Samantha DeBianchi
For some, home is wherever they hang their hat. But, most of us want a little more. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t think they have the home they want. While we may dream of living in our own little palace, that probably seems too far-fetched and out of reach, so we settle for an adequately mundane abode. Believe it or not, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of ways to make your home fashionable, elegant and classy without assuming a debt equal to a small country’s national income. Spinning gold out of straw isn’t some strange alchemy that only a select few can do successfully. Usually it’s just a matter of searching for deals and steals, doing some research and looking at things in a slightly different way.
Here are a few ways to give your home that million-dollar look without breaking the bank.
Add color
You don’t have to be looking through rose-colored glasses to have a new shade of paint add a touch of class to your home. When trying to achieve an elegant look you have two choices: dramatic and bold or soft and understated. Try to find some accessories that match the color scheme to really tie things together. Another idea is to add an accent wall. Painting one wall in a dark, contrasting color can draw attention and give the rest of the room a more open feeling. Paint is inexpensive, but if you’re really on a tight budget, some recycling centers actually give paint away for free. Most important: If you don’t like the look of the new color, remember, it’s only paint and it can be redone.
Lighting
Lighting can create an entirely new atmosphere and drastically change the feeling of any room. There are various methods to use with lighting to achieve different effects. For example: To create a chilled-out, relaxed atmosphere, try using some low wattage lamps for an overall warm ambience. This might be good after a long day and you just want to relax in quiet, or a good choice for more formal cocktail and dinner parties. The opposite of that would be really bringing out the color and opening up a space by having several medium to higher wattage lamps. Whatever you’re looking for, lights come in many different shades and you can find lighting fixtures and lamps to fit just about any décor or theme. Look at second-hand stores or flea markets for less expensive alternatives.
Upholstery
Your couch may be comfortable and great for watching TV, but if it looks like you’ve probably had it since you were watching first-run Sanford and Sons, it’s time for an update. Instead of replacing all of your furniture, consider re-upholstering it. You can hire someone, or try it out yourself if you think you can swing it. It can feel like a whole new room to have a new face on your furniture.
Copy from designers
The fashion police aren’t going to come after you for stealing good ideas from top name designers. Buy a few interior decorating magazines, look online, and maybe even take a course on the subject. If you can live without the name brand tags, you can see what the designers have done and boil it down to its essential ingredients. Some items can’t be easily substituted, such as antiques or finely crafted woodwork, but many fabrics and accessories can. It’s getting easier to find quality furnishings inexpensively, or to turn something old into something new and great. Pay attention to presentation and you may be surprised at how good you can may things look.
Reduce instead of add
Sometimes less is more. While you may have a list of items you want to add to a room, start making a list of things to get rid of. Quality is better than quantity when it comes to achieving an elegant, sleek look. It’s better to have a few strategically placed accents, then to have a room that looks like a series of collections on steroids. Find things that you feel strongly about and that can carry a room. Look into feng shui or other methods of finding the right place for each item and use each object to contribute to the flow of the space.
Crown molding
This seemingly simple tip can add a little bit of grandeur to any room. Crown molding is beautiful and can make any room pop. Unfortunately, it’s also out of budget for many people. There are pre-made crown molding kits that are available and easy to install. They can add a nice detail, and details can make the difference.
Focal points
When purchasing items to decorate your space, try to find things that are pleasing to the eye, yet not overly distracting. Whether it’s a painting, statue, vase or other items, try to place them in a spot that will draw the eye the farthest. It may be interesting to look at up close, but if you focus the attention to a spot farther away it will enhance the sense of space and the feel of the flow of the room. Also, try finding painting or other items that are segmented, but form a complete picture in three parts. This helps to broaden the view and open up the area.
The takeaway
It’s easy to start “oohing and ahhing” over well-decorated spaces that aren’t your own. Many of your favorite showrooms might be a bit out of your price range, but these days it’s not that difficult to give any space that million-dollar look on the cheap. From furnishings, color, lighting and more, a little creativity, planning and thought can help bring many of these design elements to your own space.
Samantha DeBianchi is the first woman to star on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing TV show. She is founder and CEO of DeBianchi Real Estate in South Florida, specializing in high-end luxury properties. http://www.debianchirealestate.com/
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