I'm a savvy mum - my 8 budget tips will make any home look more expensive (2024)

WANT your home to look luxurious without the heft price tag? One savvy mum has shared 10 budget tips to help you do just that.

Dawn, who goes by The Minimal Mom online recently took to YouTube to explain how anyone can make their space look expensive without breaking the bank.

A few easy styling tips are key, and you don't even have to buy anything new to try them out for yourself.

Nail the scale

According to Dawn, she would often buy decor that was too small for the space it was in - a huge give away that it's cheap.

So, what should you do to make sure your decor is the right size?

Go for one large statement piece if you're ever in doubt, according to the home pro, this will almost always look better than an arrangement of little things, like candles, vases and plants.

Be careful with gallery walls

Although gallery can look really posh, if you don't properly plan them out they almost definitely won't.

Making your art and photos work together to look cohesive isn't always easy, so start by seeing what you have and add in items to complete the look.

"One way to make a gallery wall look cohesive is to have all of your frames match," Dawn added.

Follow the 60-30-10 rule

This rule is all to do with creating colour balance in your home.

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So, you should have three colours in every room - 60 percent for the main colour, then 30 percent of another and 10 percent for accents.

This formula allows colours to work together without it feeling disjointed, Dawn explained.

Five things making your home look cheap

Create contrast

The key for buying new items for your home is knowing if you want them to be seen, or if they should blend into the background.

If creating contrast is your goal, you can be bolder with your design choices, but stick to your main colour if you want things to look more seemless.

Get the right curtains

Dawn explained that most people pick the wrong curtains from their home, and there are actually two different types you should know about.

Some curtains are purely decorative and aren't designed to be closed, this style should cover your walls, not your windows.

Other styles are thicker and will actually work to block out light and create privacy.

Style open shelves right

Creating perfectly styled open shelves is harder than most people think, Dawn said.

But the key is to "zig zag your accent colour" according to the pro.

There should be some rhyme and reason to the way you style your shelves, so having an accent colour on each shelf will make them look way more expensive and less cluttered.

Don't forget to declutter

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"Decluttering is a decorating tactic," Dawn said.

It might not seem like you're doing much by getting rid of your old junk, but as far as the pro is concerned it's one of the best things you could do if you want your home to look more luxurious.

Even if you don't love a minimalist style, less can still be more in a lot of ways.

Use white

White will instantly brighten up your home, unlike magnolia and similar shades which can look dull and lifeless.