
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Pick Towels You’re Actually Excited to Use
It’s time to get rid of those dingy old bath towels—discolored whites and bleach-stained colors make your space look dirty and cheap. See what else you need to toss, too.
“Proudly display crisp white, fluffy towels like the kind you would find in a fancy hotel or spa,” says Drew Henry, founder of design firm Design Dudes. “This will immediately trigger a feeling for your guests, and they will have a more luxurious feeling towards the space.” Make sure you’re not over-decorating your place.
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Swap Out Your Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are an easy way to accessorize and brighten a room, whether you buy them or make your own. Jillian says homeowners should throw out their older throw pillows and replace them with bright, fuller pillows—or just buy crisp new pillow covers. “Mix and match colors and textures, and blend different groupings,” she says. But more is not better. “There can be too many pillows, so make sure you don’t go overboard.”
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Add Molding
If your walls are bare besides the occasional artwork, consider adding molding to the baseboard, chair rail, or ceiling. “It doesn’t even have to be a gaudy, Victorian-style molding—a simple and single-shape, single-depth piece of molding will do the trick,” says interior designer Erica Leigh Reiner, owner of E. Leigh Designs.
If you’re thinking about molding, see why you need to consider crown molding.
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Hang Art On the Walls
From family photos to DIY art, framed works can make a house feel like a home. Before mounting any work, homeowners should figure out where everything should be placed and the proper way to hang it. “Make sure the art you select is the right size and scale for the wall you’re decorating, and remember you don’t need artwork on every empty wall,” says Jillian. “If you feel creative, a great way to get inexpensive artwork is to create your own. Head to your local craft store and you can find everything you need to create a beautiful canvas or framed custom artwork.” Here’s the best way to hang picture frames perfectly straight. You can opt for this Go Hang It kit for the same, too.
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Accent with Accessories
Magazines are a great source of home decorating ideas and inspiration for how to accessorize a room. Here is your guide to some trendsetting furniture styles. However, homeowners should expect to shop around for a budget-friendly version of anything they see in a design magazine. “Accessories vary significantly in cost, but if you’re looking for a great deal there are plenty of discount home stores that offer stupendous finds, says Jillian. “My ‘go-to’ store for a lot of home design items (especially for clients on a budget) is HomeGoods.”
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Create DIY “Built-In” Structures
The key to making any piece—from bookshelves to kitchen cabinets look custom is to have them fit into your home perfectly. The easiest way to achieve this look is to have them extend all the way from floor to ceiling. A bookshelf that spans an entire wall will almost always look more expensive than one that stands alone. Luckily, with a bit of forward planning, this project can be tackled in one or two weekends. Save money with these other Here are 50 incredible DIY projects you need to try.
Editor’s Tip: You found an old bookshelf at a garage sale, in your basement, or on Craigslist, but it needs a little TLC. Whether you use paint, stain, or some creative contact paper, here’s a look at the best-looking refurbished bookshelves to inspire you.
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Update Old Fixtures
A quick and easy way to decorate on a dime is to update old fixtures, especially in the kitchen. Knobs, handles, drawer pulls, and light switch plates are small, inexpensive details that give your home a high-end sheen. See the 12 other things making your home look dated and how to fix them.
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Give the Illusion of Higher Ceilings
If you can’t raise your roof, literally, you might consider raising your window treatments. Jillian suggests raising window panels to create an illusion of height and give it a grander feel. “Window treatment is often underrated and clients commonly overlook the impact it has on a space,” she says. “An inexpensive way to achieve this tip is to simply add fabric to your existing panels. Once you find the perfect complimentary fabric, simply take it to your local seamstress to have him/her add the fabric at the top, middle, or end of the fabric.” You have to see these 10 incredible window treatments to get some ideas.
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Add Visual Space with a Mirror or Two
Your eyes—and potential buyers’ eyes—will be tricked into thinking a space is larger than it actually is with some sneaky mirror placement. Large mirrors will reflect the room back, making it appear more spacious—even twice its actual size. It’s also one of 15 ideas to make a small room look bigger.
