7 ways to bring touches of luxury to your home

An elevated home is all in the details.

By Angie Hicks

Tribune News Service
October 4, 2024 at 4:13PM
FILE - A Wayzata condo by John Kraemer & Sons. Wall paneling, wainscoting or even crown molding can add intricate details to your home. (Jim Kruger, Landmark Photography)

An elevated, put-together home is all in the details. When it comes to making your house feel more luxurious, it’s really about small, intentional decisions.

Here are some of my favorite tips to elevate your home.

Crown molding

Wall paneling, wainscoting or even crown molding can add intricate details to your home. These decorations help frame your living space, create a unique flair, and draw a distinct line between walls and ceilings. Most crown molding is made from wood or plaster, but polyurethane, medium-density fiberboard and PVC offer other options.

When done well, this can really enhance the look of your home. I would encourage you to hire a pro to do the job right.

This Silver Spring, Md., kitchen by Zoe Feldman Design uses polished nickel plumbing fixtures, satin brass cabinetry hardware and lacquered brass lighting. The matching tile and cabinet paint create a canvas to highlight the different finish selections. (Stacy Zarin Goldberg)

Upgrade your cabinets

If you’re looking for an easy swap, consider installing new hardware. Changing out the hardware on your cabinets and drawers is the quickest way to give your home an upgraded look. If you’re ready to spend more money but not to replace everything, you can reface your cabinets for a fraction of the cost of replacing them. Refacing can make your cabinets look brand-new.

Improve window treatments

Adding curtains or drapes is a great way to elevate your house. Just make sure you’re choosing curtains that are the right size and texture for the space. If you really want to spruce up your place, consider hiring an interior designer to walk you through various options.

Hire an organizer

You might be a bit surprised to see this on a luxury list, but an organizer’s skills go beyond just figuring out where to put your stuff. A good organizer adds a natural flow to your home that subtly guides you from one element to another in the right order. Sometimes, things in your home that might otherwise be placed in storage can make exciting wall displays that double as storage.

A few plants can really improve a space. (Grumpy Cow Studios)

Add some greenery

Depending on the approach you’re going for with your home, a few plants can really improve a space. The pots and stands you use provide another opportunity to vary heights and designs to add variety and a splash of color to the area.

Play around with extra areas

You might give a lot of thought to the design in your kitchen, living room and bedrooms, but don’t overlook the smaller areas that don’t often get the spotlight, such as laundry rooms and mudrooms. They’re a great place to use playful patterns and colors and spread your wings a bit. Wallpaper, stick-on tiles and shelving can add flair to these often-bland spaces.

Cabinetry in Behr's Midnight Blue helps give this bathroom a luxurious yet cozy Nordic feel. (Behr)

Update your bathroom

Bathroom renovations are among the more expensive home projects, but they can pay off greatly with improved aesthetics, utility and potential buyer appeal. Whether you’re constructing a wet room that adds an open look or installing a soaking tub, consider talking to a bathroom designer about the options available.

Tweet your home care questions with #AskingAngi and we’ll try to answer them in a future column.

about the writer

about the writer

Angie Hicks