20 tricks to make your home feel more luxurious

Black coffee in a paper cup vs. a latte with foamed oat milk and cinnamon sugar. A scratchy sweater vs. a cashmere pullover soft as baby cheeks. You get the idea: That extra dose of luxury makes all the difference — especially when it comes to your home. That’s why we’ve assembled these 20 affordable and impactful ways to add a little something extra to your domain.

Splurge on soap: Why wash your hands with bland bars when lathering up could transport you to a lavender field in Provence, France? That’s why I spend a bit extra to fill my dispensers with A La Maison Lavender Aloe Liquid Hand Soap. With notes of aloe, eucalyptus, musk and amber, the recipe dates to 1828.

Get better beans: Ever since trying Pergamino coffee in Colombia, travel blogger and influencer Christina Vidal Haisfield hasn’t failed to stock up. “I brought some home on that trip and since then I always order it online and ship it to the States — it’sthatgood,” she says. For my morning cup, I shell out for aromatic and complex Counter Culture beans, which I grind fresh every day. Maybe that’s why I’m a morning person.”

Invest in a coffee mug that makes you smile: While we’re talking coffee, do you sip yours out of a motley assortment of chipped vessels emblazoned with dad jokes? If so, consider upgrading to the epitome of mugs: The Mugs from Fable. Like warm bear hugs in ceramic form, they feel pleasantly weighty, feature easy-to-grip handles and are roomy enough to hold 12 ounces of coffee.

Treat your feet: For shower flooring that doubles as reflexology, consider pebbled mosaic tiles, which I recently installed in my bathroom. If my feet could speak, they’d say “ah” each time I step onto the textured surface. Plus, the finish adds graphic punch, making what could have been a humdrum space a focal point.

Go soft: “Adding layers is a quick and easy way to make a space feel more custom and luxurious,” says Claire Zinnecker, senior designer at Claire Zinnecker Design in Austin. She’s right: The high-pile area rug I added to my family room elevates the space’s aesthetic, plus it couldn’t be any more cosseting. Other affordable upgrades I swear by: a faux sheepskin rug I draped over the bench in my foyer and faux fur throws cozying up my lounge chairs. Based on personal experience, these blankets might even entice your teenage sons to put down their phones and read (just don’t hold me to it!).

Cue yourself to relax: Self-care is a form of luxury — but many of us never get around to soothing rituals. So take inspiration from Anita Yokota, interior designer and author of “Home Therapy,” and assemble themed trays to remind yourself to relax and decompress. A couple of ideas: Set out soap, lotion and a bathing brush on a stool next to your tub. Or arrange a sketchpad, colored pencils and a beautiful postcard on the shelf next to your desk.

Find some breathing room: Even with reminders, it can be tricky to let go when your home is cluttered and chaotic. Spend a few hours clearing out your space Marie Kondo-style, removing items you don’t use or love. Not only will your home take on the serenity of a luxury boutique, but the absence of stimuli will also give your eyes a rest.

Set out souvenirs: “A home should feel like a curation of things that make you happy, and for me that’s travel,” Haisfield says. That’s why she decorates with mementos from her trips, such as pottery from her honeymoon in Capri, Italy. “Having pieces of my travels around our house reminds me of our memories and makes my home feel like me.

Steal a scent from your favorite hotel: Ever since staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Hong Kong many years ago, I haven’t forgotten its scent: a mix of benzoin (a resin from tree bark), amber and patchouli. Fortunately, I can transport myself back there with the brand’s Black Orchid diffuser, candle, room spray or home diffuser set. Haisfield shares my strategy, elevating her home with candles from the Hotel Collection, whose fragrances were inspired by top spots.

