Making Your Home Look More Expensive for Less Money

Maximizing your space without maxing out your budget is no mean feat, but one simple interior design technique can help you to inject a feeling of elegance and luxury into your home for little to no money.

The “rule of thirds” is a trick to create a balanced-looking room, no matter its size, and it’s one that many interior designers rely on to give a space an elevated look.

Whether you’re planning to stay in your home or put it on the market, the secret to making your home look more expensive doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Classic design often follows the ‘rule of thirds’ to create balanced proportions.

Baseboards

For an 8-foot ceiling, baseboards should be 4 to 6 inches.

For 9-foot ceilings, he suggested going for 5 to 8 inches for a stronger presence.

If you have 10-foot ceilings or higher, baseboards can range from 8 to 10 inches to suit the room’s height.

Depending on the size of the baseboards, they can start at $20 for about 7 feet of laminate trim.

Crown molding

When it comes to crown molding—which is located where the wall meets the ceiling—an 8-foot ceiling should aim for 3 to 5 inches of crown molding.

A 9-foot ceiling should have crown molding that’s between 4 to 7 inches.

For a ceiling that’s 10 feet or higher, consider 7 to 12 inches, or even layering molding for a more dramatic effect.

Crown molding starts at $16 for 12 feet of primed wood.

Chair rails

For homeowners who wish to install chair rails, place them about a third of the way up the wall (roughly 32 inches for an 8-foot ceiling).

Wainscoting should follow a similar height, around a third to half the wall height.

For formal spaces, opt for wider, more detailed trim, he said. In casual spaces, keep trim simpler and slightly smaller.

Chair rails cost about the same as the other trims. Prices can start at around $10 for primed wood, but it also comes in smaller lengths.

Door and window casings

For an 8-foot ceiling, casings should be at least 2.5 to 3.5 inches wide. For a taller ceilings, consider casings up to 5 inches for a “balanced look.

To ensure consistency across rooms, trim should feel cohesive throughout the home. Avoid mismatching small and oversized trim in different rooms to maintain a unified flow.

Balance

In addition to proportions, you want to consider weight. Thin trim in taller spaces can seem insignificant, while large trim in small rooms can feel overpowering.

Fnd a balance that complements each room without “overwhelming” it.