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Wondering how to make your apartment look expensive and amp up your living space without actually shelling out the big bucks? You’re in luck!
There are lots of hacks and design do’s and don’ts when it comes to making a space look luxurious — and these tips are especially important if you live in a small apartment.
More than anything, decorating in a small space requires INTENTION — thoughtfully making each and every decision about what goes where and why.
The following tips are here to help you do JUST that. To make choices with intention in order to create a space that makes your heart feel all sorts of fuzzy.
Best of all, it doesn’t simply mean spending a ton of money. There are certainly some investments you could make, but much of what you’ll need to do simply requires a clever eye and “decor editing” skills.
Now let’s get to it:
How to Make Your Apartment Look Expensive (For Cheap!)
1.) Buy Better Blinds
I know what you’re thinking: “WHY would I want to spend money on something so boring??”
I hear you.
But it makes SUCH a significant difference in the aesthetics of your apartment that it’s 100% worth it to ball out on blinds, in my humble opinion.
Most apartments come with those crappy, narrow little plastic blinds. Worse yet, they are usually bent or twerked in a weird shape — especially if you live in an older unit that has had many tenants before you.
Check with your superintendent/landlord (or … ask for forgiveness later? 😇) and swap those flimsy blinds for something a little more substantial.
Now, to get truly custom, high quality blinds, you’d have to spend some money.
It’s just not cheap.
However, if you like the look, there are some pretty outstanding, INEXPENSIVE, customizable blinds and shades available on Amazon.
I’ve never personally bought from this brand, but it DOES have incredible prices. And for less than $75, you’re not going to find a much better deal!
2.) Don’t Skimp on Drapery
Depending on your space, curtains or heavy drapery can sometimes dim that light and make things feel heavier. So, you might consider going full “naked” window if your apartment is already feels cramped.
That said…
Drapery can make a room feel more luxurious and warm — but make sure you do it properly to avoid that heavy feeling mentioned in the above paragraph.
Curtains — when properly hung — can actually visually add height to your living room.
The key here is to hang them juuuuust below where your wall meets your ceiling, and then have them long enough to barely graze the top of your floor.
These curtains have more than 23,000 fantastic reviews!
They come in about 20 different colors and are LESS THAN $36!!!
3.) Use Fresh Flowers
There’s something about coming home to fresh flowers that instantly adds class to a space.
(It could be because they smell nice, or maybe it’s because they make you feel like you’re in love!)
Fresh florals makes any occasion feel festive — and y’all know I’m ALL about making everyday life feel more like a party. (Um, hello. That’s the WHOLE.FREAKIN.POINT. of Formal//Normal!)
So if there’s something that makes me feel like a million bucks on a dime, I’m here for it. And fresh flowers fall into that category.
Buy fresh flowers at the grocery store, your local farmers market, or from your yard!
Don’t have an array of flourishing hydrangea bushes casually hanging out in your yard? (… does anyone?)
Get creative! Go snip something off of the shrubbery surrounding your apartment building, if you have to. A leggy, green arrangement is actually very modern, and will still add a certain freshness to the room.
Of course, you could always opt for flowers that simply LOOK fresh 😉
The right fake floral arrangement can have people doing double-takes all night long. And, they won’t ever get gross, so that’s a plus.
{image of my arrangement in corner.. Or bday flowers}
Create your own with a color scheme that works for your space — these peonies come in a ton of colors!
Or, go with sunflowers. They’ll never wilt — a miracle!
RELATED READ: 6 Pinterest-Worthy Apartment Decor Ideas for Small Living Rooms
4.) Add Textures
The first thing that comes to mind when you think “texture” is probably throw pillows with various fabrics or materials — and that’s not a bad place to start!
The only problem?
Pillows can be SO. EXPENSIVE.
One option is to use pillows you have and simply buy new covers for them.
Design hack: Mix and match textures that play well together.
Leather, velvet, wool, and suede can all work together in a room without competing with one another. This adds a layered look that feels rich and thoroughly thought-out.