Or DIY your own home fragrance: “We’re seeing a trend in sandalwood fragrances, which evoke a luxurious quality reminiscent of silky wood,” says Jolene Van Roemburg, fragrance design manager for Air Aroma, which crafts fragrances for luxury brands. She suggests creating a blend with about 20 drops of essential oils, split equally between sandalwood, cedarwood and either jasmine, lavender or orange blossom. “Then, diffuse the oil or mix with water to create a spray. If you’re looking for more consistent and powerful scenting, you can pump fragrance into your air ducts using advanced scent diffuser technology.”

Buy a sound machine: To me, quiet is the sound of luxury. If you agree, try a sound machine, a small device that hums white noise so you can sleep soundly. Lightweight and portable, it’s also a game changer when traveling.

Arrange flowers like a painter: For an opulent, Dutch masters look, Britain-based florist Anna Potter of Swallows & Damsons pairs flowers with branches and vines. The contrast between the messier branches and vines and the more orderly, uniform blossoms can impart a storybook, still-life-like feel, she says.

Or fill a large vase with one variety: Featuring a bounty of one type of flower, such as budget-friendly sunflowers or carnations, can signify abundance and luxury, Potter says. “Try cutting some stems a little shorter than others to create different heights in the vase,” she suggests. “This adds depth and a more natural look.”

Add little bits of fancy: “Throw pillows in beautiful fabrics can make quite a statement,” says Atlanta-based Sandie Mazzi, principal designer of S. Mazzi Interiors. “And you don’t have to spend so much — you only need a yard or two of expensive fabric.” The same principle applies when framing small panels of pricey fabrics or wallpaper to display as art.

Beautify unexpected places: Pamper yourself by bringing refinement to utilitarian and private areas. One case in point: Drew Michael Scott, Los Angeles-based interior design content creator and founder of Lone Fox Home, tweaked his walk-in closet. Painting the walls Sherwin-Williams’ Antiquarian Brown and adding chrome hangers and a vintage armoire he found on Facebook Marketplace completely transformed the space, he says.

Score iconic furniture for less: Whether it’s Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair or John Dickinson’s African side table, you can find originals of prestigious pieces online and at antique shops, usually for thousands. Or you can go the reproduction route, as I did with my new Womb Chair. Or take a page from interior design influencer Jordan Samson and shop secondhand. “By opting for pre-loved pieces, you can access solid wood and other premium materials at a fraction of the cost,” he says. “This approach not only offers substantial savings but also adds unique character to your space.” Try haunting online auctions, estate sales, flea markets, vintage shops, Chairish and 1stDibs. (Warning: You might become addicted to the hunt.)

Adorn your walls: Seek out art at antique shops, suggests Boston-based Cara Fineman, owner and principal designer of DAG Design. She recently paid a mere $50 for a vintage painting to elevate her client’s wet bar. Or, according to John Stivale and Steven Graffam, founders of New York-based design firm Stivale-Graffam Home, you can DIY or choose paintings from Artexplore. Because framing can be pricey, Fineman offers some tricks. First, buy an inexpensive frame and ask a frame shop to make you a custom mat and install the art. If you need to cover a lot of wall space and don’t want to shell out for a large painting, pair a smaller work with a larger mat.

Don’t forget the windows: “Well-chosen curtains can soften a space, create a sense of warmth and make your ceilings appear higher,” Samson says. For ceilings 9 feet or lower, he recommends linen and velvet options from Ikea. For a bit more of a splurge, he turns to TwoPages, especially its Patti collection featuring European linen.

Paint it black: “Paint is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to make your home feel more bespoke,” says Zoë Feldman, founder and principal designer of a firm in D.C. With a coat of glossy black paint from Fine Paints of Europe, she upgraded a client’s secretary desk turned bar. She’s also lent a more custom look to white kitchen cabinets by painting them Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty.

Add dimmers: Sometimes, luxury comes down to the small details. When you enhance your space, don’t leave these off the list, says Jenny J. Norris of New York-based Jenny J Norris Interiors. “By allowing you to control the amount of light in a room, dimmers help create ambiance and a more intimate atmosphere,” she says.

Dina Cheney is a freelance writer in Connecticut.