These 5 Items Will Make Your Home Look 'Cheap'

Feeling like your low-cost decor is too good to be true?

Then it probably is. Especially when shopping for furniture or home pieces, it’s only natural that we want to keep our spending low, sourcing for the best discounts or sales.

Sure, it's right to spend cautiously, but sometimes cheap decor can do more harm than good - cramping your home's style (and resale value)! For a showroom-worthy home that will not only impress your family, friends and psst - potential property buyers - here are 5 commonly used items that you should throw out, stat.

1. Fake Flowers

Interior Designer: The Ars Design

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of flower power but fake, plastic flowers that sit in your home gathering dust will do nothing to improve the décor. There's something tacky about fake blooms that give a home a scruffy look rather than a lush, cheery energy that fresh flowers bring instead.

Interior Designer: Ulik Construction Sdn Bhd

Interior Designer: Latitude Design

Want some florals, but can't afford a trip to the florist every other day? Choose floral motifs to blossom a springtime ambience in your home or simply add an actual indoor potted plant. African Violets, Peace Lily and Orchids are affordable, can survive indoors and will even bloom (at times).

2. Worn Out Sofas

Interior Designer: Spazio Design

Your seating sets are usually the biggest furniture pieces in your home and so, if it looks unkempt, it’ll instantly devalue the rest your décor. Unfortunately, since sofa sets are often expensive fixtures in your home, it is understandably difficult to replace.

Interior Designer: Hoe & Yin Design Studio

Rather than splurging on a new set, get yours reupholstered and stuffed to return volume and shape. Accent your updated sofa with a few plush throw pillows, a soft coverlet and you’re good to go!

3. Clutter Everywhere

Interior Designer: AZN Home Decor

While you might be proud to show off your eclectic personality through your collectibles, souvenirs and hobby pieces, they could be taking your house value down a notch if strewn everywhere. Showroom Styling Rule #1: Make your place look clean and classy, not messy.

Interior Designer: Archiplan Interior Design

Instead, showcase just one or two of your prized possessions or place them in a designated spot like a lighted display cabinet. This way, your home can still reflect your personality and interests, but in a refined manner.

4. Poor Lighting

Interior Designer: Amorphous Design

Illuminating your home with overly stark lights can be a poor design decision in more ways than one. Not only will wrong lighting take away from the ambience of your home, it can also make your room look seedy - reducing the value of your property.

Interior Designer: Quest Designs

Interior Designer: Id Industries

But what constitutes poor lighting? Think ill-placed lamps, overly adorned sconces and fluorescent bulb overkill. Try layering the light in your home to ensure each space enjoys the right amount of illumination. Go with energy-efficient incandescent lighting and simple lampshades or vintage sconces instead.

5. Cheesy Art Replicas

Interior Designer: Hatch Interior Studio

Let's be honest - most of us can’t exactly afford authentic art. And if you're dying to get a piece of Andy Warhol or Picasso for your home, the most reasonable (and cost-effective) way is probably settling for an imitation piece.

Interior Designer: La Conception Hauz

Worst. Decision. Ever. If there's anything more shabby and cheap, it's getting an obvious masterpiece that everyone recognises and knows you can't possibly afford. Worse still if these pieces are poorly constructed.

Interior Designer: inD' finity Design

Add a touch of creativity to your space with reasonably-priced art pieces from independent artists online, at flea markets or vintage stores. Support local! (Or struggling artists in general). Plus - unique pieces help to exude a gallery-like, curated feel to your space.

Your home is your biggest investment.

Make your home work for you; the right interior design can raise the profile (and value of your home). Qanvast can help - request for a quote here, and get matched up to 5 interior designers, based on your budget and style.

Searching for more local home ideas? Check out the Qanvast app, available on the App Store and Google Play. Save your favourite images, discover new home products or simply read up on handy renovation tips - all on the go!

Meet interior designers. Get quotes. Based on your requirements, we will recommend you up to 5 firms with the Qanvast Guarantee. Get Free Quotes