But an oft-overlooked way to add texture to a room is on the wall. Textile art , macrame, and textured acrylic art pieces all add a layer to the look.
How cool is this metal art? Talk about texture.
Budget hack: Goodwill and Salvation Army are sometimes excellent places to stumble upon a GREAT frame (or piece of art). Even if you don’t love the art, you could get creative and layer on your own acrylics to create an abstract piece that’s 100% all your own.
5.) Get the Right Sized Rug
Believe it or not, this is one design element that is done incorrectly alllllll the time. A rug that’s too small shrinks your space like *aggressively snaps fingers* THAT.
Finding a rug that’s appropriate for your space is key to making your apartment look more expensive than it actually is.
Rugs typically come in the following sizes:
5×8
8×10
9×12
10×14
Of course there are bigger and smaller options, but those are some of the standard sizes you can expect to find on websites and in stores.
One reason why people so often mess this up is because, well, big rugs are more expensive than little rugs, generally speaking. And so while you may find a cute pattern at HomeGoods that’s on mega sale, it doesn’t matter if it’s simply not big enough for the space.
DESIGN HACK: If you find a rug you absolutely love, but it’s not big enough, LAYER it!
Buy an appropriate rug as the “main” base layer, and then lay the small rug on top. This is also a great way to add dimension and texture to the space.
How big should rugs be for a living room?
In the living room, you’ll want a rug that is big enough for the front legs of your furniture to be on it and still have at least six inches of rug extending beyond that.
How big should rugs be for a bedroom?
For the bedroom, the rug you need will depend on a few different factors.
Even if your space is carpeted, a rug is ideal for adding color and texture to an otherwise “blah” room.
If you have a tiny bedroom, you’ll probably want a rug that takes up pretty much the entire space, with a few inches between the rug and the wall.
If you have a large bedroom, choose a rug that leaves a panel of floor about eight inches from the wall.
Generally speaking, you want the rug to be big enough to have the footboard/legs on the rug, but it doesn’t need to extend all the way to the nightstands.
This is for one simple reason: You don’t want the front legs of the side table to be on the rug while the back legs are off! It will be uneven, and cause a water glass to spill.
Alternatively, you could choose a rug large enough to go all the way under all table legs, but you also want it big enough to extend far enough beyond your bed on the footboard end so that it could go underneath your dresser (or whatever is opposite your bed) without stopping. To have the edge of a rug right in the main area of foot traffic is just asking for people to trip in the middle of the night!
If you have a bench at the footboard of your bed, you definitely want the rug to be big enough to fit under that with all legs on the rug.
So for the bedroom, common sense should lead the way. And again, think bigger than you think.
6.) Buy Frames in Bulk
This apartment decorating tip is all about creating cohesion.
Art — or photos — make a home feel like YOURS. It’s personal, but just like everything else, the frame (just as much as the art itself) should be chosen with intention.
One easy way to add cohesion to a space is to buy coordinating or identical frames for around the apartment (not just for the living room, or just for the bedroom). Whether you’re displaying postcards, photo booth strips, polaroids, or prints that you downloaded, a common sized frame can make everything look pulled together — even if in reality, each object is a different size.
Side note: I’ve broken so many picture frames that I’ve given up and exclusively buy inexpensive ones now. Like these:
You know I never get tired of gold!
7.) Less is more!
Minimalism doesn’t have to mean harsh white furniture and plain walls. It can simply mean eliminating clutter and decorating with intention.
A small space can quickly become too “busy”. Take care to carefully choose each and every thing that is visible.
Stack of papers cluttering the counter? Get a cute mail sorter.
Have a thousand tchotchke items from various friends traveling to various cities? Choose your faves, put up a floating shelf, and display your favorite few so that they aren’t scattered all across your apartment.
When it doubt, take it out.
