Look for affordable luxuries and for ways to achieve the look without spending a fortune.
Here are a few ideas:
- Use what you have and make it special. Don't hide away your best silver, china, and crystal. What are you saving it for? While these items may require a bit more care, they'll add a touch of luxury to your life.
- Add affordable elegance to your decor with silk pillows or a tapestry throw. You don't have to upholster your whole room of furniture in the most expensive fabrics to achieve a luxury look.
- If you have just one piece that is special, get it out and give it a place of distinction. Make it the center of attention on the mantle, in the center of a table, or even on a pedestal.
- Sleep in luxury with a pair of beautiful, silky soft pillowcases. Splurge, if you can, on a whole set. Don't save these luxury linens for the guests. Treat yourself every day!
- Blend custom items with common. Select hand-painted tiles for a border on a floor to blend with stock tile for the main area. Combine collectible china or crystal with everyday dishes and glasses. Use sterling flatware with stainless. The special pieces will stand out and be special.
- Don't turn away from used items. You can find luxury items at bargain prices at estate sales, flea markets, auctions. You'd be surprised what treasures people don't appreciate!
- A whole room of custom marble flooring or wool carpet might be out of reach. Use these expensive materials in a smaller space. You can do an entry at a fraction of the price. And a luxurious area rug will offer a special touch.
- Almost any room, whether the kitchen, a home office, or bedroom, will look special with flowers or plants. Elegant orchids, leafy ferns, and planted baskets with color add a custom touch to intimate corners or prominent tabletops. Even a bouquet from the market will cheer up a room.
- Get rid of unsightly clutter! This route to a sense of comfort costs nothing but will make your home feel more elegant.
You can see from our suggestions, that you can bring luxury into your home in many ways. If you have no financial limitations, you may want to have deluxe quality items in every area of your home. But if you need to live more economically, you don't need to be deprived of lovely things.
