Interior designer reveals the 10 things that will make your house look cheap
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What do throw rugs, faux marble wallpaper, and inspirational wall art have in common?
According to Houston-based designer Bilal Rehman, all are impossible when it comes to stylish interior design.
The 23-year-old has built a loyal fan base in Tik Tok with over 300,000 followers, thanks to his witty videos on design do’s and don’ts.
Here she shares with DailyMail.com the 10 worst crimes one can commit when it comes to interior design, with these things ‘making your house look instantly cheap’.
From messy cables on display to mass-produced Ikea art pieces, scroll down to see Bilal’s biggest interior design mistakes…
1. Poorly hung curtains
Houston-based designer Bilal Rehman has revealed the ten interior design touches that make a space look cheap, including poorly hung curtains (file image)
‘The quickest way to make your ceilings appear shorter and instantly cheapen your space is with poorly hung curtains!
‘Eliminate that junk and elevate your space by making sure to bring your curtains up to the ceiling and letting them hang until they’re about 1 inch off the floor.
“This is the best way to achieve a taller, sexier space that will make everything seem more appropriate and luxurious.”
2. Adhesive rear LED strips
‘Even if you’re in college, there’s no excuse for these tacky string lights going off in exactly four hours.
“Skip the strips and head straight for the color changing bulbs, my personal favorite which I swear by are Philips Hue bulbs, but there are plenty of other cheap options you can choose from, just save yourself from those strips that were never in , for a start.
“They tend to damage the wall when you remove them, creating the need to paint and repair your space when you could have achieved the same look without the hassle.”
3. Small rugs in large spaces
Small rugs in large spaces won’t help elevate the room, says Bilal (file image)
‘This is one of my main rules when designing spaces for my clients, you’d be surprised how getting the right size rug can help expand your space.
‘My approach to choosing the perfect rug has always been to make sure the rug extends beyond the largest item in the room and can allow at least the two front legs of all chairs, sofas, and/or benches to sit on. she. .
“Think of an area rug as a frame for your space—the bigger the frame, the bigger your space will feel.”
4. Marble Contact Paper
Faux marble wallpaper is “tacky and instantly cheapens the look of any space,” says Bilal (stock image)
‘Consider that no one is fooled when it comes to contact with marble paper. One splash of water, and suddenly your latest DIY project is curled around the edges for everyone to see.
There are so many other options that should keep this from getting into your Amazon shopping cart to begin with.
‘Faux marble is so tacky that it instantly degrades the look of any space. Instead, opt to get a genuine glass or stone piece from a home salvage yard or stone patio.
“They often have scraps that didn’t make the cut (literally) and sell them dirt cheap, which could easily elevate your next DIY project.”
5. Mirrored furniture
Instead of mirrored furniture, Bilal says to opt for reflective metals like chrome (file image)
‘This item isn’t just on my ‘don’t do’ list, it’s on my ‘don’t even think about it’ list.
“Mirrored furniture not only reflects everything (including your messy room) but also every speck of dust and fingerprints you’ve ever encountered, so unless you’re constantly wearing gloves or have a lifetime supply of Windex, I’d I would keep away.
“Steer toward reflective metals like chrome, which is rapidly making a comeback in 2023, but keep it to one item of this finish in every room, unless you’re working with nightstands, end tables, etc.”
6. Word signals
Bilal describes the inspirational art on the wall as “an eyesore” and says unique pieces are much better (file image)
‘This is an immediate jail sentence on my books. We are not ‘living’, ‘laughing’ or ‘loving’ these horrendous signs.
‘I wake up in cold sweats just thinking about them. Replace these eyesores in your space with truly unique pieces of art.
‘Find a piece of art that highlights a basic color in your kitchen and brings the room together instead of breaking it up with a boring ‘the secret ingredient in my kitchen is LOVE’ wall hanging.
‘Another option to decorate your space without hanging anything is to use beautiful artificial flowers. These are great as they never die and just require a little dusting every once in a while.
7. Plastic light switch or socket covers
‘Never underestimate how even the smallest details can affect your space. You’d be surprised how many beautifully designed spaces are visually divided by things as small as outlet covers or light switches.
“Builders often put in those cheap white plastic covers that scream basic. However, this is something that can be easily fixed whether you own or rent your space.
‘I believe that everything in your home should be an experience, even turning the lights on and off.
“The easiest way to make these covers blend seamlessly into your space is by looking at these amazing and inexpensive paintable light switch covers that you can paint the same color as your wall and they literally make your light switch light disappears, they’re my favorite for inexpensive ways to enhance your space!’
8. Exposed laces
“By tucking away cords, you can enhance the sophistication of your home,” says Bilal (file image)
Exposed wires detract from the overall aesthetic of a space, giving the impression of neglect or a lack of attention to detail.
“They can make a home look cluttered and disorganized, creating an overall cheap and unsophisticated look.
“By hiding cables or using cable covers, you can enhance the sophistication and elegance of your home.”
9. No overhead lighting
“This rule is something I never shut up about, but it’s true: no ceiling lighting (unless you want everyone to look like they’re zombies or like they’ve experienced a 48-hour travel day).
‘Instead, I highly suggest building layers of lighting into your space. It is not only important to create a beautiful design in your space through furniture and beautiful pieces of art.
‘Personally, I emphasize the importance of experience in all of my clients’ projects. You always want to evoke all the senses and creating ambiance through lighting is the first way to do that.’
10. Mass-produced art
‘Need I say more? A big part of interior design is the unique and brilliant pieces we source from local artists, small businesses, and industry creatives. Interior design wouldn’t be what it is today without the look of a one-of-a-kind work of art.
‘I always do everything I can to support artists in my area or around the world and you should too. Take the same money you would have spent on a mass-produced three-piece set from Ikea or HomeGoods and invest it in a piece you commissioned or purchased from a local artist.
‘If you’re interested in getting even more creative, make your own piece! Grab a canvas, some friends, and some paint, and get to work, creating a beautiful piece that will hold forever memories within your space.