RELATED READ: 13 Lazy Kitchen Hacks Guaranteed to Save You Money
8.) Go with Groupings
A knick-knack from your trip to Nashville can look like clutter on a side table. But thoughtfully grouped with a postcard, a candle, and a small vase atop a simple tray, it becomes a personal memory on proud display.
Just because you’re thinking clutter-free doesn’t mean you have to strip away all meaningful tid-bits from your space.
Again, grouping with INTENTION is the key. A smattering of Target dollar section decor is chaotic; a coffee table vignette is chic and full of personality.
9.) More mirrors!
Mirrors are a well-known hack for making a space look bigger due to the light that bounces off them, but the right mirror can also make your apartment look more refined and expensive!
A couple key things to look for in a mirror:
- Measurements! Nothing is more frustrating than seeing a pretty picture online only to find it won’t fit your space upon arrival.
- Mirror thickness. Home mirrors typically come in 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 widths, and the thicker, the better. (Too thin, and you run the risk of distortion. And your apartment shouldn’t feel like a fun house!)
- Money. Mirrors can get reeeallllllyyyy pricey. You do want a quality piece, but know ahead of time what you are willing to spend so that you don’t get sucked down a very expensive rabbit hole.
Below are a few classy options that are available at a great price point:
SHOP STANDING MIRROR ON AMAZON
RELATED READ: 9 Life-Changing Beauty Hacks Every Girl Should Know
10.) Set Up Dimmer Switches
Here’s an oft-overlooked tactic regarding how to make your make your apartment look expensive: Take the mood from energetic to expensive by simply dimming the lights! Depending on the time of day, your room’s setup and the occasion, dimming the lights can instantly make any day feel moody and more luxurious.
How to install dim lights in apartments:
If you are renting an apartment and your landlord doesn’t want you to mess with anything electric, you’re not out of luck! The Philips Hue Dimmer Switch is an excellent option! It’s around $30 and a piece of cake to get going.
This dimmer switch is comparatively inexpensive, SUPER easy to install, and simple to operate. I won’t go into all the details here, because LifeHacker has already done so in a thorough post here.
The Philips Hue Dimmer Switch is also a great way to try it out in a home you own without dropping a ton of money, and without any long-term commitment or drilling involved!
11.) Don’t Make the TV the Focal Point
Finally, we reach the last tip on how to make your apartment look expensive: Camouflage the TV!
Especially with modern-day apartment homes, the set-up of a living room almost *requires* that all furniture point toward the TV. When there’s only one logical wall for a TV, it sort of becomes this attention-drawing icon that sucks the focus away from prettier things.
Because, well, it’s huge, black and prominently displayed.
But what message does that send?
A big black TV can really bring down a room.
When you’re in a small, rented apartment, there are a few things you can escape this TV-as-an-alter vibe that can be so encumbering.
Here are a few ways to camouflage your TV:
- Mount your TV. Even if it’s on the same wall, it feels elevated (literally) and makes room on a dresser/entertainment center/bookshelf to display something more personal and interesting. This mount is around $40 on Amazon and has about 18,000 5-star reviews. What?!
- Create a gallery wall of sorts, with the TV amongst it. The idea here is that the TV will blend into a grouping of art pieces more seamlessly than if it is alone on a wall.
- Find a bookshelf, armoire or entertainment center with doors! This is a clever way to simply close off the entire TV when it’s not in use. The only downside here is finding one big enough…
- Invest in a SAMSUNG Frame TV. I think these are simply BRILLIANT. It’s a high-def (4K) TV that transforms into a gorgeous piece of art when it’s not in use. (I don’t own one yet, but it’s on my lust list and likely something we’ll consider when our current TV dies. It’s on the fritz…) It even comes in different frame colors so you can make it go with your room!
There you have it!
This post was all about how to make your apartment look expensive!
As you can see, there are lots of ways you can spruce up a space and make it look more expensive on the sly. Did you learn a new trick? Have any other ideas on how to make your apartment look expensive or seem more rich without spending a ton of money? Drop it in the comments — I’m all ears!
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