Natural materials, sumptuous fabrics, bespoke finishes… there’s a lot to be envious about when it comes to luxury interiors. It is a style adored by the wealthy that oozes Hollywood regency. In reality however, achieving this look usually comes with high price points and will scare most of us small house pot savers away. Who has 3k to spend on a sideboard?! I know I don’t.

What if I told you that you only need a few key items to transform your space from ordinary to extraordinary… and even better, that this can be achieved on a budget. I am going to share a few insights of how to implement this celebrity style without spending a fortune.

Invest in statement lighting.

Lighting is a big deal in luxury interiors. After all, this look is all about bouncing light and making the space shine. The biggest mistake you can make when trying to achieve a luxe look is plonking an easy fit shade on your pendant lightbulb that doesn’t suit the scale of your space. No no no no. Instead, go big and go bold with a chandelier style pendant. And remember, the bulb should either be hidden by detail, or it should be the statement. If you have any concern that your chosen light fixing might be too small, ditch it. You want to create an impact that frames a certain area of your room. This can be lighting over a dining table, central lighting in a living room, or something that spirals down your staircase. Statement lighting is there to grab your attention, unapologetically.

Do: Shop around for this, there are some great deals out there. This will be one of the pricier items, but worth it.

Do: Invest in quality (you don’t want plastic crystals, trust me, you will notice)

Dont: Go too small.

Dont: Drop your lighting too low. Your ceiling heights and walkways must be taken into consideration.

2. Find yourself a local carpenter.

Built in and custom furniture will always give your home a classy, timeless finish. It also means that all those awkward spaces will be filled perfectly. This might sound like an expensive option, but in reality going down this route can work out cheaper than buying ready made products that have huge margins added on to them. Material costs are relatively low, it is the contractors time that that can vary. Find a local tradesperson who can craft your ideas into a reality. Well fitted furniture will always look incredible.

Bonus - you will be supporting your local community.

3. Texture, texture, and then some more texture.

Good news, You don’t need to invest in a velvet sofa, your sofa is just fine as it is. Actually, Luxe interiors work so well because of all the subtle textures layered in. Think of Luxe design as a version of minimalism, but with lots of texture and reflective materials. Really focus on your accessory materials that you are layering onto your base.

Do: Bring in velvets, but keep them flat rather than crushed to keep a contemporary feel.

Do: Focus on feel rather than pattern. If you have patterns, you want them to be as subtle as possible.

Top tip - buy the items you want to touch. That rug that looks super soft, the vases with the subtle bumps or ridges. Also don’t be scared of wallpaper. There are some gorgeous textured wallpapers out there that will give a little more oomph than a painted wall.

4. Reflective surfaces

Glass, metal and mirrors (or anything that has a reflective surface) is key here. This opens up a fab opportunity for all you thrifters and DIYers. The only rule is that your chosen materials must catch the light. This really can be as simple as changing the handles on your dresser to gold/silver or maybe just hanging a few mirrors around. The goal is to bounce all the light around the space so be strategic with your placements.

Top tip: Place mirrors where they will catch natural direct sunlight, and then direct this light back into your room.

5. Rich, warm colours

You can go as colourful, or as neutral as you like here, but if you want the full luxe look stick to a complementary colour palette, tonal is key! (Colours close to each other on the colour wheel). Rich and deep tones work really well for this look. Not only will these tones add depth to your space, they will create a sense of wanting to stay and being cosy. If you achieve depth in your space I promise that it will always feel homely, inviting and elegant.

Top tip - If you are using grey as your base, just make sure you have a few warmer tones coming through. Grey on grey, with silver can feel super cold and flat. This is also a trend on the way out (Huge sigh of relief) Gold is a fantastic, subtle way to add warmth, and it will work with any base colour. Spray cans at the ready!

Decorating to add a touch of luxe

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