Luxury and budgets do not really seem like they go hand-in-hand. The former is, after all, about splurging and being able to enjoy your money – while the latter, of course, is all about keeping your hard-earned money away from the cashiers and those online shops.
The cold months we’re in the middle of call for a bit more time inside, though, and it would certainly be nice to give it an extra flair of extravagance even if we can’t really afford the most expensive luxury out there. Plus, spring is right around the corner which makes it so much easier to stay positive about the future and the home you’re living in.
Here is a handful of great ways to make it look like you’re living like a queen bee. That way, it’s going to be even easier to stay inside and protect yourself from the cold until the snow withdraws and the warm months are finally back.
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Adding luxury without breaking the bank
Focus on your curtains
If we were able to put money into making our rooms seem larger and airier, we would do it immediately – but, since this is about luxury on a budget, you should try to focus on upgrading your curtains or blinds instead. It’s going to do a lot in terms of upgrading the look of your room, after all, and you won’t have to spend nearly as much money on it.
Undeniably more cost-effective than replacing an entire window and still important enough to change the atmosphere of your room, the type of curtains or blinds you choose can, in fact, do a lot to improve your space and might even make it look a bit more expensive. The great news in all of this is, of course, that you won’t have to spend nearly as much money on it as you would have if you were to change out those windows entirely.
If you opt for curtains, try to place it slightly higher than the window in order to make the room seem taller. It should go almost all the way down to the floor as well – and preferably be light and of high-quality material.
Blinds are also great and really modern, by the way, but the type of blinds you choose will also affect the look of your room. While aluminium blinds may be a bit cheaper and easier to clean, faux wood blinds are just going to look so much better. Have a look at this article, to begin with, and let them set the theme for your room before you do anything else.
Swap out your light fixtures
Both the light in your room and the features you install over them will have a lot to say about how you feel when spending time there. Look for light bulbs that cast a warm and orange light, first of all, and avoid that cold hospital look by all means.
A great tip is to keep the light in your bedroom a bit softer than the one you have in the kitchen – try to think about what you’re going to use the different rooms for, first of all, and it might be a bit easier to decide in the right light hue as well.
Since we’d like to make our homes seem a bit more extravagant, you should look for an affordable chandelier for your living room – or even for your kitchen and bathroom. Undeniably luxurious, a faux crystal chandelier will definitely give your room that extra oomph you’ve been looking for or you can opt for a slightly more modern design by choosing an industrial-looking light fixture instead.
Try to think about what the rest of your room looks like, though, and choose the type that goes well with this look. That way, you won’t be stuck with a dazzling chandelier in the middle of a room with exposed pipe works and brass details.
Keep it neat and tidy
When you’re looking for a bit more comfort at home but don’t really have the funds to spend on a major home upgrade, you can always opt for the cheapest, easiest, and by far the most satisfying option: just make it neat and tidy.
We are, undeniably, in the middle of a rather tidy season now that spring is approaching and Marie Kondo is on everybody’s Netflix screen – but keeping a tidy home does, in fact, have a lot of benefits.
It won’t just give you peace of mind and make your household a bit happier, in general, as rooms that have a bit less on display will also look fancier. The secret is to keep only the most worthy on display and either put away or let somebody else adopt what you’re not that big of a fan of.
Try to create a sense of system in the chaos, as well, though as we can’t give away everything we’re not madly in love with either. Allow yourself to have a messy drawer or two but try to make it a bit neater with small dividers in each drawer. That way, you’ll have a simple system where your mess once used to be – and you won’t feel like you’re going crazy each time you need to find something random in the drawer.
Do the same with your wardrobe, your kitchen cabinets, and everywhere else where you usually hide away clutter as well. Now you’ll be able to store away your stuff, feel sane, and still feel like a million bucks when you open that wardrobe to get dressed in the morning.
A neat and tidy home can make you feel way more successful and put-together, in general, which also affects how you think about yourself, in the long run. Don’t underestimate a good clean up, in other words, and try not to get too attached to your stuff either. It’s just stuff, after all.
Upgrade your furniture
With each passing year, your furniture will take on the wear and tear of time. People have sat them through, made those pillows flat, and given the cover an unappealing look – but buying brand new furniture is not exactly an affordable journey either.
Luckily, you’ll be able to enjoy a perfectly fluffy and fancy-looking couch or dining chair by simply giving it a quick upgrade. This really doesn’t have to cost too much, by the way, so don’t settle for the first estimate you get; if the price for upholstery turns out the be about the same as buying a new mid-range furniture, you should try to find another company instead.
Have a look around the web and try to find a few different quotes before you settle for something. There are lots of foam types here, by the way, in case you’re planning on upgrading more than just one type of furniture. You might want to treat yourself to a new mattress, for example, in order to make those mornings a bit better – and, of course, to make your back feel absolutely fantastic compared to what it does on a cheaper mattress.
This is the point that a lot of homeowners skip as furniture is simply too expensive to upgrade. They might fix everything else, tidy up their homes, and spruce up those curtains – but they continue to sit on flat pillows simply because they don’t know that there are better options than just buying a brand new one.
Give those dining chairs a new cover as well, for example, and you’ll feel quite rich without having to spend much at all.
Bring in some greenery
Finally, the most tried-and-tested method of making your home look like more for less is to invite a few potted plants in. It’s just something about the splash of bright green colour and the sense of being around living, breathing things that makes a home look way more put-together – perhaps because you need to take care of them in order to actually keep them alive?
If you’ve barely taken care of a cactus before in your life, it’s a good idea to go for low-maintenance plants such as a snake plant rather than a tender orchid, though, as your plant journey will quickly come to a halt when you have to witness the death of the first ones. Some plants are happier in the shade than others and won’t mind it if you forget to water them once in a while.
Keep in mind, however, that one of the biggest mistakes that first-time gardeners make is to kill their plants with love. They water them too often, give them too much fertilizer, and continue to over-water as soon as they notice that they look a bit sad. Avoid this by having a read in this article, first of all, and you should be able to keep those few first plants around for long enough to watch them grow up.
A luxurious-looking home doesn’t have to require too much, after all, as long as you’re keeping it clean, neat, and tidy while treating yourself to a few quality articles. That way, you’ll have a bit more money left to spend on other things instead.
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