Transforming Your Home with Designer Touches: Expert Tips for an Upscale Look

I’m sharing my design tips for an upscale look. As an Interior Designer, there are some tricks that you can implement to create a more luxe look in your home.

Good design doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, you can create a space that looks expensive by using some of my room ideas.

On my blog Living Large in A Small House, I may sometimes use affiliate links, which means a small commission is earned if you purchase via the link. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link. You can find my full Disclosure Policy HERE

Mixing Old with New

A curated look elevates your home’s style, especially in your living room. Pairing a few vintage pieces, like end tables or coffee tables, with your new sofa and chairs creates a look of sophistication.

Having a matchy-matchy or the whole room from a vignette in a furniture store doesn’t give the collected feel that you want in your home. Taking your time to find the right pieces is part of the fun of transforming your home into that designer look we all want. 

a old French chair that I recovered now sits in a corner in my living room in front of book shelves that house some of my vintage decor
A cozy yet upscale living room scene features a white sofa adorned with three decorative pillows: one solid rust-colored, one with a floral pattern, and one striped. A plaid blanket is draped over the arm of the sofa, while a window in the background provides a glimpse of greenery.

Pillow Talk

Did you know your pillow inserts should be 2” bigger than your pillow cover size?

The covers that I buy are almost always 22”. I use a 24” pillow insert. The size is perfect to make a statement on your sofa or chair. The 24” insert gives the pillow substance so it stands up on its own. If your a fan of the karate chop like me, it works really well when you have the right size cover and insert.

I only buy pillow covers and have just a few sets of inserts. You can find my favorite ones HERE. This way I can store many pillow covers in the space that actual pillows would take up. 

dark and moody living room

Color Drenching

What is color drenching? It’s when you paint the entire room, including the ceiling with the same color. To get the optimal effect you would use a dark color.

While I’m not someone who has tried this, It is an amazing design trick that gives a room a designer feel. This works well in a home with closed-concept floor plans.  I have a post on dark and moody design that I think you will enjoy HERE.

I’m contemplating doing this in one of my bathrooms but it would mean getting “Handy” on board with potentially painting tile. 🫣  

Things I’m Loving Right Now

Embracing Cozy

This is an easy and inexpensive way to add an elevated look to any room. Add throws, candles, and some coffee table books from the thrift store to your space. It creates a sense of warmth and home.  

A cozy, upscale living room scene with a wooden coffee table featuring a lit candle, a stack of books, and a decorative vase with dried flowers. The soft glow of the candle creates an inviting ambiance, lending an elegant touch to the refined setting.

Use an area rug to anchor the spaces in your home. Even if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, add a rug to define your living, dining, and bedroom spaces.  An area rug makes a room feel cohesive and connected. 

living large in a small house entryway
Entry Wall

Decorative Molding

Adding decorative wood molding to your walls in any room or hallway adds a dimension that screams expensive and upgraded. 

This is something that you can do with minimal skills. You can also buy kits that are pre-made. Many are removable if live in a rental. 

Upgrading your crown and baseboard molding can make your house look more expensive. 

A lush green plant in a blue pot sits beside three vintage books on the white shelf, lending an upscale look. The visible titles are "The Story of the Bible" and "The Pit" by Frank Norris, against a neutral-colored wall backdrop.

Plants

Think about adding a few well-placed plants when you’re decorating. They add a natural element that all homes need. I’m not talking about a jungle as with everything moderation is key. A plant on a shelve and one on a table along with a floor plant is a way to give your home an instant eco-friendly design

Some great plants for indoor spaces that are easy to maintain are philodendrons, spider plants, orchids, peace lilies, fiddle figs, and monstera deliciosa.

Cozy living room with a white sofa adorned with floral and rust-colored pillows, exuding an upscale look. A table lamp casts a warm glow on a side table decorated with pumpkins and flowers. A sign above reads "Our Story. Our Home." A window offers a glimpse of an outdoor scene.

Lighting

Lighting can make or break a home. Evaluate your space and pay attention to what exactly your lighting needs are. Is the room a place to relax and unwind? Do you need task lighting for reading or working? Is the space where you are busy or need to feel energized?

