01/09/2026
Yesterday I said that extraordinary homes can look cheap, while very ordinary homes can look expensive.
Here are five decisions I think can make a difference.
📍Be brave with scale:
A small room doesn’t mean everything has to be small. A generous lamp, rug, mirror or piece of artwork can give a modest room more presence.
And in a large room, undersized furniture, lighting or art can look like a pea on a mountain!
📍Don’t let everything fight for attention:
Think about getting dressed: statement earrings, necklace, patterned dress, fabulous shoes AND a bright bag? You wouldn’t know where to look. A room is no different.
📍Make it go. Don’t make it match:
Different colours, patterns, woods and finishes can work beautifully together. They just need a connection - think colour, texture, shape or material.
Matching is easy and it's horribly predictable.
Making different things work together is what makes a room feel considered.
📍Spend where you’ll see the difference:
Budget matters, but not everything needs a big price tag.
Spend where quality will show, then mix in vintage finds, charity-shop treasures, TK Maxx bargains and things you’ve owned for years.
📍Choose something that isn’t obvious:
If someone walks in and says, “I’ve got that bowl… that lamp… that ornament…” sorry, but to me that’s not really a compliment. I’d rather they said, “Where did you get that?”
❗️But different doesn’t mean random. It still has to work with the room in scale, colour, shape, texture or proportion.
✨️And when I say expensive-looking, I don’t mean a room that looks as though you’ve spent a fortune.
I mean confident, considered and less predictable.
✨️You want guests to absolutely love your home.
The trick is making sure they can’t quite put their finger on why 😉
Save these five for the next time you’re making decisions about a room.
interior design • considered interiors • interior styling • making a home look expensive