17 Sneaky Design Tricks to Make Your Home Look Totally Pro-Level (Without Breaking a Sweat!)
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How long has it been since you took a closer look at your home design? Overly complicated renovations and high-priced decor purchases can quickly overstretch your budget and make you feel overwhelmed. Some really clever and affordable design tricks could make a big difference in transforming your space.
According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, the average spending on home improvements increased by 10.2% in 2023 as homeowners sought ways to refresh their spaces without committing to full renovations. Rising material and labor expenses have also encouraged a surge in DIY approaches to design.
Grand View Research reports that the global home decor market will be valued at $960.14 billion in 2024 and will see a growth rate of 9.4% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. This reflects an increased interest in doable and inexpensive methods of adding style and functionality to a house.
With ingenuity and simple adjustments, you can make your home look like professionals did it without the cost of hiring one. Want to elevate your space with ease? Continue reading!
Apply a Unifying Color Scheme
A unified color scheme creates visual harmony, making your home feel thoughtfully designed. Stick to one primary color and two complementary hues for accents.
According to interior design experts at HGTV, using similar tones across furniture, walls, and decor ties the space together seamlessly. This approach also helps smaller spaces appear larger by eliminating jarring contrasts.
Hang Curtains High and Wide
To give your home an elegant, airy feel, position curtains closer to the ceiling and extend their width beyond the window frame. This trick draws the eye upward, making ceilings seem higher, as noted by Apartment Therapy.
Floor-length drapes add vertical lines, enhancing this effect. Opt for light, flowing fabrics to maintain a clean and modern aesthetic. The right curtain placement can dramatically alter the room’s proportions without structural changes.
Layer Rugs for Dimension
Layering rugs is a budget-friendly way to introduce texture and visual interest. Start with a large neutral base rug and layer a smaller, patterned one on top, a tip endorsed by Architectural Digest.
This trick works particularly well in open-plan spaces to define specific areas, such as seating or dining zones. Mixing materials like jute and wool adds depth without looking cluttered. Use rug pads to keep the layers in place and avoid slippage.
Strategically Include Mirrors
Mirrors extend natural light and give the appearance of additional space, hence why they are a pro designer’s best friend. According to Better Homes & Gardens, large mirrors should be placed opposite windows to reflect sunlight into the room.
Hang smaller ones in groups for a gallery effect that doubles as wall art. In small spaces, avoid ornate frames, which can overwhelm the decor. Make sure the mirrors are always at eye level.
Adding Greenery to Liven Things Up
As a NASA study proved, houseplants add life, color, and texture to interiors and improve air quality. If you’re short on time, choose low-maintenance plants like pothos, snakes, or succulents.
Group plants of varying heights and pot sizes for a curated effect. Place them in key areas like coffee tables, shelves, and corners to soften hard edges. Use decorative planters that complement your room’s colour scheme for an easy update.
Highlight Architectural Features
Consider your home’s unique features, like crown moulding, fireplaces, or built-in shelving. To make these features pop, paint moulding a contrasting colour or add LED lighting around them.
According to Elle Decor, emphasizing architectural details gives rooms a custom, high-end look. Consider adding faux beams or textured wallpaper to create focal points if your home lacks standout features. Often, simple upgrades make a big impact.
Declutter and Organize
Effective organization makes professional spaces appear neat. Decluttering isn’t just about tidiness—it’s about creating visual breathing room. Marie Kondo recommends keeping only items that “spark joy” to avoid unnecessary clutter.
Use decorative storage solutions, like woven baskets or chic storage boxes, to hide everyday items. Open shelving can also display curated collections while maintaining order.
Incorporate Statement Lighting
Lighting is one of those magical things that can completely transform a space, and it’s often overlooked. Lighting experts at The Spruce say replacing some bland, generic fixtures with bold pendants or chandeliers can instantly make a room feel fancy.
Layer various types of lighting: ambient, task, and accent. Add a little extra with dimmers, an inexpensive element that provides great control of mood and brightness. Opt for fixtures that reflect your taste while still working with the room’s look.
Mix High and Low Pieces
A mix of budget-friendly finds and investment pieces creates a balanced, curated look. Splurge on a high-quality sofa or dining table and pair it with more affordable decor like throw pillows or vases.
Designers at House Beautiful suggest vintage or thrifted items to add character without breaking the bank. This approach will ensure your home feels unique and different from a showroom. Blending price points also helps avoid a cookie-cutter effect.
Embrace Minimalism
Less is often more in professional design. Following Scandinavian design principles, a minimalist approach focuses on quality over quantity. The decor should be simple, with clean lines and uncluttered surfaces.
Choose dual-purpose furniture, like storage ottomans, to prioritize functionality. This strategy not only looks chic but also enhances the usability of your spaces.
Create Visual Symmetry
Symmetry creates balance and can pull a room together. To achieve it, place furniture, artwork, or other decorative elements in sets of two. According to Real Simple, symmetrical layouts result in a sense of order, especially in the living or bedroom.
For a twist on this, try asymmetrical balance by setting up different elements of roughly the same size and color across from each other. Both methods draw the eye while maintaining visual harmony.
Texturize to Add Interest
Mixing and matching different textures can add dynamism to a room. Balance smooth surfaces, such as glass or metal, with soft textiles, like velvet or wool.
Elle Decor says layering textures is a way to ensure that a monochromatic design does not appear flat. Add texture with pillows, throws, and area rugs. The subtle elements of a wicker basket or a woven lamp can change the tactile feel of a room.
Rearrange Furniture for Functionality
Rearrange your furniture to optimize flow and usability. For example, floating furniture away from walls creates cozy conversation zones, a tip shared by designer Nate Berkus.
Ensure walkways are clear and that seating is positioned for comfort and interaction. Rearranging costs nothing and can refresh a room’s vibe instantly. Experiment with layouts to discover what works best for your space.
Accessorize with Art
Art makes a house a home and adds instant sophistication. Find pieces that speak to you and work with your design aesthetic. According to MoMA, the key to hanging art is ensuring it is at eye level.
Feel free to mix frame sizes and orientations for a unique gallery wall. If purchasing art is out of the question, frame personal photos or DIY artwork for a similar feel.
Update Hardware for a Quick Facelift
Replacing cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, and door handles is a low-cost way to give new life to a room. Choose trendy hardware like matte black, brushed brass, or polished nickel.
Rocky Mountain Hardware recommends pairing hardware finishes with other fixtures for space consistency. This little adjustment instantly updates kitchens, bathrooms, and furniture. Ensure proper alignment when installing for a professional touch.
Use Books Creatively
Books are not only to be read but also chic decorations. Organize them by colour, size, or subject for a visually appealing display. Stack them on a coffee table, shelf, or console, and finish them off with small decorative pieces, such as candles or vases.
As Dara Agruss Design states, bookshelf styling is an art form that merges aesthetics with functionality. Switch books out seasonally to keep the display fresh and interesting.
Play with Patterns
Patterns bring life and character to spaces. Employ them judiciously through accent items such as throw pillows, curtains, or wallpaper.
According to Oraanj Interior Design, blending patterns of various scales—a large floral with a small geometric, for example—provides depth without overwhelming a space. The trick is to keep the colour palette consistent so patterns don’t clash.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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