Fixtures

  • Table Lamps – Using an oversized lamp creates a look of being grand. Look for great options at thrift stores. If the size and shape is great but not the color, you can always paint your lamp.
  • Floor Lamps – Floor lamps are wonderful options when you don’t have a table or a table big enough for a lamp. They can be great reading lamps next to a cozy chair or the corner of a sofa.
  • Sconces – Wall sconces are beautiful flanking a fireplace, dining room hutch, or lining a hallway or stairway. The work to accentuate any focal point in your space.
  • Art display sconce – A beautiful piece of wall art on a wall can be enhanced by using an art lighting fixture. They now make them wireless which makes them accessible for any application.
  • Uplighting – While uplighting is typically reserved for events, I think it can be used to highlight areas of your home. A full window wall, an interesting floor plant, an art wall.
  • Overhead Lighting—This can not only be great task lighting in an office or kitchen but can also be on a dimmer, transforming it to mood lighting when necessary.
  • Desk Lamp – A great desk lamp is perfect for working.

Light Bulbs

There are so many different kinds of light bulbs, it’s hard to know what to buy.

photo of my living space with GE Revel Light Bulb in a lamp
GE Revel Light Bulb

Understanding Light Bulbs

  • Lumens – the higher the lumens the brighter the light is
  • Kelvins – this is all about the color of the bulb. Think of a low Kelvin (K) 3000K as the color of candlelight and a high Kelvin, 7000K or higher, like a blue sky.
  • My favorite light bulbs are GE Revel HD light, 60W, 565 Lumens. However, I’ve been having a hard time sourcing them.

Here is the rule that I use

  1. I only buy LED bulbs. They cost more but they last forever
  2. I use a bulb with low lumens and low Kelvins for moody lighting in my living room. Right now I like this GE Bulb.
  3. For task lighting, you want to have high lumens and Kelvins.
  4. Only use the wattage that your fixture manufacturer suggests.
A modern living room exudes an upscale look with a large white sectional sofa adorned with blue and grey cushions, a round grey ottoman, and a wooden coffee table displaying elegant decor. A brown armchair complements the setting, while large windows with white curtains and a potted plant add sophistication.
Photo Credit: Pinterest

Window Treatment

Floor-to-ceiling drapery gives a decorator look to a space. It also makes your room appear larger.

The elegance of the additional fabric adds a glamorous touch to a room.

Upgrading your Bedroom and Bathroom

Bedroom Luxury

Having nice sheets is a gift I give myself. They don’t have to be crazy expensive to be a great sheet. I look for 100% cotton and a sateen finish. 

Treat yourself to “just like” pressed sheets. If you use my secret to washing sheets and making your bed, you will slip into crisp sheets that feel like they have been freshly pressed! You can thank me for this trick later.

white shiplap headboard with lots of pillows and crisp sheets in my post how to create a cozy bedroom

Bathroom Upgrade

In my bath/shower, I use a fabric shower curtain liner. It’s so much more luxurious than a plastic liner and you can wash it to keep it fresh. 

Conclusion

I hope you find some of these tips helpful. Many are inexpensive ways to add an upgraded look and feel to your home.

Peace and Love,

Meet Me

I’m an Interior Designer turned full-time blogger who lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq., ft., home with my “Handy” husband, Keith.

I’m an open book about my life on my blog. Find out more about me by tapping the button below.

Thanks for Following Along

If you enjoyed this post I hope you sign up to be a friend of Living Large in A Small House! Then you won’t miss any of the inspiration that is shared with you each week! You can also follow me on  Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. I share even more inspiration on Pinterest! You can listen to me chat on my Podcast.

Featured

Web Story

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

2 Comments

  1. Oh no, I am so sorry. You are really in bad shape both feet my goodness. I wish you a speedy recovery 🙏
    Love love love ❤️ your TV art. That Picture of the house and trees is sooo great

    1. Thank you Debbie – I’m definitely on the mend. The TV art is great. I can change it when ever I want. I still have a fall photo up but I’ll be switching to a holiday soon by the end of the week.