I think we all want to make our home look more expensive on some level. Whether by curating a stylish space or upgrading the bones of our home, we all strive to have a fabulous home. That’s precisely why most of us watch DIYs, read blogs, and try to find designer dupes of our favorite furniture and decor finds. Regardless of your personal style, it’s probably safe to say that a designer home is something you would love to have.
The phrase “more expensive” has become a catchphrase for those Tiktok stars to teach people how to make their homes more designer. I guess I prefer to call it “more curated,” but either way, the main idea is creating a more beautiful home and we all want that, right? So that’s what I’m here to help with. Here are my four best tips to help you create a more curated, designer farmhouse!
Contents
Tip #1: Add Mirrors
Mirrors are the absolute easiest and most affordable way to help make your home look more expensive. Not only do they exude elegance, but the way they reflect light makes your home appear brighter and bigger. If you have a space that isn’t well-lit, a mirror placed in the right position can brighten that space by reflecting more light in. It’s actual home decor magic, which is why I almost feel like I’m spoiling the inner workings of a magic show.
Now for those of you familiar with mirror shopping, you know that some mirrors can be quite expensive. There are a few alternate options if you don’t have the budget for a $400 to $600 mirror. Are you looking to save some coin on your mirror? Try one of my favorite places for affordable mirrors:
- Wayfair
- Ikea
- Amazon
- Home Goods
- Marshalls
- Home Depot
- Overstock
- Hobby Lobby
Tip #2: Find The Right Rug
Every good home needs a strong foundation. Think of the rug in your room as that strong foundation. Too small and the house feels overcrowded and disproportionate. A large and beautiful rug, on the other hand, sets the stage for a stunning space. So how do you know the correct size for your rug?
Finding the right size rug is truly a home decor science. Each type of room has its own very specific set of “rules” on how the furniture should sit on the rug and how large or small the rug should be. I won’t dive into the nitty gritty now, but instead, I’ll help simplify it for you. The bigger the rug, the better!
A large rug that can fit all of the room’s furniture is a great way to help define the room. If your furniture is against the wall or a large rug doesn’t fit in your budget, you can opt for a smaller rug that fits two-thirds of each furniture piece on it. For living rooms that means the front feet of each piece should fit on the rug while still allowing ample space to move about. While for bedrooms, that means that two-thirds of your bed should fit on the rug.
Lastly, if you aren’t feeling a big rug or have a very small space you can opt to place a smaller rug in the empty space. Your living room empty space includes the open room between your furniture, more specifically, where your coffee table is. A bedroom may fill its empty space with a small runner on either side of the bed.
Tip #3: Avoid Matching Sets
I may say this in every other post, but matching sets are sure to make your home feel cheap. Now if you absolutely love your matching furniture set, please disregard this because home design is all about what makes you happy. However, if you feel like your space falls short of the elevated look you are trying to achieve, your matching furniture set may be the culprit.
Matching furniture sets are quick and easy, but that’s also why they look cheap. Instead, take the time to search for quality pieces that match your style. Adding in some variation of shapes, colors, and textures will add visual intrigue to the space creating a more designer look and feel. This does take time, but the end result will be well worth the effort.
Tip #5: Mix High & Low-Priced Pieces
Not everything in your home has to be designer to feel designer. If you have the budget and want to buy everything designer, wonderful. If you are like me, however, you may not be able to afford (or want to pay for) all designer furniture and decor. Instead, you can curate a beautiful space with a mix of high and low-priced pieces.
My advice is to find one or two large pieces in each space to splurge on. For example, you may want to pay for a stunning art piece or a luxurious bedframe. These will be your focal points. Then you can accent these more expensive pieces with some affordable decorations such as Hobby Lobby vases or Etsy pillow covers.
