Design on a Dime Your Home
Looking for ways to make your home more elegant without breaking the bank? Back in the 2000s, there was an HGTV show called Design on a Dime, and they would give a room in someone’s home a makeover for only $1000 (compared to the thousands spent on other shows at the time). It reminded us all that you don’t need to spend a fortune to make your home look good. In the spirit of the show, here are some suggestions for making your home look more expensive for cheap:
Paint your doors a different color
Ever thought about painting your bedroom door a navy blue? This is your sign to go for it! Adding contrast and creating a focal point are great ways to upgrade your home’s look, and painting a door is fairly low effort.
DIY decorative molding
If you have any experience with woodworking and a nail gun, this is the project for you (even if you don’t, many people have done this and posted step by step instructions on the internet, so you’ll be in good hands). Crown molding and other types of decorative millwork are a good way to make your home look more expensive without spending a lot of money.
Change out your hardware
One quick and easy way to make your home look more expensive is to replace the hardware: drawer handles, cabinet handles, door handles, you name it. You can find these for a bargain if you keep an eye out at hardware stores, some higher end department stores (looking at you, Anthropologie), estate sales, and more.
Add large rugs
Need to pull a room together? Throw down a large rug! Even with mismatched furniture, the design can look intentional if you have a visual point on the floor separating them from the rest of the room. Walmart and Target usually have decent rugs for decent prices, but also check out the local thrift stores for some cheap finds.
Mirrors
Who doesn’t love a good mirror? If you want to make a small room feel bigger or brighter, hang up a long mirror (or a wall of them, if you’re feeling fun) to add depth and light to the area! Extra tip: to update a plain-looking bathroom mirror, add a frame!
Reusable containers
It may be easy to just replace your $3 container of hand soap every time you run out, but it doesn’t scream “elegant” (it’s also not very environmentally friendly). Upgrade the look of your home by getting reusable containers! Pretty soap dispensers, pasta containers, even baskets for blankets can really make a room look more sophisticated in minutes.
Hang oversized artwork
Do you have one or two small photos hanging on your wall? A poster? Lots of empty space? Take them down (or just move them over) and hang up large canvases! You can always get one printed at Walgreens with a beloved photo to take up that space behind the couch, or you can go to the thrift store and see what they have that catches your eye. If you’re a painter, even better- make something yourself!
Be intentional with your gallery wall
Most of us have one: a wall where we hung up artwork and photos where the nails were already placed. But don’t be afraid to change it up! Remove those nails, fill up the holes and paint over them, and make new ones! You can go with a strict grid design or more loosely lined up, and you can find tons of options online for suggestions on how to design your gallery wall.
