How to Make Your Living Room Look Expensive (On a Budget)

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In this post, I’m sharing 10 simple design tips to help you upgrade your space. These are the exact tricks designers use to make a room feel elevated, without blowing the budget.

Whether you’re starting with a blank canvas or refreshing what you already have, these tips will give your living room a high-end look that feels polished and pulled together.

No complicated renovations. No big-ticket furniture needed. Just smart styling choices that make a big impact. Ready? Let’s jump in.

This post is all about how to make your living room look expensive.

READ MORE>>> Home Design Inspiration On Inspired Design Talk 2025

What Makes a Room Look Expensive?

An expensive-looking space comes down to thoughtful styling, texture, and balance, not price tags. It’s all about making intentional choices that feel cohesive.

High-end spaces often use neutral backdrops, sculptural shapes, layers of lighting, and contrast in color or material.

You’ll notice repetition in the color palette, attention to negative space, and furniture that feels curated instead of matchy-matchy. When all these elements come together, even affordable pieces can look designer.

1. Paint Your Walls a Soft Neutral or Rich Moody Color

Paint is one of the most budget-friendly ways to transform your space. Soft neutrals like beige, taupe, or greige are a classic backdrop that let your furniture and decor shine.

If you’re feeling bold, try a rich, moody color like olive, navy, or even charcoal. These colors make furniture pop and give your room a cozy, dramatic vibe.

Not ready to go all in? Keep your trim and ceiling white for contrast.

Samplize Paint Samples

While we’re on the subject of paint, today’s sponsor is Samplize—and I just got new samples in the mail. Choosing the wrong paint color is one of the fastest ways to derail your design.

That’s why I love Samplize. Each sample has two coats of real paint already applied, so you get a true representation of the color, without the mess.

You can move them around your room throughout the day to see how the color changes in different lighting.

One of the easiest ways to learn how to make your living room look expensive is by starting with intentional paint choices and layering in texture through decor.

2. Choose a Color Palette and Repeat It in Accents and Decor

Once your walls are painted, choose 2–3 main colors for your space. Pull them from artwork, a rug, or even a favorite pillow.

Then repeat those colors in your throws, pillows, books, and florals. This simple repetition is what makes a room feel intentional, not random.

Even neutral palettes feel upscale when they’re consistent throughout. Designers often start with one multicolor inspiration piece—like a piece of art or a patterned pillow—and pull secondary tones from it.

In the room above, earthy neutrals like tan, olive, and ivory were pulled from the wall art and repeated in the plants, sofa, and accent chairs. In the room below, rust orange shows up in the artwork, pillows, and a vase, even in the veining of the marble coffee table.

Repeating colors like this creates harmony and a designer-finished look.

3. Hang Neutral Curtains High and Wide

Curtains change the way a room feels. For a high-end look, hang them as high as possible—closer to the ceiling—and extend the rod wider than the window.

This gives the illusion of height and makes your space feel bigger. Go for neutral fabrics like linen, velvet, or sheer panels with pinch pleats or hidden tabs.

To get the look on a budget, try IKEA track systems and sew two panels together for extra fullness. Designers also use curtains to create a focal point.

One trick? Use full-wall curtains behind a sofa or along one entire wall to add softness and architectural interest. It’s also a clever way to define zones in open layouts.

4. Add Designer-Style Pillows

Designer pillows make a big difference. Swap out those matching ones that came with your sofa for pillows in rich textures—like velvet, boucle, or linen.

Mix sizes, shapes, and details like piping or fringe. Sculptural pillows (like the trending ball or knot pillows) add interest and elevate the entire look.

Stick to your color palette for a cohesive, designer feel.

Velvet adds a touch of luxury, while boucle brings in an organic, textural vibe. Novelty trims like tassels or contrast piping give that custom touch.

For something bolder, try pillows in geometric patterns, color block styles, or embroidered motifs.

5. Use Matching Lamps for Balance

Lighting is key to making your space feel styled. Add a pair of matching lamps—either on side tables or behind your sofa—for symmetry.

Look for bases with interesting shapes, textures, or colors. Brass, ceramic, or marble finishes work well.

Floor lamps are great for large rooms, especially in corners or near accent chairs. Layering your lighting adds depth and a professional touch.

