Interior designer reveals top 10 reasons your home looks cheap

When it comes to decorating our abodes, we all have different tastes and styles. 

Making your home look chic and stylish shouldn’t come at some extra expense, and there’s really no need to splash the cash on some luxurious furniture – unless you want to – to create an aesthetically pleasing and inviting space.

But knowing what makes a house look cheap and tacky will prove invaluable when you are designing your interior.

Whether it’s getting rid of clutter or making sure you don’t overdo it on the accessories to choosing your curtains wisely, interior design is a tricky game to play. 

So, MailOnline have spoken to Colette Toman, interior stylist at Make My Blinds, who has revealed the 10 reasons why your home interior might look cheap…

Being intentional with design choices and injecting your home with personality can go a long way, even when you are trying to do so inexpensively. 

Before you start decorating your space, it is important to take care to avoid these 10 mistakes, which can leave your living quarters looking cheap and less-than-stunning.

So, here are the 10 things that make your home look drab instead of fab… 

Keep flooring consistent

Homeowners who prefer wooden flooring, such as laminate, over carpet, often change the colour based on the colour schemes in each room, which can create a hectic and inconsistent look. 

If you’re opting for wooden flooring then make sure it is consistent throughout the home to create a more appealing and clean look.

Avoid matching flatpack furniture 

Flatpack furniture, especially matching furniture, from places like Ikea should be avoided and ‘can create a look you’re most likely not wanting to achieve’ (File image)

People often choose flatpack furniture due to its cost, but filling your home with matching furniture can create a look you’re most likely not wanting to achieve. 

Matching items of flatpack furniture can create a generic and mass-produced appearance, so try and mix up the furniture you purchase.

Don’t overdo accessories

Ornaments are often the preferred choice of homeowners when it comes to filling up unused spaces or just enhancing the appearance of the home. 

However, incorporating too many ornaments can look cheap and take the shine off the rest of the room, so make sure you select a few ornaments that complement each other.

Ditch glitzy mirrors and diamond accessories 

‘Too much glitz and glam to your home can quickly go from elegant to cheap,’ Ms Toman warns homeowners (File image)

Adding too much glitz and glam to your home can quickly go from elegant to cheap. With this in mind, be aware of the amount of glamorous items you have in each room and scale back if needed.

Choose curtains wisely

Curtains are a great addition to the home and not only do they enhance the interior, but they also help to lock in heat during the winter and keep the home cool in summer. 

When choosing curtains, be sure to choose those which are heavy-lined, such as thermal curtains, as they are much fuller and provide a more luxurious appearance, compared to those which are unlined or thinly lined.

Keep your home in order

A clean home can mean a lot. The expert says that ‘where possible, try and keep your home organised as much as possible’ (File image)

Day-to-day life can become hectic and tidying can be pushed to the bottom of your priority list but if sideboards, cupboards and tables are stacked with washing, books and other items of clutter, then your home is going to look hectic and cheap. 

Where possible, try and keep your home organised as much as possible.

Be careful with rugs 

Rugs can create a warm and homely feel to your property, but it’s important to make sure they complement the room you’re placing them in. 

If you’d like a rug in a small room, such as your living room, then don’t buy a huge rug which takes over the majority of the flooring, as this will hide most of the wood and look odd to the eye.

Think about size 

When choosing which furniture goes where, you need to think about the size of the room and make sure that it compliments your living quarters (File image)

When it comes to choosing furniture, make sure it compliments the size of the room it will be living in. 

For example, if you are looking for a bookcase for a box room then you don’t want to purchase one which is tall and wide, as this will make the room look even smaller and like it has just been thrown in there.

Choose the right lighting

Lighting is another important factor – and it make a huge difference between making a home look cheap and expensive (File image)

Your choice of lighting in your home is key to achieving the ultimate appearance and certain lights are better for some rooms than others. 

A bedroom, for example, is best suited to soft and less bright lights, whilst a kitchen suits high-watt bulbs as this is a place for entertaining for many. So, remember the importance of good lighting.

Choose styles, not themes

When it comes to interior design, themes should only really be used in children’s bedrooms as after that stage, they can make a house look cheap and overwhelming. 

Instead, opt for styles which suit you and your personality, whether that be modern, elegant or timeless.

In outlining a couple of ways a home can be made to look more valuable, even on a budget Ms Toman says that if you don’t mind a bit of DIY you can add some colour to your walls and doors.

Creating the perfect home for you is all about focusing ‘on enhancing the key areas’, she says, and that can even be done on the cheap.

Ms Toman said: ‘Some of the most cost-effective items you can incorporate into your home for a more expensive appearance include adding plants and flowers and swapping coloured bed sheets for white linen, as this can instantly add a more high-end look to your home.’

‘If you have some money to spare and don’t mind carrying out some DIY, then one way to make your home look more upmarket is to paint internal doors, skirting boards and even ceilings the same colour as your walls. Alternatively, if you have white walls, paint internal doors a contrasting colour. Most doors are white but changing them to a dark blue or grey can add a splash of colour into your home and create a more eye-catching look.

‘Creating an expensive-looking home is all about creating a cohesive curated space. Choose quality over quantity and focus on enhancing the key areas that will have the most impact.’