Making your furniture look more expensive
I'll tell you how you can make your own four walls look more upmarket with a little cash and a bit of flair.
I'm still saving up for my penthouse with a view of Lake Zurich. And since I actually know that this dream will remain unfulfilled because I don't have the necessary small change, I'm simply furnishing my small city flat with a panoramic view of my neighbour's kitchen. But pretty doesn't necessarily have to be expensive. Brands such as Bloomingville or Nordal are proof of this. All you have to do is do a little research before making your purchase decision. Or you can follow my seven tips to make your interior design look more upmarket in no time at all.
#1 Freshly painted
Looking at glossy magazines clouds your judgement and raises your expectations. Suddenly you want things that you didn't even realise you needed for your living happiness. What I have learnt from the staged images: Everything is perfectly arranged and staged for shoots. This includes beautifully painted walls, which are the be-all and end-all of a pretty flat. So it's definitely worth having the walls of your new home painted when you move in, even if the management doesn't arrange it.
#2 Making statements
Expensive pieces? Sure, but in small doses. Invest in one to three eye-catching pieces of furniture that stand out from the crowd and arrange more affordable pieces around them. If you're lucky, you can also find such pieces in brockis or flea markets. Patience is also required here. In addition to my white "Eames Armchair" from Vitra, which I showcase with an inexpensive faux fur, my design treasures include the transparent "Bourgie" lamp from Kartell. You can also set elegant accents with scented candles, decorative cushions,
Körben, faux fur and vases. [[image:26770332]] The «Bourgie» floor lamp from Kartell is an eye-catcher in any home. Image: Kartell
#3 Plants
Nothing makes a room look more beautiful than plants. My heart beats faster with white or pale pink cut flowers that instantly enhance my living room. I don't know why, but in my opinion, Tuesday is the best day to buy cut flowers. Experience shows that they last the longest. If you don't have green fingers, you can also go for cacti.
#4 Wall art
This form of art is one of the best tricks for upgrading a room. But don't hang up your old posters - on the contrary. We're talking about framed pictures or photo prints. And if you still can't do without your favourite poster, have it framed. This will make the whole thing look much more upmarket. [[image:26740672,26740669]] Several trends in one go: plants, pictures in frames and faux fur. Images: Bloomingville
#5 High gloss
Copper, gold and brass not only look timeless and elegant, they also give your home an insta-upgrade. You don't even have to buy new furniture - a spray can will do the trick. You can use the spray paint to spray candle holders, picture frames or other decorations as desired. For furniture, for example, the table or chair legs. Incidentally, gold cutlery is worth its weight in gold.
#6 DIY 2.0
This brings us directly to the second DIY: You can often recognise cheap furniture by its simple door handles. You can easily replace these with a nicer knob. This not only makes your piece of furniture unique, but also makes it look more expensive than it actually is. A little effort for the wow effect.
#7 Minimalism
The more space you have, the bigger the room looks. When furnishing, practise "less is more" and get rid of everything you no longer need. Cluttered rooms look untidy, even if they are tidy. Don't leave odds and ends such as charging cables and the like lying around, but store them in decorative boxes. Less is more when it comes to choosing colours. If you recognise a concept behind it, the whole thing looks well thought out and tasteful. Limit yourself to three colours that harmonise with each other.
Do you have any other interior design tips up your sleeve? Let me know in the comments column. Follow me for more home and fashion tricks by clicking the button on my author profile.
Opening image: Bloomingville
When I’m not exploring the depths of the sea as an open water diver, I enjoy plunging into the world of fashion. On the streets of Paris, Milan and New York is where I keep my eyes peeled for the latest trends. And I’ll show you how to take them from the catwalk to your everyday life.
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