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Get Rid of Something Super Old or Ugly
If a dated light fixture or piece of furniture constantly makes you groan, get rid of it. The project doesn’t have to break the budget: Drab wall colors can easily be painted, and outdated knobs and hardware can be inexpensively replaced. Even dated kitchen cabinets can be painted white and instantly brought out of the ’80s.
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Use Bookshelves for More Than Books
Lines of books have to look like a stuffy library. “Intersperse with a few framed photos and interesting book ends,” says Ana Cummings, design expert on CTV’s Homes & Lifestyles Canada. “Make sure it is neat and tidy—that alone speaks volumes.”
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Add an Area Rug
Area rugs can really transform a space. “Area rugs help ground furniture groupings, define rooms, and add more interest to an area,” Jillian says. “It is recommended that all of your furniture sit on the area rug, but at the very least, make sure the feet of your furniture are touching a portion of the rug.”
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Make Walls Shine
Lustrous wallpaper adds dimension to an otherwise flat area. Go for just a hint of shine with a semi-gloss or luster sheen to keep it classy, not gaudy, says Reiner. “Stick to simple neutral or semi-neutral colors, but look for a paper with a hint of a shine the light can bounce off of,” she says. Check out these 10 tips to make wallpapering easier.
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Stick to Classic Neutral Walls
When in doubt on paint color, choose a classic neutral. Colors like beige, gray, greige, and yellow will always look fresh and on trend. What’s more, they pair well with everything. Limit bold accent colors to accessories, and you’ll never have to repaint an entire room because a bright color choice got to be too much. Here are expert tips for picking perfect paint colors.
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Choose Deep Colors
If neutral colors aren’t your thing, bold colors can scream “elegant” with a bigger punch, says interior designer Douglas Graneto. “Deep hues with shiny finishes are the way to go,” he says. “For example, a deep navy wall with gold and purple contrast within the decor can exude a glamorous energy that for sure can feel luxurious.” Just like one of these 50 opulent castles.
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Don’t Match Finishes Perfectly, Coordinate Them
Certain stains and finishes play well with others (for example, cherry wood marries well with oak, and hickory blends tend to work well with almost everything), but the vast majority do not. If you’re looking to match your floor to your cabinets, or your faucets to your doorknobs, go for an exact match, or make a real contrast; aim for at least three shades darker or lighter. An almost match has the tendency to look cheap. Fun fact: did you know that brass doorknobs kill the majority of bacteria?
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Splurge on Statement Pieces
Dining room tables, stand-out rugs, chandeliers, and sofas all have the ability to upgrade a home’s sense of luxury. Identify a few key pieces that you see and use often (especially if they’re ones that are visible from several other rooms) and decide if it makes sense to budget for a splurge. If you decide it’s a go, choose colors and fabrics that are easily cleaned and not easily stained or destroyed.
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Light Up the Room
Natural lighting and source lighting is very important to a room. “Make sure you don’t block windows, and also be sure to add table and floor lamps throughout your space for a huge statement,” Jillian says. Big box stores sell light fixtures for about $50, but the look of a bigger room is priceless. Any pricey light fixtures might be better suited for your wedding registry.
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Personalize Your Towels
Find plain white towels too ho-hum? Add a simple DIY detailing to basic towels to show off your signature style, suggests luxury interior designer Charmaine Wynter. “Just select a coordinating ribbon color and pull out your sewing machine,” she says.
You might find comfort in adding a towel warmer, which can be found for about $50.
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Mix Up Your Bedroom Set
The easiest option won’t always pack the biggest punch. “If you have a dresser in a bedroom with a matching mirror, it makes the room much more interesting if you hang a different mirror over the dresser,” says Myrf Bowry, interior designer and cofounder of Decorum Inc. No need to throw that matching mirror out, she says; just hang it in another room. Want to upgrade your old dresser? Here are a few painted dresser ideas to revive the old look.
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Add Voluminous Accessories
Expensive items tend to have weight and volume to them (that’s why heavier gold bangles appear more luxurious than lighter ones that feel like—and possibly are—made of plastic). Avoid flimsiness at all costs: add an extra panel of curtains to your curtain rod, and search for quality carpets and throw blankets that great to the touch. Additionally, accessorize with weighty accent pieces; vases, picture frames, and ornaments should all feel like they’ve got something to them.
