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Having a high-end looking home can be difficult, especially if you have a tight decorating budget. Fortunately, there are ways – even on a budget – that you can get the high-end look you dream of.
Interior designers have shared a few secrets over the years that have given homeowners some insight on how they can make their home look elegant without breaking the bank. From adding pillows and a fresh coat of paint to window treatments and hardwood floors, these are simple solutions you need to know about.
Here, you will discover 10 of the simplest and least expensive ways to make your home look elegant. Take the time to keep reading – you just might be surprised at these simple tricks to fooling your guests into thinking you live a high-end life.
With a sharp eye and tight wallet, you can make your home look elegant while staying within your budget. Image Source: Stonewood
1 ) Crown Molding – Details Matter
It’s all in the details. When it comes to decorating your home to look high-end and custom-made, details are key. In this instance, the detail is crown molding.
Crown molding has a way of making a room look complete or finished; it brings the ceiling and the walls together, giving them an elegant appearance. Without this finishing touch, rooms tend to look cheap or unfinished.
Fortunately, crown molding is relatively inexpensive (especially the plastic, paintable versions), making it affordable on almost any budget. There are many widths to choose from, but if you want a greater impact, chose the widest trim that your budget will allow. For the ultimate in glamour, try adding all types on molding to your home, i.e. crown, high baseboard, ceiling beams, columns, ceiling medallions, chair rails etc…
Wider crown molding and upgraded baseboard trim are all great ways to add an extra touch of custom-built elegance to your home—while sticking to your budget. Image Source: Jennifer Bevan
2) Paint – Color Matters
Paint color is perhaps one of the most difficult decisions to make when decorating a room, especially when the remaining décor will be based off the color palette. However, if elegance is what you are after, there are certain colors that add instant glamour to your home.
Choose one of these two color options—bold and dramatic OR soft, understated hues. These hues allow you to add instant elegance to your home. It simply depends on your color personality in terms of which option you choose.
Painting interior doors black is another great idea. It automatically creates an expensive feeling, without causing much damage to your wallet. If you choose this option, however, be sure to add some black accessories to the space to tie the overall design together.
Choose one of these two color options—bold and dramatic OR soft, understated hues. These hues allow you to add instant elegance to your home. Image Source: David Churchill
3) Pillows – Comfort & Elegance
Pillows throughout your home serve two purposes. One, if they are chosen correctly, they can really punch-up the elegance factor. Two, they provide your guests with a little extra comfort on the couch, and offer a cozy, layered feeling to your rooms.
The comfort aspect speaks for itself, that is, if you choose pillows that are large enough to rest on, and soft. Speaking of size, you want to avoid the standard 12 to 18 inches for a throw pillow. Instead, choose something larger, such as a 22-inch pillow cover stuffed with 24-inch inserts.
Large, overstuffed pillows create a very plush, elegant appearance—and don’t skimp on the pillow inserts, down-filled is the only way to go.
Large, overstuffed pillows create a very plush, elegant appearance—and don’t skimp on the pillow inserts, down-filled is the only way to go. Image Source: Luke Cartledge
4) Window Treatments – A Must-Have Accessory
It’s simple—a home without window treatments will look unfinished and cheap. Fortunately, window treatments are one of the most budget-friendly ways to add some elegance to your home, as well as much-needed privacy.
When selecting window treatments you want to make smart choices. For instance, choosing unlined flimsy materials look terribly cheap, even if they are the least expensive option. It is recommended that you avoid see-through materials. This does not mean that you can’t buy off-the-rack curtains. A lot of chain stores offer lined draperies that appear elegant and expensive —even though the price is right.
When it comes to window treatments stick with elegant materials such as natural silk, linen and cotton (polyester or man-made fabrics usually look cheap). If draperies are not for you, then try woven bamboo shades or wood blinds. Just be sure to dress your windows—they ensure your home looks elegant and well-designed.
Be sure to dress your windows, it can be the least expensive way to add elegance to your home. Image Source: Laura U
5) Hardware Finishes – Opt for Unique
It is true that you can walk into a home improvement store and be faced with an entire wall of drawer pulls and knobs. However, that is the exact moment that you should turn and walk out the door.
These bulk hardware pieces are inexpensive, but they are also poor quality and cheap-looking. For a few more dollars – although not enough to break the bank – you can get elegant, more expensive looking pieces elsewhere.
Smaller hardware stores, flea markets, and antique shops are the best places to look. You can find heavy-duty, expensive- looking drawer knobs and pulls at a much more affordable price, giving your home the elegant and unique look you desire.
Consider updating to more original hardware for an elegant look. Image Source: Bernard Andre
6) Lighting Makes a Difference
Most contractors will choose standard lighting fixtures, which are probably the same they have used over and over again in all the homes they have built. However, designer light fixtures will add more elegance to your home than the standard chandelier.
Fortunately, there are a few tricks you can use to get the high-end look without the high-end price. Start by looking at flea markets and second-hand stores. You will get a unique piece at a budget-friendly price. Or try this bloggers trick of adding a drum shade around an old chandelier to get the custom look everyone is craving right now.
