Make your home look more expensive – simple hacks that won't break the bank

Do you ever catch yourself scrolling through luxe homes on Instagram, wishing your home looked a little more glamorous? Or let's face it, that you could make your home look more expensive without spending a fortune?

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Don't be ashamed, we've all been there. But never have we felt it more keenly than when trying to sell a house. The pressure is on to make your home stand out from the crowd and reel in an offer.

A recent study by Barclays Mortgages revealed that over half of Brits have been using their spare time over the last few months to finally get on top of those DIY jobs they've been avoiding. Many have even estimated that their efforts have added an average of £21,000 to the value of their home.

This estimation might sound a bit optimistic. However, tackling DIY jobs around the house can help your house look more expensive on a shoestring budget.

According to the research, the most popular job that DIY fans have been tackling is general gardening. This is a great place to start to boost your house's kerb appeal. It will not only make your house look more expensive, but hopefully entice future buyers. Research conducted by One Poll in 2016 revealed that 35 per cent of homebuyers made their decisions based purely on outward appearances.

'I think you cannot underestimate the importance of outside maintenance and what they call kerb appeal,' explains interiors expert Kate Watson-Smyth, an ambassador for Barclays Mortgages. 'People make up their minds about a house within minutes. It might even be seconds. So if you have time or any inclination to do DIY outside, then absolutely make sure your window frames are painted, is your front garden weeded, is your fence mended? That kind of outside maintenance will definitely add value.'

When it comes to the interior of your home, here are a few more tips to get your home looking a million bucks.

Tips to make your home look more expensive

1.Paint your kitchen cabinets

'You can make a cheap kitchen look expensive by painting the doors - if they are wooden - and adding your own handles,' says Kate.

Adding your own handles is a great way to create a bespoke look without the price tag. Consider painting the floor and wall cabinets in contrasting colours for a really high end look.

'The key thing that is really crucial when painting furniture is to allow enough drying time for it to really kind of cure between layers,' explains Kate. 'If you are painting kitchen cupboard doors for example, for a couple of weeks try to leave them, or just be really gentle with them so that it would be cured, and then it's really tough.'

2.Revamp your bannister

Whether that is with a lick of paint or installing a natural wooden one, this small detail will  make a big impression.

'Little details like touch points, light switches and nice colours on the bannister, those are the things that people remember because they interact with them,' says Kate.

3. Create a gallery wall

Adding art to a room can really bring out its character, and add an extra point of interest for visitors. A gallery wall is an easy way to fill an empty space and create a chic, modern space.

You can use frames and prints you already have lying around the house. Alternatively many high street stores take the hard work out of matching frames by selling gallery wall frame sets.

When arranging them, Aurora Martial, founder of interior design studio Domus Venus says: 'You can go for a very orderly neat look, say 4 lines of 4, or go with different size frames and mix them.'

'If you do that, try your combination on the floor first,' she suggests.

4. Mix and match textiles and colours

Thoughtful curation of different materials in a home will go a long way to making a living room or bedroom feel high-end.

'You can literally transform your home by changing your set of soft furnishings,' explains Aurora. 'A large rug goes a long way in a living space or in a hallway, it defines and anchors it.'

'With cushions on a sofa or a bed you make it suddenly very welcoming and feel cosy,' she adds.

5. Bounce light around the home with mirrors

Its the oldest trick in the book, but investing in a statement mirror will make a room appear brighter and bigger.

Two-thirds of Brits consider natural light as an important factor when house hunting, according to Arlo & Jacob. Amplify the natural light in your home by cleverly positioning mirrors opposite windows to bounce light around the whole room.

Related: What smells will sell your house?

Whether you are trying to sell your home or just impress the neighbours, will you be trying any of these tips?