Without Actually Being Expensive
There is something about entering someone’s house and immediately feeling like money lives here.
Not necessarily because the person has imported furniture from Italy or has a chandelier the size of a small bus.
Sometimes, it is just the little things.
The scent is right. The rug is sitting pretty. There is a plant somewhere looking like it pays rent. Everything just feels intentional.
And the funniest part?
You don’t actually need to break the bank to achieve it.
Here are five simple things that can make your apartment feel more expensive than it actually is.
1. A Diffuser
See ehn, you don’t have to do too much with this one.
Get yourself a nice diffuser, preferably one with a fruity or fresh scent, because you can hardly go wrong with those.
The goal is for someone to enter your house and the first thing that hits their nostrils is a lovely scent.
Not the scent of yesterday’s cooking.
Not the remains of the fish you fried three days ago.
And definitely not the pungent scent of locust beans that has decided to become a permanent member of the household.
A good diffuser instantly makes your space feel cleaner, calmer and more put together.
Even if your furniture is still doing “manage me for now,” at least the house smells like somebody has their life together.
2. A Centre Rug That Actually Matches
A good centre rug can change the entire appearance of your sitting room.
But please, let the rug and your walls be friends.
Before you paint your walls grey, you will now go and buy an orange rug because “orange is my favourite colour.”
Nooooo.
The colours don’t have to match perfectly, but they should complement each other.
If your walls, curtains and furniture are already giving you plenty of colours, perhaps calm things down with a neutral rug.
A simple, well-placed rug can make your living room look more intentional without you needing to replace your entire furniture set.
Because sometimes, the difference between “nice house” and “something is somehow off here” is just one rug.
3. A Real Plant
Get a real plant.
Even if you don’t know the difference between a monstera and the thing growing behind your compound, get a plant.
You don’t necessarily need an Instagram-worthy jungle.
Just get something green that can survive your level of commitment.
Plants can add life, colour and freshness to an otherwise plain space. And yes, they also have their little air-quality benefits.
After spending hours breathing in Lagos traffic fumes, danfo exhaust and whatever your neighbour’s generator is producing, imagine coming home to a space with actual greenery.
Mehnnn.
You’ll feel like you have escaped the streets and entered your own little sanctuary.
Just remember to water it.
Because nothing says “I tried to have a luxury apartment” like a dead plant sitting sadly in the corner.
4. A Humidifier
This is the icing on the cake.
A humidifier might not be the first thing you think about when you’re trying to make your house look expensive, but once you have one, you’ll understand the assignment.
Apart from adding that soft, cosy feel to your space, it can make your bedroom or living area feel more comfortable, especially when the air is dry.
And let’s face it, there is also something about seeing that little mist coming out of a sleek humidifier that makes your room feel like a wellness centre.
Put on some soft music.
Dim the lights.
Turn on the humidifier.
Suddenly, you’re not in a Nigerian apartment anymore.
You’re in a ₦2 million-a-night Airbnb in Zanzibar.
Just make sure you’re using it properly and keeping it clean. We are trying to create luxury, not introduce a new species into the house.
5. Warm Lighting
This one is criminally underrated.
You can have beautiful furniture, a nice rug and expensive-looking décor, but if your lighting is giving hospital reception, the whole vibe can disappear immediately.
Swap harsh, overly bright lighting for warm lamps or soft ambient lighting where appropriate.
A simple floor lamp, bedside lamp or small table lamp can instantly make a room feel warmer and more sophisticated.
And the best part?
You don’t need to install a chandelier that costs your annual salary.
Sometimes, one strategically placed lamp is enough.
Because luxury isn’t always about how much you spent.
Sometimes, it’s simply about making your space feel intentional, comfortable and like somewhere you actually want to be.
And if all else fails, clean your house.
Because no diffuser, rug or plant can save a sitting room where somebody’s takeaway pack has been sitting on the centre table since Tuesday.
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