Giava Interiors have come up with a thoughtful and strategic method to style your home. With a thoughtful approach and a few strategic upgrades, even a modest home can exude polished, high-end style. The secret isn’t about how much you spend, it’s how you spend it, writes renowned designer Vinette Diab-Nicholls in this no-fuss cheat sheet to achieve a luxurious look without breaking your credit card.
Embrace a Neutral Palette
Luxury starts with colour, and nothing says "chic" quite like a refined, neutral palette. Soft taupes, warm greys, creamy whites, and earthy tones serve as a timeless canvas that instantly adds sophistication to any room. The key is to avoid flatness by layering textures: think linen curtains, velvet cushions, woven rugs, and matte walls. Rich, subtle contrast is where understated elegance lives.
Pro Tip: Paint your walls in a matte or eggshell finish for an elegant, soft glow. Glossy finishes often highlight imperfections and look less high-end.
Upgrade Your Lighting
Swap the builder-basic light fittings for statement fixtures. Whether it's a sculptural pendant over the dining table, a statement reading lamp, or elegant wall sconces, well-chosen lighting can completely transform the mood of a room.
Pro Tip: Use warm LED bulbs and layer your lighting: Overhead, task, and ambient. Dimmers are worth every cent for the control they give you over the atmosphere of a space.
Prioritise Window Treatments
Curtains are often an afterthought, but they make a massive difference in how polished a room feels. Avoid skimpy lengths and cheap materials. Instead, opt for full-length, floor-grazing drapes in linen or a quality blend. Mount them high and wide to elongate the walls and make windows appear larger.
Pro Tip: If custom curtains are out of budget, buy ready-made panels and have them slightly altered to ensure they just kiss the floor. It makes all the difference!
Curate, Don’t Crowd
Luxury is calm. It’s about giving your belongings room to breathe. Declutter ruthlessly and be selective about what you display. A few considered pieces – a ceramic vase, a framed artwork, a stack of beautiful books – will have far more impact than shelves crammed with bits and bobs.
Pro Tip: When styling surfaces, use the “rule of three.” Group items in odd numbers and vary height and texture for a more curated look.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
If you can, invest in fewer, better pieces. A solid timber dining table, a well-made sofa, or a real wool rug will always elevate a room more than a roomful of lower-quality items. Think of these as anchor pieces, the bones of your design. You can always layer in more affordable accessories later.
Pro Tip: Buy from local small or medium businesses and artisans. You’ll probably get better quality, better value for money, and more unique and exclusive pieces than when you head for the chain-stores.
Mind the Details
Little upgrades go a long way. Swapping out cheap plastic switch plates and cabinet handles for metal or ceramic options instantly adds polish. Matching hardware finishes throughout your home, whether brass, matte black, or chrome, creates visual consistency and a grand feel.
Pro Tip: Replace your standard doorknobs with something tactile and substantial. It’s a small change that subtly signals quality.
Style Like a Designer
How you place things matters. A stack of art books topped with a candle and a small bowl? Instant coffee table chic. A bedroom with a neatly tucked bed, layered pillows, and a throw at the foot? Boutique hotel. These styling touches don’t cost much, but they dramatically shift the tone of a space.
Pro Tip: Keep your bedding simple and tonal. Crisp white sheets and a textured neutral duvet can make even the most affordable bed look luxurious.
Use Art Strategically
Art brings depth, personality, and a touch of drama to your space. Avoid generic prints or mass-produced décor with no meaning. Instead, choose large-scale artworks that make a statement, even if it's just one great piece per room. Photography, line drawings, abstract pieces, whatever speaks to you.
Pro Tip: Frame everything properly. A cheap print in a beautiful frame looks ten times more expensive than an expensive print in a flimsy one.
Bring Nature In
Plants (real ones, please) soften a space, improve air quality, and give your home a lived-in but polished feel. From a towering fiddle-leaf fig in the corner of the lounge to a small potted olive tree in the entryway, greenery always adds freshness and sophistication.
Pro Tip: If you’re not blessed with a green thumb, try low-maintenance options. Keep the pots cohesive and simple.
Scent Matters
Luxury isn’t only about what you see, it’s what you feel, and smell is a big part of that. Scented candles, diffusers, or even simmering a pot of citrus and herbs on the stove can give your home that expensive, considered atmosphere. Choose a signature scent and keep it consistent throughout your spaces.
Pro Tip: Avoid overpowering artificial fragrances. Opt for notes like sandalwood, oud, fig, bergamot, or linen, all associated with high-end, clean scent profiles.
Final Thoughts
An expensive-looking home isn’t about pretending to be something you’re not. It’s about creating a space that feels intentional, calm, and beautifully put together. With a keen eye, thoughtful styling, and a bit of cleverness, your middle-class home can look (and feel) like a million bucks.
