10 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Feel More Luxurious
Updated: Dec. 01, 2021A luxurious feel doesn't have to cost a lot. Consider these 10 easy ways to add a little luxury throughout your home.
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Luxe for Less
Often, it’s the little things in life that create a special feeling or memory. The same can be said for your home. Even the simplest items or design choices can make a space feel luxurious — which is even more important when so many of us are spending extra time at home. Read on for 10 ways to sprinkle simple luxuries throughout your living space without breaking the bank.
Upgrade Lighting
Experiment with layered lighting. Mix in lamps and wall lights to your standard overhead option, and use dimmers. A variety of lighting sources allows you to enhance and control the mood with the flip of a switch or the tap of a remote.
Consider mixing in under-cabinet lighting among the layers for an update with purpose. What dedicated home cook doesn’t appreciate good countertop task lighting? Choose from battery-powered or high-quality plug-in options. With a few simple tools, under-cabinet lighting is easy to install and can be a great weekend project.
Add a Bidet Toilet Seat
Bidet toilet seats certainly qualify as a luxury, European-style upgrade, especially if you spring for a version with water-temperature settings and a heated seat. It’s a good pandemic purchase, too, as bidets provide convenient, hands-free cleanliness and help save on toilet paper.
Most bidet models are pretty easy to install yourself. Prices and features vary, so if the budget is tight, consider the highly-rated Kohler Puretide, just over $100.
Install Peel-and-Stick Details
Peel-and-stick crown molding and trim add a luxury look at a fraction of the price of traditional wood. And it’s easy to install — no nail gun necessary! Caulk and paint to add a fresh visual element to any room.
Think beyond floor trim and molding. There are peel-and-stick wainscoting panels and edge trim, backsplash, and even realistic-looking wall- and counter-coverings that resemble far more expensive wood or marble.
Try a TV Frame
It’s easy to give the resolution and size of a television all the attention. But since wall-mounted flat-screens have grown in popularity, television frames have, too. Choose from warm oak or mahogany texture to accent a light-colored wall. Or you can go for a contemporary look with metal, or an ornate white wood to add a touch of sophistication to a space. (Pro tip: Etsy has lots of good TV frame options.)
Or indulge in a little illusion with a frame-like floating entertainment center with clean lines and functional built-in shelving that still manages to look luxurious.
Add a Heated Towel Rack
This little luxury is practical, too. Units typically cost between $200 and $300 and come in various sizes and styles, from wall-mounted and modern to freestanding and funky. They’re relatively easy for DIYers to install. And they do more than just keep towels organized and cozy — they dry damp towels and keep the whole bathroom feeling cozy.
Install Automated Blinds
Luxury isn’t just visual; it can also automate everyday actions. Think: Opening and closing your blinds and shades with a simple voice command or screen tap. With smart blinds, you can set them and forget them, with scheduled opening and closings based on time or weather.
Most are just as easy to install as manual blinds. Be prepared to spend a bit more, however; quality options will cost several hundred dollars for a modest sized window. So you may want to stick to one window in an often-used room and integrate from there, as necessity and budget dictate.
Update Faucets
Swapping out old fixtures is a quick-and-easy upgrade that can really freshen your space, whether it’s a simple, elegant bathroom faucet or a luxurious pull-down kitchen faucet. They’re typically easy to install and can range in price from double digits (if you’re just looking for an updated finish) to $700 or more for something with touch-free technology and other high-end features.
Buy an Automatic Soap Dispenser
A touchless automatic soap dispenser adds ease to any bathroom or kitchen, and the right one looks beautiful, too. Plus, you’ll effectively eliminate the need for the whole family to pump out soap with germy hands.
We like this popular touchless soap dispenser from simplehuman. It comes in battery operated or rechargeable form with a variety of finishes, bringing way more style than anything you’d find in a public restroom.
Layer in Softness
Whether on the couch, bed or floor, fabrics add comfort, texture and luxury to nearly any room in your home.
Invest in high-thread-count sheets and hotel-quality pillows (and arrange them on your bed just so). Trade out your sofa accessories for luxurious faux-fur throws and velvet toss pillows. Spring for ultra-plush towels (an even bigger splurge when paired with a towel warmer, as mentioned above). Warm any space, carpeted or uncarpeted, with a cozy rug plus cushioned pad, which limits slip-around, too. Soft details really do make all the difference.
Apply Paint
There are lots of DIY paint application ideas that can make your space look luxurious and welcoming. Try a darker gray or rich brown wall set against a glossy white crown molding, for example. Or a statement wall in just the right color, such as Rust-Oleum’s 2021 Color of the Year Satin Paprika. Or maybe stripes in Pantone’s Color of the Year pair, yellow and gray.
