Let me guess, you’ve seen those stunning, big, and luxurious apartments on social media and wish yours looked the same. And honestly, I feel you. Problem is, our wallets aren’t really on the same page lol. You know, I used to think you had to buy the most expensive stuff to make your apartment look luxurious.
But nowadays, there are so many online and physical stores that give you the same stylish vibe for way less. Now, you still might be thinking how you could transform your small apartment into one that screams luxury. Don’t you worry, because we’re diving right in!
Easy Ways to Make Your Small Apartment Look Luxurious
1. Choose a Unique Mirror
Well, I’m going to go out on a limb here and boldly claim that everyone has a perfectly normal mirror in their house. You know, those plain square ones.
Don’t they just look so boring? I think a slightly different shape can make a huge difference. Like this asymmetrical mirror here. It has that certain something that really upgrades the room, I’d say.
2. Add More Uniqueness
No, of course not every single decorative item has to be super unique and imaginative. After all, your home is not an art exhibition. But believe me, one or two, okay, maybe three decorative items that stand out will make all the difference.
It could be anything, such as a lamp, a sculpture, a vase, you name it. It could be colors that differ slightly from your current color scheme in your home, it could be the shape, the pattern, I think you know what I mean.
3. A Perfectly Made Bed & Layering
Yep, I’m really giving you the cheapest tips I can. But you know what? Often, they’re actually the best ones. Because let’s be honest, an unmade bed with some funny patterns on it may be cute, but it doesn’t look luxurious, just saying. And I say that because my bedding sometimes has weird patterns on it too, lol.
Well, what I actually wanted to say is that a well-made bed immediately looks much more put together. I even wrote a guide on how to layer perfectly, which you should definitely check out, hehe.
Because let me tell you, layering is exactly what makes the difference between an okay-looking bed and an expensive-looking bed.
4. Silver Accents
I don’t know about you, but I associate silver with “expensive.” You probably feel the same way. I mean, we all know it from hotels and luxury apartments. I’ve never been in one myself, but you see it often enough on social media haha.
Anyway, with silver accents, you can make your apartment look expensive in no time.
Just a little tip: don’t combine silver with gold and black, because this combo looks cheap. And of course, as with many things, don’t overdo it and use silver everywhere, that would just be too much. And your space will look cold, too. Think of sculptures, statues, candle holders, trays, bowls, vases, a silver knot, etc.
5. Gold + Wood Combo
As we have just learned, you shouldn’t overdo it with silver. The same goes for gold. But, as I said, a few accents can make your space look more sophisticated. And in combination with wood? It’s a dream, I can tell you that. Simply because it creates balance, which looks elegant but cozy at the same time.
In the kitchen, for example, you can attach a gold rod and hang kitchen towels, oven gloves, and branches on it. Just try to stick to subtle kitchen towels so it doesn’t look cheap. Then you can take a wooden tray and place a candle and a small vase on it, and you’re done.
6. Stylish Syrup Dispensers
Let’s stay in the kitchen a little longer. Especially if you’re a coffee addict, this idea is probably very relevant to you. And if you like to use different syrups, then stylish syrup dispensers are just what you need.
I think they look very high-end, but they’re not expensive at all. And they’re a great way to add some golden accents to your kitchen.
7. The Right Lighting
We all know that harsh, cold light. I call it corporate lighting. It just reminds me of my office job. And we definitely don’t want that vibe in our homes. I mean, it’s a place where we can relax and unwind.
That’s why warm lighting is so important. It just makes everything feel more harmonious, no matter how big or small your home is.
But don’t stick to just one light source, because several will make your place look really expensive. Combine a floor lamp, a table lamp, and a small accent lamp. In the end, anything is better than that ugly, harsh ceiling light.
It’s best to go for warm white (2700K-3000K) and choose lampshades made of fabric or frosted glass. I feel it gives a much softer effect.
8. Expensive-Looking Wall Decor
If you do it right, wall decorations can quickly make your small apartment look expensive. I would try tone-on-tone, meaning your wall decor should be a similar color to your wall paint. This will make your space appear larger and more thoughtful.
After all, the motto is that luxury does not scream. Also, small pictures scattered everywhere tend to look playful, whereas two larger paintings immediately appear much more high-end.
9. Black & White & Neutral
This combo is timeless and elegant. I find black and white alone to be rather sterile. But when you add neutral tones to this combo, things look different again. Friendlier, warmer, but still luxurious. Here, too, I recommend not overdoing it with black and instead using black deliberately.