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Opt for Custom-Fitted Blinds
“Any badly fitting blind within the recess looks cheap if not sized correctly to the window,” says Nicola Croughan, lead interior designer and stylist at Blinds Direct. Spending just a little more on a made-to-measure style is much more elegant, she says. She recommends picking plush Roman blinds and wide-slat wood blinds, and says to pick a water-resistant roller blind for bathrooms and kitchens to prevent mold.
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Create Your Own Statement Artwork
If your room lacks a preexisting focal point, create one using artwork. One option is to create a multi-panel piece (one picture blown up and printed onto three panels hung next to each other) or a gallery-type display of frames. Hang pictures perfectly with these hacks.
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Keep Your Home Clean
Follow the rule of threes (objects look best when organized in odd numbers, especially threes) and leave a generous amount of white space on your walls and surfaces. When it comes to looking luxe, less is always more. File paperwork out of sight, find a home for everything, and clear the clutter. Try these clutter-busting strategies for every room.
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Up Your Thread Count
No matter what your bedding style, increasing the thread count for your sheets will instantly make your sleep space more luxe, says Wynter. Your home won’t just look expensive—it will feel it.
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Add a Centerpiece
No need to wait for a dinner party to elevate your usual table setting. Something as simple as fresh-cut flowers can make it seem like you’ve put time and effort into your dinner table, says Henry.
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Hunt for Real Stone
Real granite and limestone countertops look much more luxe than your typical acrylic, but unfortunately their prices usually reflect that. If you’re willing to do a bit of hunting, though, you might be able to slash the price tag, says Bowry. “You can sometimes find a great deal on a real stone top at your local stone yard, in the remnant section,” she says. Check out these other 12 projects that add value to your home.
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Focus On Faucets
If you only have room in the budget for one high-end bathroom feature, make it a quality tap. Pairing it with plain, wallet-friendly tiles will actually highlight the money spent, says interior designer René Dekker. “If you look in the window of any high-end jewelry store, you will see that the finely crafted items, the gold and diamonds, are always displayed against plain neutral backgrounds which show them off much better … the same concept will work in your bathroom,” he says.
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Look Entertaining-Ready
If you have a dining room table you don’t use unless company is visiting, keep the settings there to fake your way to looking like a master host. “A staged tablescape will make the space feel more elegant,” says Henry.
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Don’t Put Form Above Function
A gorgeous new couch won’t look chic when kids and pets ruin it. That said, durable doesn’t have to be drab. Kelly Barnett, lead designer for Jillian O’Neill Collective in Chicago, recommends indoor/outdoor Sunbrella fabrics and Restoration Hardware’s Perennials line for attractive pieces that can withstand some wear and tear. “I’ve cleaned red wine off of my West Elm performance velvet swivel chairs with a baby wipe,” she says. “These fabrics are extremely durable and give upholstered pieces a much higher-end look than the old microfibers.”
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Pick Basic Bedding
You might think deep-hued satins would be key to an expensive-looking bedding set, but keeping it simple will make the room seem bigger since the bed takes up so much space. “Keep the duvet covers white and you’ll instantly feel the lightness of the room,” says Isobel McKenzie, editor of interior design site NONAGON.style. Bonus: Whites can handle hotter temperatures, so that deep clean will make sheets look extra-crisp, she says. Check out these other 34 important things to do when planning to sell your home.
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Give Boring Products a Worthy Home
Even cleaning products deserve luxury treatment. “Ditch your plastic Dawn bottle and pour your favorite dish soap into a glass hand soap dispenser,” says Wynter. “Voila! Instant luxe.” Check out a crazy cool renovation of a 1950s bathroom.
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Up the Fluff Factor
An inexpensive throw pillow will seem so much more luxurious when you replace the original insides with a feather insert. “They just look and feel so much better than foam,” says Cummings. Add some throw pillows to an awesome game room.
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Ditch the Old Toothbrush Holder
Upgrading your toothbrush holder and soap dish is a low-cost way to add flair to your bathroom. Pick a sleek, modern set that matches the rest of your décor, suggests interior designer Dayna Hairston, founder of Dayziner.
