What Things Make Your House Look Cheap?
Having a nicely decorated home is something many people strive for. However, there are certain things that can make a home look cheap or tacky, even if that’s not the intention. Here are some common things that can give your home a cheap appearance and tips for avoiding them:
11 Things That Make Your House Look Cheap
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Clutter
Too much clutter is one of the fastest ways to make a home look messy and cheap. Piles of stuff everywhere, surfaces covered with random items, and overflowing closets and drawers give the impression you don’t care about your surroundings. Get rid of things you don’t use or need and organize the rest. Use decorative storage boxes and baskets to corral items and keep them out of sight.
Outdated decor
If your home is still sporting decor from decades past that you haven’t updated, it’s going to look stale and cheap. Trends come and go, so if everything in your home screams 1970s, 80s, or 90s, it’s time for an update. Replace heavy drapes with sleek blinds, get some modern furniture and lighting, and take down old posters and knickknacks. Opt for classic neutral colors when redecorating to avoid looking dated again too quickly. Here are some posts on budget-friendly ideas for giving your living room walls an upgrade without breaking the bank:
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Low-quality furniture
Cheap particle board furniture from budget-friendly stores like Ikea can be great for first apartments, college dorms, or kid’s rooms. But if your whole home is filled with unstable bookcases, scratch-prone tables, and poorly made chairs, it’s not doing your decor any favors. Save up for better-quality wood furniture built to last, or spruce up cheaper pieces with paint, new hardware, or furnishings like tablecloths and slipcovers.
Mismatched styles
Nothing makes a home look more thrown together than wildly mismatched furniture, decor and architectural details. If you’ve got antique chairs around a modern table, farmhouse nightstands next to a Victorian bed frame, and Scandinavian-style shelves on Craftsman trim, it just looks sloppy. Choose one overall aesthetic you enjoy and stick to that style for big furniture and decor purchases to keep things looking cohesive.
Cheap flooring
Nice floors can make a huge difference in the look and feel of a home. If your floors are old, stained carpeting, sheet vinyl, or cheap laminate throughout, it drags down the whole appearance of your house. Upgrade to higher-quality materials like hardwood, tile, stone, or solid laminate flooring. Even just having area rugs and over worn carpets can elevate the space.
No artwork
Blank walls with no artwork make a home feel stark and unfinished. You don’t have to spend a fortune on expensive paintings and sculptures to decorate. Affordable art prints, your own photography, architectural prints, and inexpensive tapestries can adorn your walls without breaking the bank. Even just framed family photos add a personal touch.
Poor lighting
Harsh, dull, and dim lighting does no favors for a home’s ambience or decor. Upgrade old ceiling fixtures to fixtures with soft, warm lightbulbs. Add lamps to dark corners of rooms and under-lit tables and counters. Install dimmers so you can control the lighting mood. Well-lit homes instantly look cleaner and classier.
Dated wall colors
Just like with decor, walls painted in trendy colors can really date your home if you don’t update them. Oak trim and walls painted in harvest gold, avocado green or other outdated shades scream 70s or 80s. Give walls a fresh neutral coat of white, beige, grey or light blue that will stand the test of time better. Add color with accessories and artwork instead of loud wall hues.
Visible appliances and cords
Few things disrupt a home’s style more than seeing appliances and a tangle of cords. Hide small appliances like blenders and toasters in cabinets or pantry areas when not in use. For electronics like TVs and computers, minimize cords using raceways or allow them to blend in by painting them the same color as your wall.
Plastic coverings
Plastic is useful but rarely attractive. Yet many people try to protect furniture and mattresses with plastic slip covers, mattress pads, or plastic wrap on remote controls. This just makes things look cheap. Instead, embrace materials that gain character over time, spot clean when needed, and use baskets or trays for remote storage.
Fake plants and flowers
It’s understandable to want low-maintenance greenery in your home. But cheap, dusty fake plants and flowers from the discount store shout tacky. Real plants, like succulents or air plants, are easy to care for. Or opt for better-quality faux greenery that looks realistic. You can get real plants from stores like Walmart. Just avoid anything too fake or covered in glitter. Limit arrangements to a few focal pieces instead of cluttering surfaces.
Finally, here’s a video on why your house looks cheap for you to learn from
In the end, it’s fine to have some budget-friendly furniture mixed with splurges or a few guilty pleasures from decades past. Just beware of too many elements that give your home a cheap, gaudy appearance. Focus on quality over quantity, limit knickknacks and clutter, arrange thoughtfully, and update elements that are easy to switch out. With strategic tweaks over time, you can give your home an elegant, timeless look, regardless of your decorating budget.
