Here are 10 things that make your home look CHEAP
Ever scrolled on Pinterest, found a dreamy home decor that you absolutely loved, and thought, nailed it!? Now, I know you definitely care, but there are ways to know better, too.
I’ll be honest—there was a time when I thought my home looked amazing. But in reality, it was crowded and trendy – frankly, it looked cheap. From an expert’s point of view, anyway.
If you get the feeling that something is missing from your home decor, it most likely means the opposite: you are trying too hard.
Read on and buckle up to find out the top 10 tacky things that make your home look CHEAP.
1. Clutter
You’ve done everything right and picked the prettiest decor for your home. And although the initial layer may look fantastic on its own, it’s constantly cluttered and covered in small objects.
Whether you realize it or not, clutter will make a home feel suffocated and look cheap. This number one problem is essentially one of the easiest things you can change starting today!
Did you know that clutter has a direct impact on mental health? More than cheap, it is taking a toll on your mental peace unconsciously. Take a step forward and declutter your kitchen, living room, and bedroom. Do you really need all those things lying around?
2. Bad lighting
Another weak spot in your home decor is bad lighting. And don’t trust me – trust your phone camera and take pictures in different spots of your house. You will see what I mean!
I am currently tackling bad lighting in my living room, so I get that it can be tricky to get it right. And by right I mean according to your own taste and preference, since there’s no ideal standard for it.
Want to go lighter and more natural? It will open your space up. This will add charm to a small home. In my case, I’m trying to go more dark, with warm colors to soften furniture. Hopefully this gives you a good idea of what you can practically (and quite easily) do to make your home look a little less cheap.
You can go ahead and opt for more unique and DIY lighting, such as wooden lamps or alternating LEDs.
3. Too much DIY furniture
DIY furniture always gives me lots of satisfaction. I mean, I did it myself, and it does the job, right? But that doesn’t mean there cannot be too much of a good thing!
One piece of DIY furniture per room is a great addition that can show off your carpentry skills and handy personality. However, I have personally visited homes that seemed to have overdone it in places. A pallet couch, a DIY coffee table, and improvised wallpaper all in one room will make your home look cheap.
By all means, I do encourage you to hold onto your proudest DIY furniture, but disperse it in different rooms. That way, the home decor has separate little valuable highlights for the eye to focus on.
4. Too much trendy decor
By definition, trendy decor comes and goes by season. But if you fill your house with it, it is a guarantee that it will quickly go out of style.
My good old trendy obsession was disco balls. I had one in every corner but in different sizes. I genuinely and honestly thought I was acing the home decor game until someone pointed out that TikTok and Instagram trends are not here to stay, let alone live in your house permanently. It opened my eyes and I switched to evergreen decor that matches my spirit.
Especially in a small home, too much trendy decor can make the whole atmosphere tacky, so proceed with caution.
5. Generic gallery walls
Gallery walls are a great and aesthetic way of using up that extra blank space on empty walls. Unluckily, some people miss the main point of displaying family memories or travel pictures and leave generic canvas galleries on their walls.
If you’ve ever come across generic gallery walls like that, you surely felt you were rather in an Airbnb, not a homey home. Hotel rooms with tacky Ikea paintings sound familiar? You might want to avoid that.
Unoriginal and uninspired art will make homes look cheap, since you put minimal effort and thought into putting them together.
6. A crowded entryway
The first step you take into someone’s home is the most critical. First impressions always matter. A crowded entryway can be the earliest indicator of a home that looks cheap – even if it’s not, and even if the rest of it is not as crowded.
Instead, create an open and inviting entryway and switch things up. Start by installing more hooks and shoe racks if that’s an issue. Store seasonal or rarely used items elsewhere (like under-bed storage or a hallway closet). A pretty mirror can also do wonders for a crowded entryway.
7. No distinct personality
We’re talking uniqueness and personality. But that doesn’t mean every room has to be uniform and resemble the same style of decor.
So, having a minimalist and modern decor in one room and then a Bohemian air in another would not give the impression of being cheap and put together, for instance. It is recommended you keep it slightly different in each room, but all in all, it has to look like a whole.
Or more simply, if your home decor looks planned, that is exactly what we are going for. If it looks like an accident, think twice.
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to give life and personality to your home is color spots and fixtures. I’ve bought all the plushy and patterned throw blankets that Target could come out with, but my home still looked cheap. I’ve since switched to more unique manufacturers and got to play around with this Bohemian throw blanket. Mine lies on my living room couch, but you can do pretty much anything with it in any room.
Example: Harry Potter fanatic? Display your favorite books on a cute book shelf in a corner. Outdoorsy or into gardening? Add low maintenance plants to liven it up.
8. Chevron patterns
Chevron patterns are constantly in and out of style, to be fair. According to real estate expert advice, the chevron pattern (a sideways, two-color zig-zag) is outdated.
As of right now, it is definitely the right time to ditch that pattern if you haven’t already. If you have a small home, chevron patterns can specifically become overwhelming, distracting, and tacky.
The caveat? I can understand patterns, and if you are a pattern lover, at least try opting for more simplistic, less attention-grabbing ones. Alternatively, do it in small doses, and maybe not on every wall of a room.
9. Popcorn ceilings and walls
Homebuilding practices in the 20th century might have left you with popcorn ceilings and walls. The rough, bumpy texture is tough to keep clean, sort of difficult to repair, and it just looks cheap.
If you can, try removing the popcorn aspect and clean your ceilings and walls squeaky clean. They will look much better!
10. Phrase wall art
“Live, laugh, love”—don’t we all? Although I love a good phrase, this problem falls under generic and empty-spirited as well. When choosing your wall art, try to opt for more personal pieces or, why not, make your own. This one will truly make a difference.
Do you have any other examples of things that make your home look cheap? Let us know what you think down below in the comments.
If you found this useful, continue reading 7 Genius Storage Hacks for Small Spaces.