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Pick Basic Dishes
Shelling out on fine china isn’t the only way to create a stunning table setting. “White dishes … have a low price tag with a high impact,” says Henry. Pair them with gold flatware for a trendy, high-brow look. See the brilliant items you can create with dollar store items that look fantastic, too.
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Keep Toys to a Minimum
It’s easy to let toys take over the whole house, so Barnett has a rule that big toys need to stay in bedrooms and the basement. Once those are out of sight, board games and crayons won’t seem so obtrusive—especially if they stay in their homes. Here’s how to store those toys so they stay out of the way.
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Seek Out Softness
“Velvet or velour has both a luxurious feel and look,” says Croughan. “In fact, most soft-to-touch fabrics work best.” Go bold with a deep jewel tone or pair a neutral color scheme with pastel “ice cream shades” like mint green or blush, she says.
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Shed Some Light
Quit making lighting a second thought, says McKenzie. “Very often in luxury homes and apartments, you’ll find that the lighting is subtly done but brings your attention to certain areas,” she says. Installing warm LED strip lighting on top of a bookshelf or under a mirror adds interest and dimension. Here are our favorite apartment decorating ideas that will make you feel relaxed and calm.
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Hunt Around for New Options
When you find a bed or couch you love, you might be tempted to buy the whole set to guarantee a good match, but that can look cheap, says Bowry. “All homes are much more interesting if things coordinate but are not all matchy-matchy,” she says. While you’re at it, check out these couches for small spaces, too.
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Go Big
Hiking up the size of your décor creates a big impression, even if the pieces aren’t too pricy, says Yael Meromy of design firm Studio D. “We love to use large-scale art and décor, like a massive canvas that takes up an entire wall or a well-oversized thick-framed mirror that leans against the wall instead of hanging, to create a space that’s impactful, memorable and grand,” she says.
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Create a Gallery Wall
A well composed gallery wall will exude elegance, thoughtfulness and will stand out to visitors,” says interior designer Jillian O’Neill. A gallery wall can pack a big punch and highlight the effort you put into your décor, but they can look like a mish-mosh if they aren’t designed well. To create a cohesive look with minimal effort, choose frames that work together. Picking two or three colors like black and gold or silver and white will help the display look coordinated, even if the pictures inside don’t match as much, says O’Neill.
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Don’t Go Overboard On Color
Sprinkling just one or two accent colors throughout the home will add a pop that looks cohesive without going over the top. “Adding too much color will immediately make it feel shabby chic or Boho, which is nice but a very different vibe than luxe,” says Henry.
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Brighten Up the Laundry Room
Don’t ignore design in your laundry room just because you don’t love spending time there. “Laundry rooms are a great room to paint a fun color that you may be scared to use other places,” says Bowry. “Rugs and artwork also make the room more inviting.” She recommends parents hang their kids’ artwork there. Your little ones will feel special with their art displayed proudly, but you can keep your pricier pieces in the rooms guests see.
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Refresh Instead of Replacing
A fresh coat of paint isn’t the only DIY you can use to liven up a drab space. Staining your kitchen cabinets will give them a whole new look and won’t set your budget back by much, says interior designer Blima Ehrentreu, CEO of The Designers Group. “We often like to two-tone our kitchen design,” she says. “It adds a unique quality to the cabinetry.” Check out these 5 brilliant IKEA hacks.
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Add Interest to a Bathroom
Living rooms aren’t the only rooms that can benefit from a statement wall. Creating one in the bathroom will create a big impact where guests won’t expect it. “By changing up a wall with a different color or tile, it gives the space a subtle and distinctive design element,” says Ehrentreu. Stop yourself from flushing money down the drain with a bathroom remodel with these tips.
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Pay Attention to Details
Your furniture and appliance choices might be the first things people notice, but giving details special attention makes it seem like you spent even more time and money creating your space. “Switching out small fixtures and hardware in the home for more thoughtful pieces can make the design of the home feel more intentional, which, in turn, makes it feel more expensive,” says designer Justina Blakenly, founder of Jungalow. Replace a dated flush mount light with a modern style, or swap plastic wall plates for metal, she suggests.
