Understanding what makes a house look cheap is invaluable when designing your interior. By avoiding common mistakes, you can ensure your home looks smart and sophisticated, even on a budget. Often, the elements that contribute to a house looking cheap aren’t directly related to wealth but rather to choices and design practices. Here are seven key factors to consider:
Firstly, filling a room with matching flatpack furniture can evoke a college dorm aesthetic. These pieces are easily identifiable by their boxy design and flimsy construction, contributing very little to interior design. Instead, opting for characterful second-hand pieces can bring more personality and sturdiness to your space. Second-hand furniture is often available at lower price points than flatpack options, and these pieces often bring a sense of history and craftsmanship. Consider learning how to restore or paint wood furniture to update these pieces to fit your color scheme, giving them new life and making your home look more sophisticated and less generic.
Secondly, flooring plays a significant role in the overall look and feel of your home. Using inconsistent hard surface flooring like laminate or LVT in different rooms can make a house look disjointed and cheap. Jennifer Walter, owner and principal designer of Folding Chair Design Co., advises choosing one color and sticking with it throughout your home. Consistency in flooring helps create a seamless flow between rooms, enhancing the sense of space. Additionally, be cautious with gray alternatives as they can make a house look cold and unnatural. Opt for warmer tones that add a cozy and inviting feel to your home.
Thirdly, clutter can make even the most well-designed interior look cheap. Piles of clutter can instantly undo all your good design choices, making your home look disorganized and less appealing. To combat this, ensure you have plenty of storage solutions and follow decluttering tips to keep your home neat and tidy. Draw inspiration from minimalist home staging, which emphasizes clean lines and open spaces, helping your home achieve a high-end, professional look. Investing in multi-functional furniture that offers storage can also be a game-changer in maintaining a clutter-free environment.
Fourthly, while chintz has its place in interior design, too much of it can make your space look messy and cheap. Amy Youngblood, principal designer of Amy Youngblood Interiors, suggests finding unique decor pieces that fit the style of your home instead of mass-produced items. This approach doesn’t mean you have to break the budget; just be selective with your choices. Unique pieces can add character and a personal touch to your space, making it feel curated rather than cluttered.
Fifthly, even the most beautiful furniture can look cheap if it’s the wrong size for the space. Ensuring that your pieces are the right size and shape for the room is crucial. Disproportionate furniture can make a room look chaotic and unplanned. Amy Youngblood emphasizes the importance of balance between positive and negative space to help the flow of the room. This balance includes artwork – it should be proportionate to the walls and furniture around it. Properly scaled furniture and decor make a room look harmonious and well-thought-out.
Sixthly, choosing the wrong sized rug can instantly make a room look cheap. Jessica Nelson of Jessica Nelson Design advises scaling the rug appropriately for the size of the room. Rugs that are too small can disrupt the visual harmony of a space. Use masking tape to outline different rug sizes on your floor to understand what works best. For large living rooms, leaving 12 to 18 inches of visible floor space between the rug and the wall helps define the area and create a more intimate feel. Ensuring that the front legs of your furniture sit on the rug can unify the space and enhance its overall aesthetic.
Lastly, unlined curtains can look flimsy and cheap. Investing in lined curtains can significantly elevate the look of your windows and overall room decor. Lined curtains not only look more luxurious but also hang better and provide additional insulation. They add a polished and finished look to your space, contributing to a sophisticated atmosphere.
By paying attention to these details, you can transform your home into a sophisticated and cohesive space without breaking the bank. The key is to focus on quality, consistency, and thoughtful design choices. Whether it’s through carefully chosen second-hand furniture, consistent flooring, or appropriate use of decor, these strategies can help you avoid the pitfalls that make a house look cheap and instead create a home that feels elegant and well-designed.
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