The way you lay out and decorate your home reflects your personality and style, whether or not you are aware of it. If you’re asking, "How to make my home not look cheap," here are ten things that you should avoid.
Over-the-Top Themes
Even over-the-top can still be over-the-top. Try to stick to an overall theme that will be cohesive as much as it is reflective of your personality. Make it catchy, not tacky.
Cluttered Rooms
Tidy up! A really easy way to make your place look posh is to keep it clean and organized. Clear those countertops, and use aesthetically pleasing organizers and containers like mason jars — no cheap plastic, definitely!
Cheap Art
Affordability does not necessarily make cheap art. Tacky, mass-produced themes, however, do; you see one, you’ve seen them all. If you want to display artwork in your home, look for unique pieces that would be refreshing to see in your home.
Overstuffed Entryway
Your entryway is the first place in your home that will welcome guests. Try to make it feel as comfortable and inviting as possible. Don’t try to tell too much too soon by putting everything in it, because it might achieve the opposite of the effect.
Tacky Decorations
Garden frog miniatures look cute — in the garden. And maybe those little wedding and travel souvenirs (hello, shot glass collection) might be better placed in a display cabinet in your bedroom or den. Make sure that the displays you put in your home make sense and contribute to the cohesion of the overall theme. Picking inexpensive decor does not mean going the cheap route in style.
Poor Lighting
Lighting adds to the ambiance. It makes the difference between a welcoming and cozy room versus a stark and sterile one. A badly lit room can even impact your overall health and mood. So invest in quality lighting.
Stock/Basic Lighting
That said, keeping that stock lighting that came with the house could also make your space look cheap. Spruce it up by replacing it with something more interesting to look at, like an architectural design or chandelier.
Old and Tattered Furniture
Needless to say, worn-down furniture can make your home look cheap — not to mention unkempt. In some cases, it’s a matter of having furniture that doesn’t fit the theme or design of the room that pulls down the overall vibe too.
Bare Walls
No need to overdo the decorations, and definitely no need for cheap art, as mentioned above. But also, don’t just leave your walls bare. This negative space offers plenty of opportunities to decorate appropriately, so use them well.
Ill-Fitting Rugs
If you’re hesitant about getting a large rug to fill your floor space because of the cost, you can get smaller ones to overlap. Either that or don’t go without one. Point is, don’t force in a small rug that’s not proportionate to the rest of the floor space.