You don’t have to earn a movie star’s salary to have an A-list interior. With the right decisions, even the most ordinary residence can be a star-quality retreat straight out of a magazine, complete with sophistication and style on your own budget.
Go Bold with Statement Choices
One of the simplest paths to celebrity style is through dramatic design elements that immediately make the space pop and grab attention. Minimalism has its application, but celebrities tend to do big statement wallpaper, bold color schemes, giant art and specialty furniture items that overwhelm their spaces with dramatic pizazz. A signature wall in a bedroom or dining room establishes the tone for the rest of the room and creates a focal point for your look.
Custom wallpaper is a dynamic tool in the task of revamping a room. It can be designed to fit your persona, emulate elite designs, or even copy the look of textures such as marble or velvet for a distinctive finish. A trend that has found favor among homeowners these days is the use of green wallpaper that shows mountainous areas, foliage or another richly textured backdrop inspired by nature that adds life and refinement. Alongside gold detail or black furniture of a sleeker finish, the aesthetic is dramatic and unmistakable as upper echelon, echoing the jewel-toned pops found in Hollywood decor. You don’t have to spend a fortune on statement elements; you only need to choose ones that are strong and bold. Look to bold lighting fixtures, jewel-toned throw pillows, textured side tables, and dramatic drapes to animate the space and project your own star power.
Lighting a la Star
Lighting is the unsung star of luxury design and plays an important role in ambiance and function. Celebrity residences use lighting not only for visibility but as a visual anchor that draws the eye and picks up architectural elements. Consider pendant lights, chandeliers and under-cabinet lighting that creates a gentle glow along marble countertops or hardwood floors to make each surface pop. Layering lighting, using the overall lighting in a space and the use of table lamps and wall lights, adds depth, warmth and sophistication. To recreate the illusion without blowing your budget, begin with a single focal lighting element in each room that speaks to the room’s personality. A dining room, for instance, might do well with a sculptural chandelier, while the bedroom might appear more polished with symmetrical bedside lamps in polished brass. LED strip lighting under a shelf or behind a headboard might add a sleek, high-tech element that’s akin to celebrity dressing rooms found in glossy magazines. Use dimmables to create mood lighting that’s perfect for everyday use or for when you need to create a party atmosphere. Wherever possible, use warm-toned bulbs for that welcoming, flattering glow that celebrities adore and interior designers swear to.
Textures and Layers
Luxurious interiors are never two-dimensional; they live off texture, contrast and multi-layered design elements. Celebrity homes have plush velvet sofas, shag carpets, silk draperies and glossy finishes all mixed together in the same room, beautifully creating a theme. The contrast between the different textures generates visual interest and beckons to the stroke of the hand, a signature of beautifully designed spaces that are dynamic but comforting. Begin by investing in a handful of fabric elements that add tactility. A velvet sofa, a faux fur throw blanket, or a boucle ottoman immediately makes a room both more luxurious and carefully composed. You don’t have to spend only on pricey materials; many synthetic options duplicate the look and the feel of the genuine style and are more cost-friendly. Rugs are a spot where layering pays major style dividends. A big jute rug topped by a patterned vintage rug creates a bespoke, curated look that’s lived-in and high-end. Top it off with accent pillows in varying textures such as linen, suede, even sequins, to make your sofa look deliberately styled and inviting.
Smart Buying and Home Improvement Tips with Affordability in Mind
You don’t have to shop in designer stores to recreate celebrity homes or get an ultra-glam look. The trick is in selecting pieces that appear to have a luxury price tag but won’t break the bank and getting creative about how you source. Thrift stores, discount stores and online marketplaces have hidden gems – ornate mirrors, brass candelabras, mid-century coffee tables – that have the potential to be the star of your room for a little imagination and elbow grease. DIY shortcuts are also a budget luxury game-changer. Restoring a refinished furniture piece to a high-gloss lacquer finish or substituting plain hardware for gold or crystal knobs gives even the plainest dresser a luxury facelift for pennies on the dollar. Peel-and-stick tile backdrops that look fresher than the real deal provide the instant gratification of real stone or ceramic without the real cost. When you’re shopping for budget luxury, think multifunctional. A tufted bench that stores or a trunk that converts to a coffee table that also stores both style and function without diminishing aesthetic value. Search the internet for celebrity-approved must-haves and look for dupes that are a lower price point but no less dramatic.
Adding Personal Touches
The last layer that distinguishes celebrity homes is personalization and curation. While the skeleton of a space, the furniture, lighting and texture, lays the groundwork, it’s the accessories that add depth, meaning and narrative. Celebrities hire designers to help them weave their personalities into their spaces, but you can do the same using thoughtful decisions. Art is the simplest way to inject flair and individuality and to turn bare walls into galleries. Select artwork that matters to you instead of what’s trendy or anticipated. If you’re the creative type, experiment with abstract painting or framed photos of your travels. A multi-print, family-picture-and-quote gallery wall creates a lived-in, curated look while also making your space uniquely yours. Books provide visual interest and a dash of intelligence. Place stacks on coffee tables or underneath candles and plants as stylish decor. Accessories must have a sense of deliberateness about them; crystal bowls, brass statues, ceramic vases, or even a vinyl record collection can serve as focal points. Greenery comes next. Fiddle leaf plants and succulents provide instant warmth and soften a space while filling the finishing touch of celebrity gloss. Mirrors are also a star here. A big single mirror or a group of smaller ones opens up spaces and bounces light about, which makes them a designer and celebrity trick that works. Vintage or new, mirrors can also serve as art statements and work beautifully in both larger and smaller spaces.
