Make your home look more expensive than it really is with IKEA

Everybody loves IKEA.

Or at least, it seems that way.

Pop by an IKEA store on the weekend, and it’s likely that you will see it filled with families looking for furniture. You will even see people who are just there for the meatballs.

Poll your friends, and you may find that the majority has bought or owns something from IKEA, especially the sofas.

Then, there is the well-known struggle of trying to assemble pieces of IKEA furniture.

IKEA may be accessible and budget-friendly, but that doesn’t mean owning an IKEA furniture (or several) is going to make your home look cheap.

In fact, with the right tweaks, your home of IKEA furniture can look like it comes straight from a luxury magazine.

Here’s how to make your home look more expensive than it really is with IKEA: 

1. Artwork, Posters, Photos

Add personality and a luxe touch to your homes by purchasing large wall art to hang in your living room or your dining room.

The art will be a focal point of your home, and instantly elevate your rooms to stand out instead of just having blank walls.

Additionally, you can also get a couple of  IKEA picture ledges and put up a few posters or photos of your own that will really reflect your taste.

Do make sure all the frames are the same colour, like this set of 6 photo frames from IKEA.

2. Good Good At Lighting

Having good lighting is a must to make your home look more luxurious. Rich people like things that shine!

That being said, it’s easy to go from luxurious to tacky if you pile your room with lights.

An easy way to add luxe to your rooms is to have one lighting fixture that’s all glam (think chandeliers), and the rest to be unobtrusive but supportive.

Consider getting an IKEA floor lamps or two to place in the corners of your room.

Think of it as having one main character with great sidekicks. Too many cooks spoil the broth, after all.

You can also light these gorgeous scented tealights in the dining room and around your living room for a luxurious accent and scent.

3. Stick To A Cohesive Colour Palette

Furniture that coordinates with each other, instead of clashing with each other, often make a room seem more expensive.

With your basic everyday furniture, try to get them in a colour scheme that match each other.

For walls, the easiest colours to have would be basics like white, cream, and beige – most furniture colours will go with these. Red sofa? No problem!

Of course, you can also try colour-blocking. However, it would be best to stick to a maximum of three contrasting colours so that your rooms don’t look dizzyingly messy.

4.  Plants Equal Perfection

Plants bring life to a room and are pleasing to the eye.

There’s a reason why rich people like to have nicely manicured lawns, rose gardens, and flower vases all over the place.

While you may not have the space to have a rose garden, you can still decorate parts of your rooms with potted plants.

If you don’t have a green thumb, consider getting artificial potted plants instead. They’re fuss-free AND gorgeous to look at – a total win-win situation.

5. Get Cozy With Pillows And Throws

A room can look pretty bare-bones and empty with just the basics put in.

This is when you enlist the help of room accents like art, lights, plants, and of course, throw pillows and rugs.

There’s just something special about feeling soft yarn underneath your feet, compared to cold hard tiles.

It’s also easier to watch Netflix if you have something to lean your head on AND to carry at the same time.

For something a little bit more luxurious, these duck feather-filled cover inserts can be great to have, to hold, and of course, to see.

6. Play It Up With Textures

Wool rugs, leather sofas, silk pillows…

Some textures look more luxurious than others, like silk versus cotton.

Make your rooms look more regal by playing around with different textures for different items. 

Now, you don’t have to buy completely new furniture items in different textures.

In fact, the best way to play around and switch textures in your home is with slipcovers for your sofa, pillows, chairs, and the like. Give it a whirl and you may be surprised at how much better your room will look. 

Want more tips on how to get the best out of your IKEA furniture? Get our Timeless Living: How To Design A Classy IKEA-Inspired Home e-book for easy ways to get classy without breaking the bank: