Looks Expensive, Costs Less: 12 Calm Home Buys That Look Designer

15 hours ago

5 min read

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Collage of affordable neutral home pieces: a grey herringbone throw, an artichoke ceramic lamp, a gold-toned side table, a smoke glass vase, a glass hurricane lantern, a round strap mirror, a rattan tray and a smoky glass candlestick — Shop the edit: Perch & Parrow Toasty Wool Throw, Artichoke Table Lamp, Cohen Side Table, Orla Glass Vase and Kaia Hurricane Lantern, Living and Home Retro Round Hanging Mirror, Jungle Culture Rattan & Mother of Pearl Tray and FabFinds Smokey Brown Candle Holder. Product images: Perch & Parrow, Living and Home, Jungle Culture, FabFinds.

The pieces in my home that people always ask about are rarely the ones that cost the most. It's usually a textured throw, a sculptural lamp or a bit of smoky glass on a shelf. A calm, considered look has much more to do with texture, shape and a soft colour palette than with the price tag.

So I've put together an edit of home buys that look far more expensive than they are. Everything here sits happily in a Scandi or neutral new build, and where I say something looks like a pricier piece, I've linked to that piece too so you can compare for yourself.

The Living Room

Perch & Parrow Toasty Wool Throw in Grey (£30) – The one that started this post. A soft grey herringbone throw with a cream braided fringe, which looks just as good folded over the arm of a sofa as it does on the end of a bed. Shop here

Looks like: Cox & Cox Herringbone Soft Wool Throw in Oatmeal, £115. The Cox & Cox version is pure new wool, so it isn't like for like, but the herringbone weave and fringed ends give a very similar look.

Folded grey herringbone throw with a cream braided fringe — *Pictured: Toasty Wool Throw in Grey. Image © Perch & Parrow.*

Perch & Parrow Cohen Side Table (£44) – A slim round side table with a gold-toned top on crossed black legs with gold tips. It's small enough for a new build living room and has the look of something from a boutique hotel. Shop here

Small round gold-toned side table on slim crossed black legs with gold tips — *Pictured: Cohen Side Table. Image © Perch & Parrow.*

Living and Home Retro Round Hanging Mirror with Adjustable Leather Strap (60cm) (£39.99) – A round mirror with a black frame that hangs from an adjustable leather strap. It's a classic designer shape, and the strap means you can set the height wherever suits your wall. Shop here

Round black-framed mirror hanging from a leather strap above a sofa — *Pictured: Retro Round Hanging Mirror with Adjustable Leather Strap (60cm). Image © Living and Home.*

Jungle Culture Rattan & Mother of Pearl Tray, Cascade Light (Medium 30cm) (£23.99) – A handmade tray in woven rattan with a mother of pearl inlay that catches the light. Use it on a coffee table for candles and a little stack of books, and it instantly looks styled. Shop here

Round woven rattan tray with a shimmering mother of pearl base — *Pictured: Rattan & Mother of Pearl Tray, Cascade Light (Medium 30cm). Image © Jungle Culture.*

Lighting That Looks Designer

The Range Francesca Table Lamp (£18.99) – A cream ribbed ceramic lamp with a linen shade, about 49cm tall. Ribbed ceramic and linen is one of those combinations that always looks expensive. When I checked, it was available to shop in store and showing as a pre-order for home delivery. Shop here

Looks like: Cox & Cox Rue Table Lamp, £97. Both pair a softly ribbed, neutral ceramic base with a pale shade, although the Rue has a rounder, demijohn-style base.

Cream ribbed ceramic table lamp with a curved base and a white tapered shade on a side table — *Pictured: Francesca Table Lamp. Image © The Range.*

Perch & Parrow Artichoke Table Lamp in Oatmeal Crackle and Antique Brass (£36) – A sculptural little lamp with an artichoke-shaped base in an oatmeal crackle glaze. Fit a round filament bulb and it looks like a piece you'd find in an interiors shop. Shop here

Small sculptural artichoke-shaped ceramic lamp base in oatmeal crackle with a round glass bulb — *Pictured: Artichoke Table Lamp in Oatmeal Crackle and Antique Brass. Image © Perch & Parrow.*

Perch & Parrow Kaia Hurricane Lantern in Parchment, Large (£33) – A clear glass hurricane on a textured parchment base. Pop a pillar candle inside and it gives that soft, layered glow you see in show homes. Shop here

Clear glass hurricane lantern on a textured parchment-coloured base — *Pictured: Kaia Hurricane Lantern in Parchment, Large. Image © Perch & Parrow.*

Lights4fun TruGlow Ivory LED Pillar Candle Trio With Remote Control (£19.99) – Three ivory LED pillar candles in different heights (15, 12.5 and 10cm) with a remote control. They're made with real wax, so they look like proper candles, and the LED flames stay cool to the touch. Shop here

Three ivory LED pillar candles of different heights glowing on a white side table — *Pictured: TruGlow Ivory LED Pillar Candle Trio With Remote Control. Image © Lights4fun.*

FabFinds Satchville Medium Smokey Brown Decorative Candle Holder (£5.99) – A ribbed glass candlestick in a warm smoky brown, about 15cm tall. Smoked glass is everywhere in high-end interiors right now, and this is the most affordable way I've found to try it. Shop here

Smoky brown ribbed glass candlestick holding a cream dinner candle on a wooden shelf — *Pictured: Satchville Medium Smokey Brown Decorative Candle Holder. Image © FabFinds.*

Finishing Touches

Perch & Parrow Orla Handblown Glass Vase in Smoke (£21) – A round handblown vase with a soft smoke tint. A single stem of eucalyptus or a few dried grasses is all it needs. Shop here

Round handblown glass vase with a narrow neck in a soft smoke tint — *Pictured: Orla Handblown Glass Vase in Smoke. Image © Perch & Parrow.*

La Redoute Interieurs Cleona Ceramic Vase, Height 12.5cm, Ecru (£29.99) – A small ecru vase made of rounded, stacked totem shapes in a shiny ceramic, about 12.5cm tall. It's a lovely sculptural piece for a shelf or bedside table, with or without flowers. Shop here

Small glossy ecru ceramic vase made of three stacked rounded shapes — *Pictured: La Redoute Interieurs Cleona Ceramic Vase, Height 12.5cm, Ecru. Image © La Redoute.*

Cox & Cox Glass Bauble Selection, Gold/Cream Mix (£16.50) – A box of 21 glass baubles in three sizes, mixing gold and cream in different finishes, each with a gold cap and a soft gold velvet ribbon. I love how one tight colour palette makes a tree look calm and carefully chosen, and that's what makes it feel expensive. Shop here

Gold, cream and clear glass baubles with gold caps and velvet ribbons hanging on a Christmas tree — *Pictured: Glass Bauble Selection, Gold/Cream Mix. Image © Cox & Cox.*

How to Make Affordable Pieces Look Expensive

1. Stick to a tight palette. Cream, oatmeal, grey, smoke and soft gold all work together, so everything looks like it was chosen as a set.

2. Choose texture over pattern. Herringbone, ribbed ceramic, rattan and handblown glass do the heavy lifting in a calm, neutral room.

3. Give pieces space. Group things in threes on a tray or shelf and leave some empty surface around them. Clutter is what makes a room look cheap.

4. Layer your lighting. A table lamp, a hurricane and a few candles at different heights make even a brand new room feel warm and considered.