If you want a nicer home but aren’t sure how to achieve it on a budget, who better to ask than interior experts? I have game-changing recommendations from designers, home organizers, and shopping editors who swear by budget-conscious tricks to make your space look luxe. They have impressive, expensive-looking homes, and they’re here to spill all of their budget-friendly secrets. From adding natural materials to bringing art to your walls, it’s amazing how little effort (and cash) it takes to boost your home’s aesthetic.
One quick way to keep your home looking clutter-free is to pay attention to your outlets. Tommy Huerter, interior designer and social media personality at A-List Interiors, says you should “make sure you are keeping all of your electrical cords organized and out of sight. Messy cords are such an easy way to mess up a space.” He recommends this outlet concealer, which is easy to install. To use it in your home, unplug your cables and plug in the outlet concealer. Then, you can adhere the white cable along the baseboard and plug your items into the 3-foot extension cable. Stash the extension behind some furniture, and you’re done.
“There are so many ways you can elevate your home on a budget! Step one is to keep things organized,” Huerter says. “I love the different storage solutions from Yamazaki Home. They go for a minimal look that’s easy to integrate into any style.” This countertop organizer is a stylish solution that’s also quite practical. Inside, there’s an adjustable divider to maximize organization. Its 5-inch tall interior fits a variety of items, such as toiletries and makeup. The natural wood top conceals the clutter and adds an expensive-looking touch.
“You’d be amazed at how much simple organization can elevate your space,” says Huerter. “Places to focus on in this regard are your bathroom, kitchen, and office space — as these are the areas that get most cluttered.” Huerter recommends this ultra-sleek kitchen rack with a handy dual-level design. You can store plates or canisters underneath it and other items on top. It's made of durable wood and strong steel, so you can confidently stack your dishes on top. If you get two, you can stack one on top of the other for layered storage.
Huerter says window treatments “can seriously elevate your home.” He specifically loves this Amazon brand of faux linen curtains. “They are a great price and pleat beautifully,” He adds. “I personally get an oversized length and then shorten them with hemming tape to give a tailored and custom look.” They’re available in a ton of sizes and linen-like colors, so you can find the perfect fit for your room or tailor them as Huerter suggests. They’re also 85% blackout, so they’ll easily darken a bright room when you need it. Aside from the gorgeous pleats, they also have an elegant weighted hem.
Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder at Arsight, recommends changing your light fixtures to make your home look more expensive. “Changing [them] to some[thing] more dramatic or installing dimmable LED strips under the shelves and cabinets may create a luxurious atmosphere without spending too much,” he says. This under-cabinet LED light strip installs quickly with a durable adhesive, and the strip is over 3 feet long to cover a lot of cabinets. After installing the strip, just pop in three AA batteries, and they’re ready to use. Controlling them is easy, too — there’s a large button on the battery compartment to turn it on or off.
“A simple retouch of drawer pulls, doorknobs, or light switch covers with stylish contemporary alternatives gives a room a new look in an instant,” says Kropovinsky. This matte black doorknob has a sleek, modern design that looks expensive, and it has an impressive 4.7-star average rating after nearly 7,000 ratings. Its sleek shape fits standard doors and installs in minutes with a screwdriver. As a bonus, it has built-in antimicrobial technology to help keep germs at bay.
Cassandra Seale, BDG editor, recommends these chic oil and vinegar dispenser bottles. Swapping store-bought oil bottles for these minimalist glass bottles will make your kitchen look more professional, and they’re also quite practical. A set of two comes with 36 premade labels (and two blank ones). They have weighted pourer spouts that open when you pour and close automatically to keep dust out. Each bottle is also quite spacious — they hold up to 11.8 ounces of oil, vinegar, or syrup each.
Seale also recommends this clever little garbage bag dispenser for concealing trash bags under the sink. It features a removable lid, so you can easily load a standard roll of 13-gallon trash bags inside. Once loaded, pull bags out from the large opening slot. You can easily mount it inside of a cabinet door with the brushed steel hanging bracket, so it stays neatly concealed (but accessible whenever you need bags).
Lighting can change a lot, according to the owner and designer of Live Original Design, Chrissy Arsenault. “Update those fixtures! Layers of lighting make a room instantly feel more luxurious and, of course, functional,” says Arsenault. She recommends accent lighting, such as wall sconces, and this LED wall-mounted reading light would be the perfect addition. It has a strong adhesive-backed base with a magnetic ball mount, which makes it easy to rotate to get the perfect angle. You can even pull it off the wall as an occasional flashlight or little table light. It’s also touch-activated — choose from three color temperatures and three brightness levels with long presses and taps.
“Get rid of all that unnecessary visual clutter by stashing toys, magazines, or random collections of items that pile up around the home in uniform baskets or boxes,” says Arsenault. This hand-knit over-the-door hanging basket is made to look like jute, a material Arsenault mentions as a stylish option for keeping clutter hidden in plain sight. Its three-tier cotton construction is soft and durable, and you can mount it to your wall with one of two included hook types — an over-the-door hook or a square adhesive hook that applies to the wall.
Arsenault also mentions accent lighting, like “a picture light over a frame,” as a quick and effective upgrade. This wireless picture light is an excellent solution that looks expensive but is quite budget-friendly. It installs with a couple of screws, and you can control ambient lighting with the included remote control. Its light is also customizable — choose from warm, cool, or natural white temperatures, adjust the brightness to your liking, and set an auto-off timer.
While storage can be quite stylish, Arsenault also advises using some storage that’s more about function than form. “Keep in mind, plastic totes and storage racks, while super functional, are best kept out of sight in closets or storage rooms,” she says. Opt for these........