Tips for Mixing Highs and Lows in a Living Room

So you�re not made of money and can�t necessarily afford to implement everything your heart desires after browsing post interior design websites and magazines. Welcome to reality. It can be a struggle, certainly, to implement a look or try to recreate the feeling of a space when your heart says one thing and your wallet says another.

 Install great hardware onto generic furniture to achieve a custom, expensive look. In my opinion, you really can never go wrong with brass pulls. Ever.

 Invest in higher-end staples � your sofa, for example � that you want to stand the test of time. Use budget-friendly accessories and accents to brighten up a neutral living room.

 Look for footed furniture. It might sound a little crazy, but it�s true! When furniture sits off the ground � even slightly � it somehow seems more elegant and high-end. If your existing furniture is lacking feet and your budget is sticky, feel free to add some feet yourself. There are loads of options available, and this serves to create a truly custom piece.

 Add artwork � lots of it � to personalize and create a vibrant space. Keep in mind that even the humblest of art pieces (translation: your 3-year-old niece�s watercolor of an apple tree) can look fresh-from-the-gallery when it�s framed and presented as such. Frame smaller pieces in groups for a greater impact, or go bold with one or two large pieces. Whatever you choose, just remember that, for artwork, presentation can be everything.

 But the good news is, whether you�re looking to invest in high-quality pieces or you�re working within a squeaky-tight budget (or somewhere in between), there are ways you can achieve a sophisticated, stylish look. Let�s look to the living room to see how to mix highs and lows and come up with something waaay better than middle-ground.

 Layer in color, pattern, and texture. I�m not talking about going all crazy in the throw pillow department or anything. But when there is visual interest in a space (as a result of tasteful layering and color choice), it automatically looks more sophisticated.

 Personalize your stuff to add character and achieve a custom look. For example, a box-store bookcase (like this Billy from Ikea) can look like a built-in with a bit of moulding and paint. Reupholstering tired old furniture in modern, vibrant fabric is another sure-fire way to give a space a high-end look.

Mix and match! �Hide� some carefully chosen generic pieces (read: Ikea) within your more expensive designer pieces to fool the eye into reading everything as high-end. Take this a step further, and customize the lower-end bits to make them original and unique�as well as newly chic-ified.-Via