You don’t have to be rolling in cash to make your room look like you are. While the trendiest, most expensive designer furniture is likely to add a touch of class to your room, you don’t have to break the bank and splurge on Egyptian cotton and a canopy worthy of royalty to create a luxe vibe. By picking certain statement pieces, colors, and textures, you can glam it up and pretend you’re living lavishly.
Here are a few ways to spruce up your room to exude some elegance and luxury:
1. Use reflective metallics, such as gold and silver.
Using the colors of precious metals sounds pretty cliche, but it works as long as these colors aren’t splashed everywhere. Instead, they should be a touch of color decorating your pillows, bookends, decor, or furniture handles. Make sure you choose a shade of gold that doesn’t look artificial. Pay attention to materials, too — even if you don’t want to splurge on real gold, don’t get something that’ll quickly chip or rust. The wrong metallic items can leave you looking tacky instead of glam.
2. Use jewel tones.
This is for those of you who want their rooms to look opulent. The richness of sapphire, emerald, or ruby decor adds strong punches of color in an elegant way that isn’t too loud. You don’t have to go out of your way to buy embroidered pillows — covering a Lull memory foam pillow with a silk ruby-colored pillowcase is enough to add a touch of class.
3. Hang up some artwork.
You’ve probably noticed that expensive places have elegant artwork hanging up on the wall. You don’t need to go out and spend thousands of $$ on real paintings — just some replicas are enough! Hanging up some art gives you the opportunity to add that metallic bling from #1 when you frame it.
What types of art will glam up your room? It entirely depends on your tastes. Think about the last hotel or home you visited that made you feel like you were breathing money and luxury. What art did they have? See if you can find similar works that’ll evoke the same energy.
4. Hit up antique shops.
Antiques are often associated with sophistication and wisdom. Not all antiques are expensive. Many antique stores will have a wide range of price points, with some affordable pieces evoking scenes from your favorite historical flick. Thrift stores also have a selection of items with a vintage look.
5. Organize your stuff with trays.
There’s a certain elegance about displaying your things on an ornate tray on a desk, nightstand, or vanity. Antique shops, furniture stores, and even gift shops should have plenty of decorative, sturdy, metallic trays with either a vintage or modern look.