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??

Art.

I think less is more. Minimalism is the key, however not easy if you live in a house with more than one person or kids!
Get rid of the TV, "feature"wall paper is out, get a real fire/log burner, carpets are out, wood floors, artisanal rugs are in, bookcases are ok, naff ornaments are not, candles and incense are ok, naff plug-ins are not. Find space in your kitchen cupboards for all your appliances, eg toaster etc and move any pots pans from on top of your kitchen cupboards. Fill a wall space with logs for the wood burner. paint wins over wallpaper. House plants are in. The bigger the better.
And don't be fooled by the grey theme, it's a fleeting fashion phase that will soon date...
As dictated to me by estate agent mate!

These replies are all really interesting to me. It’s been making me think about taste and what I value.

Thing is, I’m working class and since being born I’ve always lived in Victorian terraces. Actually genuinely usually bigger than most new builds, my parents house I lived in most of my life certainly is.

The people I’ve been envying have brand new houses. I think that’s what’s been making me jealous. There is a certain polished look you can only really get with a new house.

And there are certain aspects of my life which are different. I have an enormous collection of beautiful slipcased, or limited edition, first edition, signed etc books. They are all beautiful. The look I’m thinking about just doesn’t feature shelves of books.

So this thread has made me think “fuck it”! I’m never going to have that highly polished “Next Catalogue” look in my rented Victorian terrace. Even when I buy I’ll probably buy an older house as I value certain things I’ve always had such as: high ceilings, thick walls, real wood floor, bay windows. I just need to accept you have to work in a different sort of way.

So thank for all the tips, and most of all for the reality check!

Your style of house sounds way more up my street OP.

I actually think a Victorian terraced house has a lot more scope to look sophisticated and elegant than many of the new builds that can be bland, not all new builds I hasten to add. I also love rooms filled with books!

A new-build is never going to be 'posh'; it could possibly be made to look elegant and modern but never 'posh'.
Look at the old country houses, minimalism is the very last thing you'll find, however, their look epitomises what is considered 'posh' (a term never, ever used in those houses though). .

Tidy helps.

Doesn't matter how else you decorate, if it's messy, it will never look "posh"

Wood flooring, light coloured furniture, luxury throws and the candles :-) And lots of tasteful flowers. But how do you know your friends aren't thinking the same thing when they come to yours?? It's all objective!

Those three words might mean different looks

Modern can look brilliant, check out Houzz, and luxurious could be different to posh which usually means British posh

Btw your house sounds exactly like the sort of house I love. Ours is 17th Century with low ceilings and beams but I prefer Victorian houses with the lovely high ceilings and proportions - so much lighter. We tend to go for neutral sofas, carpets, walls so that every now and then I can do an inexpensive look-change with cushion covers, curtains etc.

Books. Houses without books have no soul.

Choosing a colour scheme and sticking to it, good quality furniture not IKEA ! But remember that what you consider posh / luxury won't be the same as someone else's. Most important is that you're happy with your room and it's place you feel you can relax . Hope you get your home as you like it (this can take time too !)

A lot depends on the house. If it's relatively modern then the rooms are generally smaller and don't need lots of solid colours and clutter. If it's an older say 1930s or even older then the rooms are usually much bigger with more character e.g. style of Windows and can take larger furniture and heavy drapes for colour. Though really you should appreciate you have a home and just look forward to eventually cracking the lovely home formula if there is such a thing.

*Onlyoldontheoutside

Real fire with apple logs!If you could afford to only source and burn those you are doing well.
I love a real fire but there is nothing posh or sophisticated about wielding and axe chopping kindling not about the sheer amount of dust even the best log burner seems to produce.

Erm... you can buy logs and kindling at any garage! Lol

Books
Character
Real wooden floors
Decent rugs
Genuine fireplaces
Stove
Open fireplaces
Nice sofas
No boring cream or ghastly grey
No “accent colours”
Blanket boxes as coffee tables
Having a good eye
Old prints in old frames
Ornate mirrors
Painted furniture - but not bought in
Sash and case windows
A version of the Scandinavian look - but not too white or grey
Artiness
White walls
No matching stuff
Basically stuff should evolve.
Objects you enjoy

Not sure what you'd think of mine but here goes ,
😁

Use your own judgement, don't try and copy others. And forget candles - stinky, polluting fire hazards.

Books. Houses without books have no soul

I'm not sure that I've ever been into a house with no books! Almost everyone has a few books at least, don't they?

Obv, I'm aware this is MN, and there'll now be loads of people who haven't touched a book since 1979 and wouldn't dream of having one in the house

Looking at my project of a house: thinking about what furniture etc would fit in each room and what fits on each wall, rather than what furniture and stuff I happen to have and shoving it somewhere.

And not looking cluttered. I've decided that board games can be on open shelves, and a few books, but the books and DVDs need severe pruning yet again, and all ugly tech and other stuff should be hidden inside cupboards. So far the kitchen looks luxurious and the rest of the rooms mostly looks like children and life have exploded in them...

Lots of books. Lots and lots of books.

Stay out of Oak Furnitureland. I think my living room looks quite cool, and I have a mix of new stuff (Made side table and TV unit) and 50s/60s stuff I picked up at junk dealers.
The walls are a muted pale green but I have a ton of velvet and printed cotton cushions in shades of mustard, olive, turquoise and yellow. Expensive throw on the crappy ancient sofa (TKMAXX), a good quality rug, vintage mirrors, a mix of framed art prints, original art (from friends) and framed photos in nice frames. Healthy plants, books and curtains in a good fabric, not shiny Dunholme mills jobs. I have spent very little, and my house on the outside is a shitty, tiny council house, but inside we are pretty groovy. Not sure we are posh or luxurious though. Would LOVE a piano but there's no space!

You don't want to live in a polished Next catalogue.

I totally agree with embracing the style of the house itself. Nothing looks weirder than a Georgian semi with an aubergine gloss kitchen and LED lights all over the shop.

Oh love. Actually posh people would never live in a new build. I have been in a few aristocratic houses (connected with work a million years ago) and the look is the opposite of that. Threadbare persian rugs, inherited furniture, paintings, and even really kitsch as fuck china dogs! The aim is to look like the room has grown organically, and is entirely to your own taste, with bits and bobs you have acquired in a sentimental fashion, not to keep up with the Joneses. I envy you your Victoria terrace! High ceilings, sash windows. Lush!

Big spaces, big windows, good quality everything and no fakes, good lighting, good artwork. good taste.

Well, my living room floor is liberally scattered with Lego bricks, and the coffee table is styled with a range of Kinder egg toys. Can't believe these haven't been on anyone's list yet!

I love threads like these though, makes me wonder what I'd do if there was money for a makeover. thinking of getting a chaise longue sofa even though they're apparently naff because I bet they're really comfy

Pillows at 90 degrees to the bed - see that a lot in posh houses and hotels