10 Decor Moves That May Immediately Give Off A Cheap Impression
Your home is a reflection of your personal style, but some decorating choices can unintentionally make your space look less expensive than it is.
I’ve noticed that certain decor elements tend to cheapen the overall look of a room, regardless of how much you’ve spent elsewhere. Understanding these common pitfalls can help you create a more polished and sophisticated living space without breaking the bank.
Keep in mind, style is highly personal, and what may seem off to one eye could feel perfectly elegant to another depending on taste and context.
1. Faded Curtains
Sun-bleached window treatments instantly age your home in the worst way possible. When fabric loses its vibrancy, it signals neglect rather than the cozy lived-in look you might be aiming for.
Quality window treatments don’t need to cost a fortune, but they should maintain their color integrity. Consider neutral tones that won’t show fading as dramatically, or invest in UV-resistant fabrics that stand up to sunlight better.
Even budget-friendly curtains can look expensive when they’re fresh and properly hung. Aim for panels that reach the floor and are mounted closer to the ceiling than the window frame to create the illusion of height and luxury.
2. Worn Rugs
Nothing screams ‘neglected space’ quite like a rug with visible wear patterns, frayed edges, or flattened pile. The floor covering literally sets the foundation for your room’s aesthetic, and a shabby rug undermines everything else you’ve done.
I’ve found that even inexpensive rugs can look presentable if they’re clean and intact. Consider rotating your rugs periodically to distribute wear more evenly, or opt for naturally distressed designs where wear becomes part of the charm rather than a detraction.
When shopping on a budget, natural fiber rugs like jute or sisal often hold up better visually than cheap synthetic options trying to mimic more expensive materials.
3. Plastic Furniture
Plastic chairs and tables might be practical for outdoor spaces, but bringing them inside creates an immediate budget-conscious impression. Their lightweight nature and often glossy finish can make even the most thoughtfully designed room feel like a temporary setup.
If affordability is your main concern, look for alternatives like wooden pieces from thrift stores that can be refinished, or metal options that offer durability without the plastic look. Even the most basic wooden chair has more visual weight and substance than its plastic counterpart.
For those truly committed to plastic for its practicality, seek out designer-inspired pieces with matte finishes and sculptural shapes that elevate the material beyond its humble associations.
4. Outdated Lamps
Lighting fixtures from decades past can instantly date your entire room, especially those brass-based table lamps with yellowed pleated shades that were popular in the 1980s and 90s. The wrong lamp doesn’t just fail to enhance your space it actively detracts from it.
Mismatched lamp pairs or lighting with obvious damage (like crooked shades or visible cord repairs) similarly create an impression of makeshift decor rather than intentional design. Even budget retailers now offer simple, contemporary lighting that won’t stigmatize your space.
If vintage is your style, look for lamps with clean lines and timeless shapes rather than trendy details that firmly anchor the piece to a specific era. A fresh shade can also transform an older lamp base into something that looks deliberately chosen.
5. Overstuffed Sofas
Massive, puffy sofas that dominate the room with their excessive cushioning often create a discount furniture showroom vibe. These bulky seating options typically feature rounded arms, back cushions that lose their shape quickly, and synthetic fabrics that reflect light in unflattering ways.
The proportions of overstuffed furniture frequently overwhelm the space, making even larger rooms feel cramped and poorly planned. More tailored seating with visible legs and cleaner lines tends to present as more expensive, regardless of the actual price tag.
When working with budget constraints, a smaller, well-proportioned sofa paired with a quality accent chair often creates a more sophisticated arrangement than a massive sectional that screams ‘bargain basement.’ The key is choosing pieces with good structure that maintain their shape over time.
6. Tacky Wall Art
Mass-produced canvas prints featuring generic inspirational quotes or ubiquitous images (think Eiffel Tower or Audrey Hepburn) immediately signal a lack of personal investment in your decor. These pieces feel impersonal and often come across as filler rather than meaningful artistic choices.
Similarly problematic are poorly framed posters or prints with obvious bubbling, creasing, or amateur mounting. The presentation of art matters almost as much as the art itself, and cutting corners on framing rarely goes unnoticed.
Instead of generic art, consider personal photographs professionally printed and properly framed, or original works by local artists that might be more affordable than you expect. Even simple architectural or botanical prints in matching frames create a more cohesive and intentional gallery than random mass-market pieces.
7. Cheap Throw Pillows
Those shiny, overstuffed polyester pillows with obvious machine embroidery or printed patterns can undermine an otherwise lovely room. Flimsy filling that fails to hold its shape, visible cheap zippers, and overly perfect matching sets all signal budget decor choices.
Throw pillows should enhance your space through texture, color, and comfort but low-quality versions often do the opposite. Watch for thin fabric that shows the pillow form underneath, or prints that only appear on the front with solid backs (a telltale sign of mass production).
Quality pillows don’t have to break the bank. Look for covers with natural fibers, invisible zippers, and appropriate weight for their size. Even simple solid-colored pillows in interesting textures make a stronger design statement than elaborate but poorly executed decorated versions with glued-on embellishments or printed faux textures.
8. Synthetic Bedding
Shiny, obviously polyester comforters and sheets can make even the most well-appointed bedroom look like a budget motel room. These materials reflect light in an artificial way that immediately signals their synthetic composition, regardless of pattern or design.
Beyond the visual aspects, synthetic bedding often fails to drape naturally, instead creating stiff peaks and valleys that maintain their shape rather than settling gracefully. The telltale signs include overly crisp quilting patterns, a slight plastic-like sheen, and bedding that looks exactly the same after making the bed as it did coming out of the package.
Cotton-blend or full cotton options at similar price points offer a more luxurious look with their natural matte finish and proper draping. Even simple white cotton bedding from budget retailers creates a more expensive impression than elaborate designs in visibly synthetic materials.
9. Low-Quality Frames
Flimsy plastic frames or poorly constructed wooden ones with visible glue joints immediately diminish the impact of whatever they’re displaying. When frames bow away from the wall, have bubbled protective plastic instead of glass, or feature obviously fake wood grain, they announce their budget origins to everyone who enters the room.
Another common issue is inconsistency in framing throughout a space, which creates a scattered, unplanned impression. Mismatched frames without intentional coordination suggest items accumulated randomly rather than curated with purpose.
Rather than framing everything in cheap frames, consider selecting fewer pieces for proper framing, or create a cohesive gallery with identical frames from budget retailers. Simple black or white frames with proper mats often look far more expensive than ornate but poorly made decorative options trying to mimic more expensive designs.
10. Obvious Stick-On Decorations
Those peel-and-stick wall decals featuring inspirational phrases or simplistic designs often read as temporary solutions rather than committed design choices. While they might seem like an easy way to add personality to a space, they frequently appear flat and artificial against the wall texture.
Similarly problematic are vinyl floor tiles attempting to mimic more expensive materials, stick-on backsplashes, and faux architectural details like peel-and-stick crown molding. These products typically fail to create convincing illusions, instead drawing attention to their imitative nature.
If permanent changes aren’t possible, consider alternatives like framed art, hanging textiles, or leaning larger pieces against walls. For renters seeking temporary solutions, removable wallpaper from quality manufacturers offers a more sophisticated option than individual decals, creating more convincing dimension and integrated design.