For example, in lamps, figurines, trays, or individual pieces of furniture. To avoid a hospital vibe, it’s better to choose off-white.
The ratio is 70% neutrals, 20% white, and 10% black. I just made that up, haha, but black should definitely be used less than white and neutrals, and neutrals more than black and white.
10. The Rule of Three
The biggest mistake is probably thinking that everything in your apartment has to be expensive or look expensive in order to appear expensive. (That was a lot of expensive just in one phrase haha.)
This is especially true for furniture. But that’s a fallacy. More is not more in this case. Instead, choose one statement piece per room aka the largest piece of furniture, such as the bed, sofa, or dining table. To avoid getting tired of the colors at some point and having to buy everything new again, stick to timeless colors and ignore any trends.
Next comes a secondary piece of furniture. It could be an armchair, a sideboard, or a console table and should be from the same color family. But it can also be made of a different material than the first piece.
Last but not least, add an accent piece, such as a lamp, a mirror, or a side table. This adds character and can be more “special.” Invest in the main piece, but don’t go overboard with the other two.
Oh, and before I forget: especially since we’re talking about small apartments here, try to keep the floor visible as much as possible. This makes it look expensive and your apartment will also appear more spacious.
11. Add Luxe Vibes to Your Bathroom
It doesn’t take much to make your bathroom look expensive. I would say stick to the basics. Get dispensers for shampoo, conditioner, etc. that look uniform, because that will make your bathroom look like a spa and keep it looking put together.
Go for white, matte, or black. But that’s not all. Here are a few other things you could change without breaking the bank:
- New handles in black or gold
- Self-adhesive furniture film in marble look
- Asymmetrical mirror (preferably with LED backlighting)
- Hotel-like textiles (thick, single-color towels)
- And of course: warm lighting!
Another thing to keep in mind is that the bathroom should look tidy at all times. Try to keep it minimal and don’t leave 10.000 bottles lying around. Even if the bathroom looks great, no one will notice if it’s cluttered. (Btw, you can get all of the above for cheap on sites like Amazon.)
12. A Little Bit of Freshness
To ensure that your home does not resemble a jungle but rather appears elegant and sophisticated, it is important to stick to one statement plant. Naturally, this plant should be placed in a suitable location, such as a windowsill or simply in a corner.
- Eucalyptus, for example, would create a spa vibe.
- Monstera would look modern and high-quality.
- And an olive tree adds a touch of Mediterranean luxury.
Don’t panic at this point, because I’m not very good with plants myself, haha. The plant doesn’t have to be real. Just make sure that the fake plant doesn’t look too artificial and doesn’t have shiny plastic leaves.
The plant pot shouldn’t look like plastic either. It’s better to go for a stone or ceramic look in neutral colors for a more high-end look.
13. Stylishly Styled Floating Shelves
Floating shelves always work. I think they give off a clean and modern look on their own. But you obviously can’t leave them empty. Go for a few decor pieces and combine different materials and textiles. This approach gives you a put-together look without having to do much.
It’s also a good way to add a little glamour. All you need is one or two gold decorative pieces. Combine them with black and neutrals, and you’ll have a spot in your home that screams luxury but is still inviting.
14. Marking Rooms
Smaller apartments have it a little harder. You have to plan everything carefully so that it doesn’t end up looking completely cluttered, and you have to work with what you have.
That’s why it’s important to try to divide the rooms visually. Essentially, this means marking rooms as belonging together. For example, a rug under the sofa or dining area. Or you could use a shelf and cleverly place it as a room divider.
15. Hang Curtains Very High Up
This is one of the easiest tips for making a room look bigger. Perfect for all of us who have small apartments. It’s best to hang the rod as close to the ceiling as possible and not above the window.
Also, let the curtains hang down to the floor, even 1-2 cm on the floor if you like. Again, no wild patterns, but off-white, beige, or warm gray. The best thing, of course, is that sites like Amazon have curtains that are good quality but much cheaper than some other suppliers.
Let’s Wrap it Up
So, now we’ve come to the end of this post. I hope these tips have helped you to make your small apartment look expensive without hurting your bank account. Definitely try to shop on cheaper websites and check the reviews or whether the product is marked as “frequently returned,” for example. This will simply save you a lot of time!
This post showed you how to make a small apartment look expensive on a budget
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