Decorating
7 Quick and Easy Ways to Give Your Home a Finished Look
A striking artwork here, a brass socket there... Creating a polished look is in the details – and often easy to achieve
Ever wondered what it is that makes a home feel designed, finished and slightly luxurious? It’s those little touches that can make all the difference, and they needn’t cost the earth. Check out these easy ideas to elevate your space and make it feel polished.
Go large
Don’t fancy a gallery wall? An instant way to elevate a space is with a large piece of artwork. It doesn’t have to be expensive, either, as it’s easy to buy large-scale art at affordable prices nowadays.
Make sure the colours in your chosen piece harmonise with the rest of your scheme to give the room that real designed look. The huge landscape above the sideboard here adds an interesting dimension to the space, and the turquoise hues complement the wooden finishes beautifully.
Find a huge range of artwork and prints in the Houzz Shop
Don’t fancy a gallery wall? An instant way to elevate a space is with a large piece of artwork. It doesn’t have to be expensive, either, as it’s easy to buy large-scale art at affordable prices nowadays.
Make sure the colours in your chosen piece harmonise with the rest of your scheme to give the room that real designed look. The huge landscape above the sideboard here adds an interesting dimension to the space, and the turquoise hues complement the wooden finishes beautifully.
Find a huge range of artwork and prints in the Houzz Shop
Light up
Imagine this gorgeous dining room without the light above the table – it would still look lovely, but would be missing that final piece that really lifts the space. Lighting isn’t just about illuminating the room, it can also provide a way to add a design statement, too.
Plan lighting in layers by complementing a pendant with table and floor lamps to provide an ambient glow.
Imagine this gorgeous dining room without the light above the table – it would still look lovely, but would be missing that final piece that really lifts the space. Lighting isn’t just about illuminating the room, it can also provide a way to add a design statement, too.
Plan lighting in layers by complementing a pendant with table and floor lamps to provide an ambient glow.
Design a display
The key to giving your home a finished look is to ensure everything feels considered. For instance, if you have ornaments and accessories to display, give some thought to how you position them.
Here, some candlesticks, masks and other pieces have been grouped together above the fireplace, rather than dotted around the home. By doing this, the designers have turned a disparate group of objects into a curated display.
Need an expert eye? Find interior stylists in your area
The key to giving your home a finished look is to ensure everything feels considered. For instance, if you have ornaments and accessories to display, give some thought to how you position them.
Here, some candlesticks, masks and other pieces have been grouped together above the fireplace, rather than dotted around the home. By doing this, the designers have turned a disparate group of objects into a curated display.
Need an expert eye? Find interior stylists in your area
Max out on materials
How do you give a room a luxurious, cosy feel? Think about texture and add layers of different fabrics in the form of throws, upholstery, rugs and cushions. A range of tactile finishes will add depth and interest to your space.
Here, a simple neutral colour palette has been made more interesting with various fabrics – and the designers have even added a textured artwork to the wall.
How do you give a room a luxurious, cosy feel? Think about texture and add layers of different fabrics in the form of throws, upholstery, rugs and cushions. A range of tactile finishes will add depth and interest to your space.
Here, a simple neutral colour palette has been made more interesting with various fabrics – and the designers have even added a textured artwork to the wall.
Invest in the small things
If you’re wondering which items to splash out on to achieve a finished look in your home, it’s a good idea to invest in the things you touch. Think handles on cabinets, bathroom fittings, kitchen taps and those often forgotten necessities such as light switches.
There are many designs for switches and plug sockets on the market, so you can choose the perfect ones to match the style of your home. The brass switch seen here works perfectly with the panelled walls, and even though it’s located in the corner, it’s still noticeable as a design feature in the room.
If you’re wondering which items to splash out on to achieve a finished look in your home, it’s a good idea to invest in the things you touch. Think handles on cabinets, bathroom fittings, kitchen taps and those often forgotten necessities such as light switches.
There are many designs for switches and plug sockets on the market, so you can choose the perfect ones to match the style of your home. The brass switch seen here works perfectly with the panelled walls, and even though it’s located in the corner, it’s still noticeable as a design feature in the room.
Be cohesive
When interior designers put together a decorating scheme, they usually think about how each room works in relation to the whole property. The idea is to create a feeling of flow as you walk around your home by using colours that tie in with each other.
Take these two spaces, for example – a light, airy dining room contrasts with the cosy living area in the foreground, but the two spaces feature the same dark blue on the walls. The diamond pattern in the dining area is even echoed in the patterned upholstery on the armchair.
Tell us…
Have you used any of these ideas in your own home? Or do you have any more clever tips? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
When interior designers put together a decorating scheme, they usually think about how each room works in relation to the whole property. The idea is to create a feeling of flow as you walk around your home by using colours that tie in with each other.
Take these two spaces, for example – a light, airy dining room contrasts with the cosy living area in the foreground, but the two spaces feature the same dark blue on the walls. The diamond pattern in the dining area is even echoed in the patterned upholstery on the armchair.
Tell us…
Have you used any of these ideas in your own home? Or do you have any more clever tips? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments section.
Artwork is a great way to add character to your home, and if you have an eclectic collection of drawings, photos and pictures, the best way to display them is as a gallery wall.
However, if you want your display to look more chic than shabby-chic, the trick is to match the frames. Choose a style that’s easy to replicate, such as this narrow black design, so you can replace any later on.