Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt that something was just… off? Even the prettiest furniture can lose its impact when surrounded by common decor mistakes. The truth is, small details can make a home look cheap or less polished, whether or not that was the goal!
But don't worry. You don't need a house full of expensive furniture or a professional designer to fix things. A few simple tweaks can dramatically upgrade the look and feel of your home.
There are exceptions to every one of these, but for the most part, unless they're done on purpose or for a special reason, these 12 things will make your home look “cheap” or less well designed.
I've broken a few of these over the years, but for the most part I've tried to avoid them. I'll share when I've bent my own “rules” and why. Let's dive in!
The Top 12 Ways Your Home Can Look Cheap
If you're dreaming of a home that feels cozy, stylish and a little more put together, this guide is for you! Below, you'll learn about 12 design missteps that might be undermining your space and, more importantly, how to fix them.
1. Misplaced Curtains
For years I've talked about hanging curtains “high and wide,” since it opens up both the room and the window. I've covered everything you need to know about hanging curtains in this post, but the bottom line is this:
- Curtains should hang close to the ceiling, about 1 inch below the ceiling or crown molding
- 8–12 inches wider than the windows, and
- ½ inch from the floor, or just grazing it
Fix It: If you have “high water” curtains sitting right on top of the window, simply buy curtains in the correct length for your room and hang them higher! Yes, it's a pain, but it makes the biggest difference to the look and feel of your home!
2. Wrong-Sized Rugs
Choosing a rug that's too small, or skipping one altogether, can leave a room feeling cold and disconnected. We love having rugs in most rooms on our main floor, and we go for the largest size each room can handle! A rug softens hardwood floors, adds texture and color, and pulls the room together!
Fix it: Invest in a rug sized for your room. A living room rug should be big enough for at least the front legs of your furniture to rest on, while a dining room rug should extend past the chairs. Find the right size for every room in your home with this rug size guide!
3. Matchy-Matchy Furniture
Buying a full furniture set from a big box store is a thing of the past! Mixing and matching pieces while coordinating finishes gives a collected look instead of a bought-all-at-once one.
I do have a few matching pieces in my home that were bought as sets, especially in two of the bedrooms. But my nightstands didn't come with the bed and dresser, so they're different.
Fix it: For a quick, budget-friendly fix, swap a piece of furniture with one from another room. Better yet, when you buy furniture, choose each piece to coordinate with the rest of the room instead of buying one set.
4. Poor Lighting Choices
Lighting is one of the most overlooked parts of home design, yet it can make or break a room. Harsh fluorescent light, or relying on overhead lights alone, can leave a space feeling cold and flat.
Beautiful lighting is something I'm happy to save up for and spend real money on, because it matters so much to the look and feel of a room. My biggest regret in my previous home is not replacing more of the lighting before we listed it for sale.
So one of the first things we did after moving into this house was replace almost all of the lighting. It doesn't always have to be expensive, but I'm happy to save and splurge in this category to get what looks best!
Using light fixtures that are too small for your space is also a no-no. And don't forget to replace the old “boob” lights or amber light shades.
Fix it: Layer your lighting! Combine ambient lighting (overhead fixtures) with accent lighting (table or floor lamps). Add some warmer, softer bulbs for a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
5. Ignoring Cords and Wires
Messy cords hanging behind the TV or under your desk are an eyesore and can make a space look unkempt. It's not hard to tuck those wires away for a clean, high-end look!
Fix it: Tidy up wires with cord organizers or clips. If you can, mount your TV on the wall and hide the cords inside cable covers or within the wall for a seamless look.
6. Misaligned or Wrong-Sized Art
Hanging art too high (or too low) makes walls look awkward and unbalanced. Mismatched frames or a poorly arranged gallery wall can also turn an elegant piece into an eyesore.
It's also important to choose art that fills its space well. When it comes to art, bigger is usually better.
Fix it: Hang art at eye level for a harmonious look, typically 57″–60″ from the floor to the center of the artwork. When creating a gallery wall, use similar frame styles for a cohesive feel. One large piece is also better for a wall than many tiny pieces.
