How to Create a Luxury Interior Design Look for Less

As a designer with more than 25 years in the business, never ONCE have I heard, “I love what you are doing, but is there any way that we can pour MORE money into this project?”  Plus, we have all felt the uptick in pricing these last few years.

And while a discretionary budget for design can look very different from project to project, you don’t have to spend a million bucks — or even close to it — to effectively add a new luxurious lease on life to any space in your home.

To that end, let’s look at some of my favorite ways to create a luxury interior design look — for less. Here are five tips to get more aesthetic bang for your buck.

1. Wall Coverings

Wallcoverings have experienced something of a rebirth, and I couldn’t be more delighted by it. Gone are the wallpaper horror stories of yore with the terrible patterns and the dated vibes. The industry has rebounded with so many innovative, positively gorgeous offerings that add luxurious impact to a space for a relatively minimal price.  

From bold murals to geometric wood inlays, to soft grass cloth, and so much more, there’s something for everyone!For even more impact and fewer dollars spent, choose one wall as the accent wall for your wallcovering of choice. The design effect will be intentional and elevated while also being budget-friendly.

2. Lighting as Jewelry

Lovelies, we know the intoxicating power of the right piece of jewelry to illuminate any ensemble — and that’s precisely how lighting works in luxury interior home design. It’s what people notice first; it’s what draws their eye. And it’s one of the easiest, lower cost ways to make a room feel more luxurious and extravagant. It can even double as art!

So, it’s no surprise that lighting is one of our favorite ways to COMPLETELY transform a space with a single purchase.   When you replace a ho-hum flush mount fixture with a chandelier or pendant — it gives instant presence and “wow” factor for what can be a modest dollar investment.

Whether you decide to go for a more non-permanent change like the floor lamp in your living room — or opt for a bigger change like the pendants over your kitchen island or the chandelier in your foyer — no change is “too small” to go unnoticed when it comes to light fixtures. From glinting chandeliers to mixed-metal fixtures, interesting combos of wood and glass, and LED innovations, lighting knows no bounds — and it’s a timeless interior design element.

3. Strategic Patterns

Patterns can be tricky. But when they are properly assigned — considering things like scale, color, intensity and form — pattern can completely elevate your overall aesthetic for virtual pennies.

At our luxury interior design firm, we often suggest that one primary pattern acts as the foundation, then we can mix and match larger and smaller scales and colors to complement the “main event.”

When patterns are implemented properly and strategically, a room that is easy on the wallet will look like a million bucks!

4. Plants

House plants are all the rage these days and these organic beauties are a favorite for our luxury interior design firm. They’re an inexpensive way to immediately elevate a room — and we’re always looking for fresh, new ways to incorporate them into our clients’ spaces.

Why do plants just work? Well, I firmly believe that green is the fifth neutral — and pairing the right houseplant with a great planter can bring life (literally and metaphorically!) to a space. 

They also allow us to create texture that can be warm and comforting, artistic, sexy, modern, or completely original. Also, studies have shown the positive mental health benefits that plants have in your space; they’re incredibly mood-boosting!

5. Accessories

When it comes to accessorizing, sometimes less is more (in fashion and at home!). This is the time to take inventory and consider carefully what accessories are acting more like clutter and feel redundant in your space. They can immediately turn down the luxury volume in a room.

When you send out the overdone or dated accessories, your room will feel fresher, newer, and instantly more luxurious. Plus, you will get more bang for your buck when you invest in neutral, timeless accessories with pops of color mixed in!

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To get that luxury look for less, thoughtfully integrated details can make all the difference in the world. While many of our luxury interior design firm’s projects focus on whole home interior design — to ensure every last detail is done to perfection — we also specialize in room-by-room upgrades that strategically transform a space into a luxurious haven WHILE staying within approachable budget considerations.

If you’re ready to invite our award-winning luxury interior design team into your home — whether it’s a one-room makeover or a more extensive whole-home design — contact us today. We will take great care of you — and we’ll see things you don’t, or wouldn’t, as we take you to the design finish line you’re seeking.