Design Tips: How to Add Elegance on a Budget

by Debbie Goldberg 05/09/2021

When building and decorating a new home, there are many things you can do to make the space look more elegant and refined. If your home building and decorating budget is tighter, there are some things you can do to elevate the look of your home without spending a large amount of money. These tips will help you get there.

1. Add Some Crown Molding

Crown molding is an elegant finishing touch to your space. Whether at the ceiling or at chair-rail height, crown molding gives your room and your home a finished look. It’s actually quite affordable, even with the elegant look that it creates, making it a good finishing touch to your home. Get creative with higher baseboard molding, ceiling beams, medallions and more.

2. Paint with Color

Many newly built homes are painted all white. While this is a great neutral palette, it does not add character to the space. Instead, add a color to your home. For an elegant finishing touch, choose either a bold and dramatic palette or a soft, understated one.

3. Invest in Unique Hardware

When building or re-decorating a home, you have to have drawer pulls, knobs and other hardware, so why not elevate them a bit? Instead of the common styles you see in just about any home, consider choosing something unique. This will make your home more interesting and give you a more elegant feel. The bulk pieces you can pick out at any hardware store won’t do, however. If your budget is tight, look at small local hardware stores, antique shops and flea markets to find something elegant to elevate your space.

4. Ditch the Standard Light Fixtures

Light fixtures are another place where you can easily add elegance to your new home. Most builders will have standard light fixtures they use. Either during the building phase or as soon as you move into the home, ditch these for something more elegant and unique. This is another place where you can find interesting pieces by shopping second-hand, if your budget is tight, or spring for one particularly elegant light for your main living room or dining room, and build your decor around it.

5. Choose Hardwood-Look Floors

When building a new home, you have some options for flooring. If possible, choose something that resembles hardwood rather than choosing to carpet the home from one end to the other. Even if you don’t have the budget for actual hardwood, a luxury vinyl or laminate floor can give your home that elegant, timeless look you crave, and you can always add a rug for some softness.

Having a beautiful, elegant home is a goal worth reaching for, and it is achievable on a budget. Use these tips to give your home that finishing touch that you will be proud to call your own, all while staying within your home building and decorating budget.

About the Author

Debbie Goldberg

I'm a full time Realtor with over 30 years of experience yet young enough to embrace today's ever-changing scope of marketing and technology. Having grown up in Connecticut and moved many times (too many to count!) I can empathize with today's buyers and sellers. Strictly maintaining ethical standards and being a fierce advocate on behalf of my clients are things I take very seriously. As a buyer, you can expect me to listen to and evaluate your real estate wants and needs. I can assist in explaining relevant forms, agreements, and closing procedures. I will guide you through the process of finding the right home, negotiating your offer, adhering to all contract dates and terms as well as final walk through and closing procedures. As a seller, I will listen to and evaluate your goals, needs, and timing in order to properly price your home to get the maximum exposure needed to attract the right buyers. In addition to negotiating on your behalf, I will make sure we communicate throughout the entire process as we navigate the contract terms, finance and inspection contingencies, as well as all closing procedures. I was born in Japan, grew up in Hamden and lived in New York, Ohio and Southern California before settling down in New Haven county to raise two kids, two dogs and a cat. I'm passionate about good food and love to bake. Some of my free time has been spent volunteering at Temple Beth Sholom, a synagogue where my family has been members for over 40 years. I also spend time at Tower One/Tower East, an assisted living center in New Haven where my mother-in-law now resides. 30 years of helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals has given me the peace of mind to know that what I do everyday matters. If you are thinking of buying or selling please keep me in mind.