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Create a Vignette
Otherwise “dead space” can be dressed up to make the whole room look more styled. “Areas like coffee tables, consoles, empty corners of a kitchen counter … are all prime real estate for a well dressed vignette,” says Cummings.
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Harmonize with Color
Creating the perfect color palette is more complicated than grabbing three of your favorite colors, but taking the time to perfect your color scheme will make your home look worthy of a catalogue. “I advise my clients to focus on a color family, or to pick hues that complement each other—not contrast,” says designer Gil Greenwash, author of Gil Walsh Interiors: A Case for Color. “Too many bold colors or a soft palette that lacks depth tends to fall flat.”
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Show Off Wood Floors
Replace carpeting with hardwood floors to make your space feel bigger, suggests Hairston. “Carpet tends to trap in dust and particulates and absorbs moisture which can leave an odor,” she says. “Hard surface flooring is easier to clean, is allergy-friendly, and can provide a more updated and modern look to your home.” Layered area rugs will add more visual interest than floor-to-floor carpeting.
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Add Classic Wainscoting
If you’re willing to invest a few days in transforming a room and are a fan of a more traditional look, wainscoting is the way to go. The cost varies, but installing these wood panels in a small to midsize room shouldn’t cost more than a few hundred dollars. And the results are hard to ignore: bright white, clean lines and a classic finish. Curious how? Learn how to install wainscoting here.
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Update Your Light Fixtures
If that outdated eyesore overhead makes you cringe, ditch it! Swapping out an old light fixture for a new one instantly updates the ambiance of your space. And before you begin installing new light fixtures, faucets, door handles and cabinet hardware, think hard about your personal style, which material (brass, brushed nickel, stainless steel) best reflects that and which is the most timeless. Then, make each fixture consistent throughout the home.
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Try Luxe Paint Treatments
Instead of sticking to interior eggshell paints, opt for a special paint treatment in a few key spots in your home. With finishes like metallic stripes, sandstone, random rectangles, textured sand and brushed suede, to name a few, you’ll create a purposeful and elegant look that will draw the eye exactly where you want it to go.
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Stick With the Classics
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Timeless Trimmings
Bright, fresh molding can work wonders for any room. And despite the fact that it’s brand new, no one will know the difference between classic trim that was installed 50-plus years ago, and the project you just completed last weekend. If you own a table saw, this one’s for you. All you need are these step-by-step instructions.
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Subway Tile
Subway tile is beautiful and timeless. And best of all, it gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Subway tile is an affordable option for kitchens and baths, so you can keep costs low and achieve a stunning look. Learn how to master the art of subway tile here!
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Shop at Thrift and Antique Stores
Never judge a store by its logo or storefront because you have no idea what treasures it will hold. You can find real gems at thrift stores. And don’t be afraid of a little hard work, if your initial purchase isn’t exactly what you wanted, be open to repainting, switching out hardware, or changing the fabric. Quality secondhand finds will add a high-end look to your home. Check out these creative yet simple ideas for painting furniture.
Anyone can make a nasty seat nice in just a couple of hours. Here’s how to do a first class DIY chair upholstery job.
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Make a Good First Impression
After opening and shutting, welcoming visitors, and keeping out harsh weather for 20, 30 or sometimes even 100 years, your front door is likely showing some wear and tear. If you’re looking for a total do-over, replace the front door completely. And if you’re looking for an instant-refresher without the price tag, sand the door and paint it a bright blue or red, something to contrast with the rest of your home. Here are 15 stunning front doors to inspire you.
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Spend Your Money Wisely
Pay attention to detail when buying staple items. Furniture that is made well will give your space a high-end look. And spending money on long-haul items, like a couch, allows you to mix in refurbished thrift items or DIY projects while keeping the look of the room upscale. It’s important to invest in your staple items, but buy budget-friendly items when purchasing throw pillows and other accessories. This combination creates a high-end look that has design longevity without making you go over budget.
If you’re looking to become a DIYer or if you’ve been a DIYer for years we’ve got an assortment of 50 incredible DIY projects you can try.
