To ask what makes a home look luxurious/posh/modern?

[minniemummy0]

No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to get our home looking as nice as some of my friends. There’s just something I can’t put my finger on. So far I’ve worked out some common things - such as new, clean, plush carpets, or candles burning. For some reason they all seem to have an L shaped sofa. What makes you really feel “wowed” by someone’s home??

Good storage
Clean - clutter free
neutral colours with dashes of colour in things like rugs, cushions etc
No 'feature walls' with cheap wall paper
light - clean widows
decent lighting

I've just had most of my house refurbished, spent about £20k. There were some major jobs that you cant "see" e.g., damp treated, wiring done, but the builder did this:

• new laminate floors same colour throughout
• new double glazing entire house, and new doors hung in every room
• new radiators every room
• painted bedrooms, bathroom, hall, etc in pale grey and white
• dark grey carpet on stairs and new white furniture upstairs/hall

The kitchen, lounge and dining room need repainting and new curtains but we've got new furniture including two massive soft navy blue sofas. kitchen was done in neutral colours 5 years ago.

Most people come in and immediately start making comments about how wonderful the rooms we haven't done look, whilst at the same time giving each other sideways glances. When they look at the new bathroom comments range from "nice" to "it looks smaller".

Its clear they cant see which areas have been done, refurbished and re-furnished, and which are still to be sorted. Even though its all new I have to admit, it looks odd somehow. So I agree with OP, something is amiss (our new sofas are not L-shaped!!)

Have a look at the DIY on a budget Facebook group.

And do the opposite.

Just follow your own tastes - anything else looks contrived and like a show home (rather than an actual home) to me. A friend of mine spent a huge amount of money on an interior designer whose own home she wanted to emulate and ended up with a really soulless room, because it was designed to look stylish rather than to reflect her own taste.

I love my home and am very happy with the interiors, but it’s probably not to everyone’s taste! I choose things I love and assume they’ll work together simply because I like them and therefore they should!

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve That’s a good idea, I think something I could do.

mumsiedarlingrevolta now that is something I can afford to do regularly! Just need some me decent vases.

ikeepaforkinmypurse the complete utter opposite of my friends houses I was going on about, but it is stunning. I love her desk.

I think it's the space or the illusion of space. If you have small rooms then decluttering, choosing colours that add to feeling of space, strategically placed mirrors might help.

I personally prefer places that look cosy, comfy and lived in and show the interests of the occupants without being too messy or crowded.

this desk could actually look wonderful even in a modern house (if there's a room big enough for it)

I do like homes with a mix of things and a personality. Taste is very subjective.

White walls
Large statement mirrors!!
Statement clocks
A couple of pieces of chunky good quality furniture per room. If they're unique/battered even better. Auctions have amazing bargains!
Lamps
Candles
De-clutter
'Finish' of the house - get odd jobs done, repaint, it's amazing the difference it makes for making rooms feel more expensive

DuckBilledAadvark that really made me snort. I’m in the group so I know what you mean.

You have a small child and children have their own clutter - usually joyously messy clutter. Try to contain it to one area and have a toy tub or something. It will encourage tidiness in your child.

Clean and tidy. Nice smell. Lamps.

Oh, and furniture layout. I've never studied Feng Shui but I can walk into someone's sitting room and immediately feel uncomfortable and twitchy if I feel the furniture is "wrong."

Oh and doors - replace cheap internal doors, or put nice handles on current ones.

Yes to clean. I've cleaned some shelves today. Took everything off them wiped them and the surrounding floor and wall clean, then wiped the stuff and put most of it back. It made a difference.

Flooring, windows, lighting, pristine cleanliness. Everything else is taste and style. Less is more imo.

I think to look modern, a room needs to look like it's been at least updated within the last 7 years.I also think modern and luxurious can be 2 different things. So for example, this staged house looks very modern, with black, white and an accent colour, but I'm not sure it isn't a bit cold to be luxurious.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69182351.html

But then the first picture in this article isn't of a modern interior but more of a classic one on which a lot of money was clearly spent.

www.lifespan.com/17-simple-tricks-make-house-look-luxurious/

I think some of the worst offenders for making a house look dated at the moment are slogan stickers on the wall, lime green walls/accents, and brightly coloured gloss kitchen units. Our house was built 5 years ago and a few have sold on since. You can tell apart those who decorated in 2013 and who waited a couple of years to settle in!

Two million people could type a response here and we would all have wildly different opinios so you need to spend some time gathering inspiration to have a clear idea of what you really love and see how it fits with the space you have and the reality of your family's needs.
As a general rule, a clutter free, clean, well maintained space is a must, whatever way you then decorate it.
For me, I like shiny dark wooden floors, low or dimmable lights, scented candles, real flowers (roses, orchids, not a loud bunch from the local garage 😉).
And personally, for me, there HAS to be a coffee table. A load of sofas pushed against a wall, with nowhere to put your drink or book kills a room dead for me.

Lighting is key. Cosy table lamps and a well placed floor lamp. And don’t be afraid of putting art on your walls.

That must be Balmoral, with the view and that tartan carpet. My friend, who is a gamekeeper in Scotland has a tartan carpet throughout.
Note the TV.. biggish and quite old...
As for me, I am the anti-Kendo, and can acquire surprising amounts of stuff even when in waiting rooms at airports, railway stations, doctors, hotels........ I have just sat down for a rest in the middle of a declutter in my workroom.
I don't do tasteful, I like colour and a bit of stuff about, so the place doesn't look like a magazine.

No matter how hard I try I can’t seem to get our home looking as nice as some of my friends.

Who says your home doesn't look as nice?

Oh, I forgot! Apart from Pinterest, if you head to Instagram and look up home decor accounts you will find tons of real life inspiration. Try the Norway homes accounts for glamour, they are gorgeous.
You can also look at high end interior design magazines for free if you go to Issuu. X

I said wooden floors would look pretentious in my house,laid on concrete floors and also only for upstairs if you don't mind listening to the herd of elephants in your child's riim.Wooden floors are great in the right spaces and house.
OP is in a rented house so options limited.
What I can not get right in this house is light fittings for ceiling lights.

DuckBilledAardvark

I always think cashmere or mohair throws casually over arms of sofas given an air of comfort

Real fireplaces always look beautiful and welcoming with apple logs for warm soft aroma

Burning candles, soft lighting

Well chosen paintings and art tastefully placed

Antique pieces always look special

Fresh flowers - plants - foliage

No large TVs or no TVs at all

Sold wooden pref old wooden floors look wonderful

I personally prefer chalky neutrals for calm relaxed feeling

Real materials only, no fake anything! This includes fake plants/flowers, fake antiques, deliberately distressed items, fake silk and other textiles...

Plastic is fine as long as it's not pretending to be something else.

Follow this rule for any style, whether that's minimalist/modern, traditional, boho, eclectic, anything at all, and the look will be authentic rather than cheap