In the examples above, one room has organic-shaped lamps in a monochromatic contemporary design. The other room has Kelly green ceramic lamps that make a bold statement and tie back to the surrounding artwork.

Even in small spaces, lamps on either side of the sofa add balance and polish. If you’re not sure how to make your living room look expensive with your current furniture, focus on symmetry, scale, and adding a few high-impact accents.

6. Style Coffee Table Books with Intention

Coffee table books do more than sit pretty—they anchor your decor and add personality. Stack two or three books that reflect your interests and coordinate with your color scheme.

Top them with a candle, a sculptural object, or a small vase. If the book covers don’t match your palette, remove the dust jackets or flip them around for a clean, neutral spine.

Books with black, white, or earthy tones are always a safe choice, but you can also use coffee table books to bring in your pop color. A green spine here, a maroon cover there—it all helps tell your design story.

7. Mix Materials for a Layered Look

High-end spaces feel layered and collected. To recreate that look, mix materials like wood, leather, marble, glass, and metal.

For example, pair a boucle chair with a wood side table and a metal tray. Look for furniture that combines textures, too—like a concrete top with a wood base. These contrasts make a room feel more dynamic and intentional.

In the above designer living room, you’ll see a wood coffee table with a glass top, a media cabinet wrapped in suede weave, and chairs upholstered in leather and novelty fabric. It’s the mix that makes it feel elevated.

8. Add Architectural Detail with Molding

Molding instantly makes a space feel more refined. Even one wall with picture-frame or shaker-style molding can elevate your living room.

If you’re handy, it’s a great DIY weekend project. If not, try peel-and-stick molding kits—they’re easy to install and look legit once painted. Use them to frame art, a mirror, or a wallpaper panel behind your sofa.

This detail is especially popular with the color-drench trend, where the molding, wall, and trim are all painted in the same tone. It adds depth and makes your bold paint choice feel even more custom.

9. Bring in Oversized Greenery

Every designer space has something green. A tall vase with branches, a potted plant, or a faux tree adds texture and movement.

It fills vertical space and makes your room feel finished. Use greenery to fill corners, flank a media console, or balance a bookshelf.

No green thumb? Faux plants are totally fine—just go for realistic textures and natural shapes.

Try layering different heights in one corner, or place a statement tree in a large pot by the window. Greenery adds that finishing touch and helps connect the space to nature.

10. Add One Curved or Sculptural Piece

Curved and sculptural furniture adds instant sophistication. Think: a rounded armchair, an abstract coffee table, or a curved-back sofa.

You don’t need a full set—just one standout piece is enough to elevate your room. Many affordable retailers offer these designer-inspired looks for way less than you’d expect.

[PIN IT FOR LATER]

Curves soften a space and make it feel more inviting. Even one artistic shape—whether it’s a base, seat, or silhouette—can break up the boxiness of typical layouts.

Bonus Tip: Use Rugs to Anchor Your Layout

A large rug helps define the space and adds warmth. To look designer, the rug should be big enough to anchor all major pieces—ideally with at least the front legs of your furniture sitting on it.

Choose a rug with subtle texture or pattern to tie the room together without overwhelming it. And yes, bigger is better here—it’ll make your room feel more expansive and finished.

Avoid These Common Decorating Mistakes

Even with great pieces, a room can fall flat if the styling is off. Avoid pushing all your furniture against the walls—floating pieces create better flow.

Don’t go overboard with matching sets or generic art. Instead, layer pieces that tell your story. And make sure you have enough lighting. One overhead light isn’t enough—mix in lamps, sconces, and candles for ambiance.

Final Thoughts

Creating a living room that looks expensive is all about making smart, intentional choices. You don’t need a massive budget or a full remodel.

By applying these simple styling upgrades, you’ll understand how to make your living room look expensive, without overspending or hiring a designer.

Just focus on layering textures, repeating colors, and choosing pieces with shape and character. Start with the basics—paint, pillows, and lighting—and build from there.

Over time, these simple upgrades will completely transform how your space feels. And remember, it doesn’t have to happen all at once. Choose one or two ideas to try this week and build from there.

Interior Design Course

Want step-by-step help pulling it all together? Check out my course, Designer Home 101—it’ll walk you through everything from finding your style to final styling. You’ve got this—and I can’t wait to see what you create.

This post is all about how to make your living room look expensive.

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