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Keep It Clean
Minimalism is your friend when it comes to making your home look high-end. And fortunately buying fewer pieces is cheaper than buying more pieces. Additionally, stacking clutter into neat piles is very effective, and cleanliness is next to fanciness. The most important element when it comes to making a home look attractive and expensive are your intentions with the space, so make it your own and keep it clean! There are even ways to make minimalism feel warm.
Check out these clutter-busting strategies for every room.
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Complement Your Door with a Burst of Color
It's a common choice to paint front doors an inviting, vibrant color like a lush green or cherry red to help welcome visitors. Carry this idea inside by adding a splash of a complementary color in your entryway. This could be a bright rug, a painted chair or bench, a piece of art or an entire wall. The key is to continue that vibrant welcoming experience from the front door into your home.
Plus: How to paint your door
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Choose a Table
If you don't have a lot of entryway space, choose a smallish table. Entry way and foyer tables are narrow models that can easily fit in even tight hallways. Decorate your entryway table with a vase of flowers and a platter for keys, and consider adding a small mat or cubby underneath for people to store their shoes.
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Got Stairs? Liven Them Up
Many entryways have an annoying problem: They face directly into a stairway, which isn't necessarily the prettiest view. However, you can make it a lot better with a stairway renovation project such as stained or painted wood wainscoting. Carpet stair runners or painted steps can also make your stairs an attraction instead of a distraction.
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Set Up a Mirror to Expand the Space
You see quite a few mirrors in entryways, and for good reason. They help visually expand what is often a tight and slightly claustrophobic space. If your entryway feels cramped when people show up, try adding a large mirror on a nearby wall.
Plus: How to hang mirrors and art
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Without a Hall, Create a Sitting Area
Does your entrance just sort of...end? If there's no clear-cut entryway, a fun alternative is to create a little sitting area with a couple chairs, an ottoman or two, and a small table. Sync up their colors to give the feeling of a separate, private area where people can don or doff their outdoor clothing and have a final chat before leaving.
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Create a Cabinet that Looks Good and Serves a Purpose
Usually if you have a small entryway you also have a small entryway closet. One way to dress up the limited space is with this attractive entryway storage and organizing cabinet. Complete DIY plans are here, and you can dress it up with unique coat hooks or other embellishments that reflect your style.
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Mother Nature
Let a local nature feature that you love, especially one that you already encourage outside your home, like birds, bunnies, herbs or flowers, inspire your entryway design. Use this feature to guide all your entryway décor decisions. Buy wall decor, frames and other compatible entryway items to create a unified space. This helps link your entryway to nature and gives you focus.
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Rich, Natural Wood
For a cabin or cottage-like feel, use natural wood throughout your entryway. Wooden wall panels, carved chairs, homemade wood benches, and natural wood tables can work together to create a warm, inviting space. You can stick to one species of wood or mix it up for a more eclectic vibe. Look for pieces with beautiful grain so that they really stand out. While you're at it, learn how to refinish furniture without stripping it.
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Seasonal Style
What's your favorite season? Choose the colors, flowers and prints associated with that season to spruce up your entryway. Then, switch things up a bit to celebrate the seasons as they come and go.
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Let Your Floor Stand Out
One entryway trend incorporates dark wood floorboards (heavily caramelized bamboo, hickory, walnut, ebony, etc.). These floors make a perfect counterpoint to white walls and off-white rugs that work together for a striking effect that tends to work for almost any entryway.
Plus: Learn how to install floorboards
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Set Up a Partition to Create an Entryway Space
If you really want that entryway feeling but don't have the space, consider setting up a partition. A large, stylish wood panel partition can fit well in many homes, but there are also many woven and fabric partitions to choose from, as well as DIY models created from reclaimed partitions and other inventive reclamations. The partition shown here is a DIY project and you can check out the complete instructions here.
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Show Off Family Pictures the Interesting Way
It's traditional to hang family pictures in the entryway. However, you can do better than just hanging up portraits on a wall. Check out some of the newer ideas for displaying family photos and find an innovative option that suits your style.
Plus: How to Hang Pictures Straight and Level
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Choose a Stylish Rug
Don't skimp on the entryway rug. Instead, seek out a charming antique rug that complements your flooring. Or, you may prefer a simpler design or a single, bold color. The key is to avoid a boring "welcome" mat or a rug that screams, "I'm the rug you should wipe your feet on because I was cheap and I'm not very attractive." Save that for outside, and make a welcoming statement when guests walk inside.