Some pieces may require a little buffing or a new paint job, but can look like a million dollars for just a few bucks. In addition, be sure to have several different light sources, including table lamps and floor lamps throughout the home to increase the elegant feeling.
Oftentimes, the biggest stumbling block for clients looking for home renovations is budget. It is difficult for clients without any construction knowledge to gain an accurate idea of the cost of their build; Cowboy builders are sadly all too common and give potential clients either a highly inflated price or a substantially low costing.
Both tactics employed by such builders can have dire effects should a client goes ahead with the quotation. By highly inflating the price, the unknowing client ends up paying for totally unnecessary works. By pricing the job at low cost, the homeowners often endure a never ending spiral of costs which were not anticipated. The end result could mean a shoddy build costing tens of thousands more than if they instructed a reputable builder.
We have taken on clients who have unfortunately found themselves in this situation. From builders deciding the job is too big for them to shoddy workmanship, we take pride in rectifying these kinds of issues and ensuring that the client gets what they original wanted to pay for; a high quality build.
When you first contact us at One Construction, we take pride in the fact that our Director, Ali, deals with your enquiry from the outset. Ali surveys the site and discusses the various options and ideas which you present to him, whilst inputting his own knowledge gained from a great deal of experience in high quality residential builds and renovations.
After discussing your project in detail, we then get to work on pricing the job. We have a unique approach in this respect; Ali himself works tirelessly to provide each client with a bespoke quotation. We recognise that each build is unique, therefore materials and timescales are carefully considered when quoting for each project.
This crucial stage is carefully considered. The quotation is fully itemised allowing all clients to see how their projects cost is determined. Often overlooked elements such as site management and welfare facilities are always included. Our transparency is always appreciated by our clients.
We are proud that each and every project we have completed in has come in on budget. Many hours are spent working through plans and having discussions with all involved parties to ensure that quotation is both affordable and accurate. All our builds and refurbishment projects are never finished until the client is happy and we do everything possible from the outset to ensure our client satisfaction at all stages.
A bespoke, easy to comprehend payment plan is also included so clients can budget and raise funds accordingly.
We would love the opportunity to quote for your project. We are confident that, when you compare the transparency and competitiveness of our quotations with other construction firms or individuals, you will see a drastic difference in the time spend on this crucial aspect to any build. You can be assured that the same level of commitment and consideration is employed during your build, should you choose to instruct One Construction.
Working throughout the Islamabad/Rawalpindi Twin cities and the surrounding areas, Ali and the One Construction team would be delighted to undertake any works which you may be considering.
Renovating your home can be stressful and for many people there are a lot of unknowns associated with taking on a project regardless of the size. In order to make things easier on your end, we decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions we get about renovating or remodeling.
MY HOUSE NEEDS SO MUCH WORK, HOW DO I KNOW WHERE TO START?
If this is you, it can definitely feel overwhelming. Our advice is to start on the outside and work your way in. Renovating a bathroom or remodeling a kitchen definitely seems like the choice that is a lot more fun, but its pointless to take on a project like this when your roof is leaking or you have foundation issues. Once the major structural aspects have been taken care of to protect the building itself, you can work your way inside. Once inside, our suggestion is to start with any areas that are causing you stress and go from there.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A GOOD CONTRACTOR?
This is such an important part of any project going well! Some things to look out for are good communication and how openly they discuss the details of their work plan. It is so important that you are all on the same page in order to insure that you are getting what you are looking for. Feel free to ask questions too!
Another important aspect is finding out what their plan is to keep your living space clean. Taking on a renovation in your home is stressful enough as it is. The people you invite to work in your home should not add to that stress, but instead should respect your space by keeping it as clean as possible throughout the project.
The last and maybe the most important thing to look for is how comfortable they make you feel. Does the contractor listen when you are talking? Do they answer your questions patiently? Remember this person is going to be working closely with you for a period of time so make sure you get a long with them.
OUR PROJECT IS NEARLY FINISHED, WHAT SHOULD I BE LOOKING FOR ON THE HOME STRETCH?
Before you submit the final payment to your contractor, you should complete a walkthrough of the project to make sure everything has been finished the way you want. Things to look for are paint touchups, making sure everything has been caulked and sealed the way it should be, working plumbing and appliances and other final touches. If you see something you aren’t happy about let your contractor know so that they can get it fixed properly.
In the end, while taking on a project in your home is potentially stressful, it should also be something that is fun and exciting. Preparing the right way, having a good plan, and having the right person complete your project, whether its a full home remodel, a kitchen or bathroom renovation, or any other remodeling work you want to have done, can make for a really enjoyable experience!
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec et magna lacinia, congue enim et, dignissim ante. Nam gravida sit amet odio eu tincidunt. Sed eros tellus, fringilla in eleifend sit amet, tristique sed justo. Quisque semper iaculis velit, vel tristique quam interdum et. In molestie id nulla ac fringilla. Vestibulum pretium lectus augue, sit amet interdum lorem ultrices at. Morbi quis pellentesque nibh, commodo consequat odio. Morbi mollis fringilla felis quis ornare.
