12 Ways to Make your Home Look High-End for Less

Make your home look more expensive on the cheap. These small touches, smart decisions and simple DIY projects will help you achieve luxury for a lot less.

1. Shop at Thrift and Antique Stores: While this might take a little time and effort, hidden gems can be found. You can even alter them to tailor it how you want, while making it shine as one of a kind.
2. Make a Good First Impression as the Front Door: After opening and shutting, welcoming visitors, and keeping out harsh weather for years, your front door is likely showing some wear and tear. You can refresh your front door simply by sanding the door and painting it a bright blue, red, or something to contrast with the rest of your home.
4. When you Have to Spend Money, Spend it Wisely: Staple and long-haul items are well worth the investment when you find what works for you. The accessories and decor that can go along-side it is better for budget-friendly or DIY projects. This is a good way to mix and match to create a high-end look that will last.
5. Keep it Clean and Think Minimalistic: Minimalism has a way of looking high-end, while also saving you money; by having less, you spend less. An important element to having an attractive looking home is how you want to use the space (and making sure there is some). Staying neat and and clean goes a long way to show off your space.
6. Hang Up your Art: Showing off art in your home shows off a part of who you are; it shows your personal touch and style. A gallery wall can be a stunning design centerpiece in a living room, bedroom, staircase or hallway. Or finding cheap or colorful frames you love to mix and match can give off cool vibes.
7. Add Classic Wainscoting: If you’re willing to invest a few days in transforming a room and are a fan of a more traditional look, wainscoting is the way to go. The cost varies, but installing these wood panels in a small to midsize room shouldn’t cost more than a few hundred dollars. And the results are hard to ignore: bright white, clean lines and a classic finish.
8. Updating Light Fixtures: If that outdated eyesore overhead makes you cringe, ditch it! Swapping out an old light fixture for a new one instantly updates the ambiance of your space. Look into what kind of style fits you, along with what looks timeless; then, make each fixture consistent throughout the home.
9. Try Luxe Paint Treatments: Instead of sticking to interior eggshell paints, opt for a special paint treatment in a few key spots in your home. With finishes like metallic stripes, sandstone, random rectangles, textured sand and brushed suede, to name a few, you’ll create a purposeful and elegant look that will draw the eye exactly where you want it to go.
10. Keep it Classic: Most high-end homes are filled with neutrals; because they create a calm and classic feel. Bring high style to rooms by choosing neutral hues for anything that’s expensive to update, such as floors, fixtures, and upholstery, and using accessories to introduce bold colors and textures; a neutral base lets hotter hues take center stage.
11. Timeless Trimmings: Bright, fresh molding can work wonders for any room. And because it’s a classic, no one will know the difference between installing it today, or 50 years ago!
12. Subway Tile: Subway tile is beautiful and timeless. And best of all, it gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Subway tile is an affordable option for kitchens and baths, so you can keep costs low and achieve a stunning look.
13. Fake Built-Ins: If you like the look of built-ins but don’t want to splurge on a custom design, use bookcases to create the appearance of floor-to-ceiling built-ins. The IKEA Billy bookcase is one of the store’s most popular items.