7. Accent Walls
The accent wall was popular once, but it's no longer the best choice for decorating your home. It gives the impression that you didn't have enough paint, wallpaper or money to finish the room.
Fix it: Instead of decorating just one wall, add a wall treatment with beadboard or molding covering the lower two-thirds of the wall, then paint or wallpaper above the trim throughout the room. This lets you spend less on wallpaper or a mural while giving the whole room the same look.
Personal Note: I DO have an accent wall in my home, but I think I have a good reason! I painted a plaid wall treatment behind the desk in my office. My reasoning is that there's hardly any wall space left in that room: one wall is windows, one is a built-in bookcase and one has French doors. And nobody goes in there but me, so nobody sees the non-plaid walls. I wouldn't have done this in any other room in my home.
8. Too Much Clutter
Clutter is the fastest way to make a home feel disorganized and cheap. Piles of paperwork, toys or too many knickknacks can overwhelm the eye.
Whether it's too much decor on every surface or simply too much stuff, countertops buried in clutter make a home look less expensive and far from a magazine spread.
There's an art to editing your belongings, tossing trash and clearing out junk. Sometimes less is more, and knowing how much to place on a shelf or counter is a skill worth building.
Fix it: Declutter regularly with storage solutions like baskets, bins and shelves. Follow the “one in, one out” rule: if you bring something new into your home, donate or toss something old.
9. Inconsistent Flooring
Flooring transitions can make or break your space. Have you ever walked into a home where the floor changes dramatically from one room to the next? It can feel chaotic, even when the rest of the decor is stunning. Smooth transitions are key to creating harmony throughout your home.
Fix it: Try to keep the same flooring throughout each level. On the main floor, run the same hardwood throughout the home and soften the rooms with rugs instead of carpet.
For example, my entire main floor, except for the laundry room and primary bathroom, has medium brown wood flooring. Even the kitchen and powder room have the hardwood.
10. Ignoring Greenery
A lack of plants or natural elements can leave a home feeling dull and lifeless. A mix of real and faux plants softens the look of your home and fills it with life!
Fix it: Bring the outdoors in! Add houseplants, fresh flowers or even faux greenery. A fiddle-leaf fig or small pothos plants are fantastic options for beginners.
11. Cabinets That Stop Short
Not taking cabinets all the way to the ceiling is one of the things that make a home look cheap. It makes a room feel squat and pulls your eye down. That odd gap above the cabinets just collects dust and makes them look like they came straight off the showroom floor of a big box hardware store.
Fix it: Even if you have to build faux enclosures above your current cabinets, taking them to the ceiling will give your kitchen a custom, sophisticated look.
For example, my old kitchen cabinets (pictured on the left) had that odd space above them, which collected dust and cast a dark shadow across the room. In my current home (pictured right), the builder drywalled over the space and used it to display beautiful crown molding instead. Much better!
12. Cheap-Looking Window Treatments
Plastic blinds or thin, sloppily hung curtains can make a space look less polished in an instant, even with gorgeous furniture nearby.
Fix it: Upgrade to floor-length fabric curtains, solid wood blinds, wood shutters or high-end roller shades for a more luxurious feel. Hang your curtain rod higher than the window frame and extend it past the sides to create the illusion of taller ceilings and wider windows.
Window cornices are another custom-looking option that won't break the bank but looks high-end! They're especially good for small windows where full curtains aren't needed.
Elevate Your Home One Step at a Time
A polished, cohesive space doesn't require a major renovation or a designer's budget. Tackle even one or two of the fixes above and you'll instantly lift the look and feel of your home. Remember, small changes, like upgrading lighting or swapping out dated hardware, can make a huge difference!
If you're excited to start transforming your home, don't be afraid to experiment! Your space should reflect your personal style and make you feel comfortable every time you walk through the door.
Have your own tips for creating a polished home? Share your secrets in the comments below. We'd love to hear them!
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