Drapes can make a huge difference of done right. If they are too short, it looks terrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No Ikea furniture
Curtains
A sense of cohesion with colors, furniture and art.

I have done everything in my house from Craigslist and antique stores. I have a great eye for design and it truly looks unique. So that's how I've done it inexpensively. But you have to have time, patience and know when to resell the stuff back on Craigslist because it's just not working.

Ikea chair don't care.

There, there, Ikea chair.

Anonymous wrote:No Ikea furniture
Curtains
A sense of cohesion with colors, furniture and art.

I have done everything in my house from Craigslist and antique stores. I have a great eye for design and it truly looks unique. So that's how I've done it inexpensively. But you have to have time, patience and know when to resell the stuff back on Craigslist because it's just not working.

Ikea chair don't care.

I know I'm going to get slammed on this, but I think professionally framed posters or prints can be "real art." I know that a lot of posters scoff at posters or prints.

Decoration can be anything that makes you feel good when you look at it pottery, photos, mirrors can also be hung on the wall with pride.

Texture, layers, cohesiveness. When it looks intentional (This space serves a purpose.) but never matched.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No Ikea furniture
Curtains
A sense of cohesion with colors, furniture and art.

I have done everything in my house from Craigslist and antique stores. I have a great eye for design and it truly looks unique. So that's how I've done it inexpensively. But you have to have time, patience and know when to resell the stuff back on Craigslist because it's just not working.

Completely agree with the above. Stay out of Target and Ikea. Make sure there are nice rugs (don't have to be super expensive, Overstock has a great selection and I've had great luck getting high quality things) anywhere that you have hardwood floors.

There is ikea stuff that you can use. Kids room- ikea dining table as desk http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60259421/ , chairs with a good wood table http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09874120/ http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99848706/ Chairs [bargain since others are sofa prices] http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S99129301/#/S69129331 Ektorp chairs and ottomans

For other stuff get used furniture that is wood- I find ektorp comfy but DH does not.

Less bright or pastel colors and more darker, sophisticated ones.

More clean lines and much less clutter.

You sitting in the room.

Professionally-framed artwork.

To add to "real art", professionally framed real art!

We have some things from ikea (butcher block table in kitchen, couch and rug for basement, kids beds and toy storage) but most of our furniture is a mix of vintage/antique furniture and stuff from room and board. We don't have any super valuable or rare antique furniture, but it's all wood and well crafted-back when furniture was!

I have one original print by a well known/established artist and several other prints from students or lesser known artists. If you know where to look, you can get some beautiful pieces of original artwork for not a lot of money but framing is very important! I bought a print from a student for $20 and spent $300 to get it framed. It looks fantastic and I get compliments on it all the time.

Accessories. Meaning lamps, books, art, throw pillows, etc. - the things that fill in the voids and dress up a room. Ikea, Target, and Home Goods are great places to shop for these kinds of things.

Anonymous wrote:Real art.

+1

Floor covered in legos and My Little Pony toys.

An Executive washroom and an Executive chair!

I'm sure op was in earnest, I just couldn't help myself.

Anonymous wrote:-real furniture that doesn't look like you bought the entire IKEA collection

-a mix of furnishings - you don't want to look at a room and say "Oh, that's a Pottery Barn living room." or "Definitely a complete IKEA kitchen." Ideally mix high and low.

-art/photos on the walls. Recently went to a colleague's house which is a good 300k more expensive than mine, but it was depressing because it was all completely white paint with not a single thing on the wall. A guest asked, "Oh, did you guys just move in?" Turns out they've been living there for over a year!

Forgot to add that molding/doors/hardware as well as lighting can make a huge difference.