How to Create an Expensive Interior without Large Investments: Practical Advice from a Designer

Many people dream of making their home look expensive and attractive. But often the budget does not allow bringing what you want into reality. Vasilisa Pavlova, a practicing interior designer, architect, head of the author's design studio vasilisapavlova.com, believes that a beautiful interior does not have to be expensive, it can be created even at average costs.

“Of course, the question of how to make an interior expensive can be answered in one sentence: buy high-quality materials, mostly natural (stone, wood, veneer), branded furniture and lighting, use brass and mirrors. But this is only one of the options for creating an expensive interior with an emphasis on Art Deco or minimalism style. As a rule, we are talking about high costs. I believe that an interior in any style can look decent even with an average budget,” says Vasilisa.

What makes the interior cheaper and how to make it visually more expensive? Vasilisa Pavlova highlighted the key points. 

Pay Attention to Small Details

When renovating, it is important not to forget about the details, so let the perfectionist in you awaken. The interior of any budget should look neat; this always significantly increases its cost.

What to look for and what to avoid: open pipes, sloppy coating joints, leaking and dried glue, narrow cuts in visible places, yellowed sealant or grout — all this reduces the cost of the interior, no matter how much money is invested in it.

Avoid Photo Prints and Tacky Prints

Also, in expensive interiors it is not customary to use tacky prints, glitter on wallpaper, cheap imitation of expensive stones, photo printing, or graphic designs on the walls. On the contrary, delicate designs with complex color combinations are encouraged. The right combination of prints on wallpaper and textiles looks very cool.

Think Wisely about Your Storage Systems

Avoid visual noise and clutter: scattered things, bags and packages that lie in visible places, clutter on the kitchen countertop will ruin any interior.

It's not enough to just put things in order. I believe that the key to the success of any interior is well-thought-out storage systems. In this case, you can keep the interior looking like a magazine cover without much effort.

Use High-Quality Furniture

Another mistake is using cheap, outdated and low-quality furniture. Unfortunately, many furniture centers and stores still have pieces of furniture designed from 2000-2005. This type of furniture will ruin any interior.

To improve the level of the interior, it is advisable to choose furniture of laconic shapes (both round, which is now in trend, and square), in tactile materials, and also pay attention to fittings (handles, legs, inserts). It is also worth abandoning the white shelving of an IKEA-type office plan and working very carefully with glossy facades.

Add Noble Shades to the Interior

Don't try to do the entire interior in gray or beige. Monochrome interiors look beautiful and expensive only if you have a good budget: the use of high-quality materials, tiles with good printing, the inclusion of designer (not replicas or copies) interior items, well-designed lighting, well-designed nodes and joints.

Even a simple interior, collected from mass-market stores, can look interesting and dignified: add noble shades to the interior (emerald, dusty blue, malachite, discreet eggplant, wine, gray-green, pistachio).

If you don’t want or are afraid to make the walls colored, you can add uniqueness and zest through things that are easy to remove or replace: dishes, paintings, pillows, blankets, curtains. The seasonality of the interior will allow us to add variety when we select thematic decor for the season or holiday. And the bravest ones can turn a simple white chest of drawers into an accent element of the interior by simply repainting it. 

Don't neglect the decor

Decor plays an important role in the interior: pillows, vases, decorative lights, plants. Don't neglect it, even if you love laconic interiors.

There is no need to go to extremes, such as a complete lack of decors or the desire to fill every wall with some kind of material and decorative element. Instead, choose one or two accent points where you will place a decorative composition that is pleasing to the eye.

“The key to the success of any interior: a combination of materials and colors, good-looking materials, neatness and eye-pleasing elements that make the interior yours,” sums up the expert.

By following these simple recommendations, you can create a truly luxurious interior even on a limited budget. The main thing is attention to detail and the right choice of finishing materials and interior items.