Do you need expensive pieces for a room to look good?

Let me break down the structure of a room and show you how to design a beautiful room on a better budget.

In the early 2000’s, there was a show which took the design of a room that was ten’s of thousand’s of dollars and recreated it for under a thousand dollars.   To be honest, I never enjoyed it even though I was addicted too it.  Why?  Because most of the time their knock-off designs just didn’t truly capture the original feel.  So it stands to reason that expensive pieces make a room, right?  Not exactly.

The central element that allows a room to look or feel expensive is that of cohesiveness. There are elements of many different styles that can be put together and flow very well. I tell you the truth, you are not attracted to the expense, you are attracted to the flow of design using elements of shape, color, and texture which draw your eye.

Now, traditionally, the more expensive a piece is, the more attention to detail will be paid to it.  Example: solid wood vs. compressed board or hardwood vs. softwood.  More expensive items will have better structure and balance because time was paid to the elements of that item.   However, if you are patient, you will be able to find great pieces at great prices!  Patience is key.

Sometimes all you need to have is a little creativity and a lot of patience.

Here are only a few examples…

• Buy a less expensive couch and splurge on the pillows.
• Buy the stock cabinets and splurge on the finishes.
• Make your own art pieces or collect affordable pieces from up and coming artist at trade shows or open markets.
• Find lamps at discount/repurpose stores and change the color, splurge on the shade or vice-versa, splurge on a lamp base and buy a cheap shade.
• Get the cheaper, solid color duvet and splurge on the sheets & pillows.

You can create a beautiful room around a lot of affordable pieces and one splurge, rather than going into debt trying to splurge on every item.   Pay attention to the details of a piece.  It’s easy to customize a piece of furniture and not only make it look original but also expensive.   Try looking through antique shops or junk shops to find creative pieces for your home, there are many shops out there that repurpose old furniture for great prices!  Add or take away paint – switch out knobs – make a few aesthetic or even architectural changes to the pieces you find.   One of my favorite places to shop is an awesome little junk shop that repurposes many different items into household furniture and decor; when I find a piece I love, they will customize it at no additional cost!

What makes a space beautiful is attention to detail and cohesiveness.  Have fun creating a space that is affordable, comfortable, and all your own!