If you'd like people to remove their shoes indoors but don't want to be rude, set up a basket of miscellaneous slippers and keep a few pairs of shoes near it and most guests will get the message.
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Pick a Single Piece to Show Off
For entryways that have a little bit more space and can give visitors an opportunity to look around a bit, pick one large art piece to showcase. Large paintings or statues are common choices (anything from pastoral scenes to abstract experiments can work well). Center your piece where visitors will immediately see it, and keep tables and other items to a minimum so they don't distract.
Looking for something more? Here is a comprehensive list of entryway furniture ideas to help you spruce up your home.
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Nesting Tables
Nesting tables work great for small spaces and cutting clutter. Use them as an end table and set a lamp on top, then pull out the shorter tables when you need more tables for guests.
Photo: Jodie Johnson/Shutterstock
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Small Room Ideas: Choose a Light Color Scheme
Dark colors are a no-no in small rooms. As suggested, lighter color palettes cast the illusion of a larger area. Dark color schemes, although trendy and design-friendly, are best used in larger areas. When dark color schemes are used in smaller rooms, it can create a suffocating feeling as though the walls are closing in on what is already a space-challenged room.
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Small Room Ideas: Furniture with Legs Showing
Opting for furniture with legs showing opens up a small space. Compared to large furniture pieces that rest directly on the floor without legs showing, which can appear too big and bulky for a small space, furniture with legs showing draws the eye upward and creates the illusion of more light and space in a small room. Here's a list of ideas to revamp your old furniture.
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Small Room Ideas: Sheer Window Treatments
Stay away from window treatments that are bulky, heavy, and ornate. They may look pretty but drapes, valances, cornices, and curtains made of heavy material subdue too much natural light. Use the window(s) in a small room to bring light into every corner. Along with light-colored walls, the sunlight will make the room seem larger. Consider slatted window blinds, very sheer lace curtains, or, bamboo shades. Slatted blinds provide privacy when closed and bamboo shades offer semi-privacy when closed (but also allow sun to filter through the woven material).
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Small Room Ideas: Color-Coordinate Shelves
Store items with like colors on open shelves. This helps to keep a small room looking organized and neat rather than cluttered. It also helps to space out items on open shelves and use them for display as well as storage. Here’s our list of ideas for organizing a small living room.
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Small Room Ideas: Add Stripes
Stripes—both vertical and horizontal—can create the illusion of more space. Vertical stripes help to draw the eye upward and horizontal stripes help to make a room seem wider. Be sure to select colors that go with the rest of your finishes and fabrics in the room. Click here to learn the best tips for using painter's tape.
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Small Room Ideas: Incorporate Multifunctional Furniture
To utilize the space in a small room to its maximum potential, decorate with furniture that can serve a dual purpose such as a sofa with pullout storage space, an ottoman that opens for extra storage, or a steamer trunk that can also double as a coffee or end table. Furniture that can be downsized is a great way to create space, too. Remove the leaf from a dining room table until it's needed, replace a full-size recliner with a medium-sized chair and footstool, or replace a traditional bed with a pullout sofa or a daybed that can also serve as a sofa.
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Ditch the Clutter
Learning how to make a small room look bigger starts with the clutter. Too much clutter overpowers the square foot and will make the room look smaller. The adage less is more, holds true when there's too much stuff taking up precious space. A quick way to make room is spending the day decluttering. Do this by reducing the number of decorative accessories, knick knacks, artificial plants and flowers, or any other items you have on display that serve no purpose. Reducing the clutter has a positive impact on the visual size of the room.
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Small Room Ideas: Light-Colored Flooring
As with color schemes, choosing a light-colored flooring can create the illusion of a larger space. If you don't have the option of replacing dark wood floors or carpet, use light-colored rugs to cover as much of the area as possible. Whether you use area rugs or able to install new flooring, choose colors that will complement the wall paint. Check out these tricks to make your home décor look more expensive than it actually is.
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Small Room Ideas: Monochromatic Color
Choose a paint scheme using one color with varying shades and/or textures. Choose pale colors such as ivory, cream, white, pale blue, or yellow and light grey. Lighter colors give the appearance of being open and airy. You can use a few dark accessories, such as a sofa throw, pillows or vase to highlight the light-colored walls and accentuate the texture without posing a negative effect.
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Small Room Ideas: Built-In Storage Cabinet
Sometimes the only thing lacking in a bathroom is storage space. When there's no extra floor space, consider a built-in cabinet that utilizes the open space within the walls. You (or a contractor) can build this useful cabinet with the detailed instructions presented here, along with two other bathroom storage projects.
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Small Room Ideas: Clear Furniture
Opt for see-through furniture, such as a glass coffee table or clear acrylic desk. Clear furniture helps to make a small room feel more open while still proving a useful surface and a unique design element. This is a great tip for how to make a small living room look bigger.
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Small Room Ideas: Plain Upholstery
Choose plain, solid-color upholstery instead of pieces with busy patterns for how to make a small living room look bigger. This will help a small space feel more open and less chaotic. Plain upholstery also preserves the clean lines of furniture pieces, making a room feel neat and orderly. Check out these expert-approved small living room decorating ideas.
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Switch Out a Bulb
Try a lower-wattage bulb to change a room's mood. You can go from bright to romantic in moments. Another fun idea is to swap out an old bulb with a new Edison bulb to give your decor a retro spin.
Does your favorite lamp need some work? Fix a Lamp Cord.
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Hanging Wall Bookcase: Suspended Bookshelves
The steel cable and shaft collars add style and strength to this suspended bookshelf. Build this simple set of book or display shelves in a single weekend. They're strong and stylish. By changing materials or finishes you can easily customize them to fit the décor of any room.
Get the project plans here.
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Floating Bookshelves
Strong, quick to build, no visible supports and made from only two parts!
These shelves are handsome, easy to build and inexpensive. And they're strong even though they have no visible supports. They appear to float on the wall, no clunky hardware or brackets. We made them from only two parts—half of a hollow core door and a 2x4.
Get the project plans here.
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Build a Showcase Wall!
This built-in entertainment center mixes architectural simplicity with a pop of color to make it stand out. To create this showstopper of a bookcase in your home, check out the complete DIY how-to instructions check out the complete DIY how-to instructions here.
Have you ever heard of ombre wallpaper? Learn why you should consider it for your interior walls.
These are the trending wallpapers of 2022.
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Modular Masterpiece
This modular masterpiece is a stunning wall unit that’s infinitely flexible-customize it to suit your space and your stuff. Get the project plans here.
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DIY Rustic Barn Door and Hardware
Rustic barn doors have become popular recently and we've got the plans to create your own rustic barn door. Getting that distressed look is one of those DIY home projects that can be done without spending a lot of money and still looks great.
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Simple Rennie Mackintosh End Tables
These end tables fall on the higher end of difficulty for DIY home projects but if you’re up to the challenge they’ll be pretty rewarding. Create your own take on Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s design with our plans.
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Stunning Stone
For the intermediate do-it-yourself handyperson, this stunning stone accent wall is a perfect project. The look of exterior stone veneer in an indoor space complements industrial, cottage or rustic decor and the beauty speaks for itself.
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Natural Brick
Exposed brick has long been a coveted accent wall material in old buildings and lofts. The great news is, brick veneer has come a long way and is available in almost any style from modern to antique for a fraction of the price of the real thing.
Looking for ideas to revamp your plain brick house or fireplace? Consider German smear, a mortar wash technique that transforms the look of plain brick.
Plus: How to Edge a Path With Brick
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Paneled Panache
With a few strips of MDF and very little money, you can create an elegant and restful accent wall for your bedroom. This treatment adds a luxurious element to your space and is the perfect backdrop to your headboard. For the low-down on how to create this look in your home, click here.
Plus: What's MDF?
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Give Your Existing Vanity a Makeover
If your vanity has good bones, there’s not need to fork over the cash to buy a whole new one. Instead, give it a facelift with paint. This one went from a cookie-cutter oak cabinet to a charming, farmhouse-style focal point. Check out these other bathroom vanity makeovers.
