How to Make IKEA Look Expensive: Easy Upgrades for a High-End Look
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If you want to know how to make IKEA look expensive, you’re in the right place! IKEA furniture is budget-friendly and stylish, but sometimes it can feel a little basic. The good news? With a few simple upgrades, you can transform IKEA pieces into high-end, custom-looking furniture – without spending a fortune.
Here are the best, most effective ways to make IKEA look luxurious and expensive!
1. Repeat Elements for a Designer Look
One of the easiest ways to make IKEA look high-end is by repeating elements. Interior designers love using this trick to create a balanced and cohesive space.
Even IKEA does this in their own catalogs! You’ll often see them styling the same item multiple times to achieve a clean and polished look. You can do the same in your home:
- Line up multiple bookcases side by side to create a built-in library effect.
- Place two identical credenzas together for a large, custom storage unit.
- Use matching baskets, lamps, or wall art to make the space feel curated and intentional.
Repetition helps eliminate the “budget” feel and makes your space look professionally designed.
2. Add Real Wood for Instant Elegance
IKEA furniture often relies on particleboard and laminate, which can sometimes look cheap. The fix? Incorporate real wood!
- Swap in a wood coffee table or a solid wood dining table to add warmth.
- Use wooden picture frames, bowls, and trays to bring in texture.
- Mix natural wood with IKEA’s clean finishes for a high-end contrast.
Even small wooden accents can make a space feel more expensive and custom.
3. Create a Built-In Look
Custom built-ins instantly elevate a space, but professional installations can cost thousands. The affordable alternative? DIY built-ins with IKEA furniture!
For example, a popular IKEA hack is turning Billy bookcases into built-in bookshelves. Simply add:
- Trim and molding for a polished look.
- Baseboards and crown molding to blend the bookcases seamlessly with the walls.
- Paint to match your existing decor.
This works with Pax wardrobes, Besta units, and Havsta cabinets too! Just search “IKEA built-in hack” online for endless inspiration and tutorials.
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4. Customize with Paint and Hardware
IKEA furniture is designed to be simple, making it the perfect blank canvas for customization.
- Paint it: A fresh coat of paint instantly makes an IKEA piece look custom and expensive.
- Swap the hardware: Replace basic IKEA knobs with brass, matte black, or acrylic handles for an instant upgrade.
- Add molding: Installing trim on dressers, cabinets, or bookcases gives them a polished, designer feel.
- Use slipcovers: Brands like Bemz and Comfort Works offer stylish slipcovers in linen, velvet, and other luxe fabrics for IKEA sofas and chairs.
These small changes can completely transform an ordinary IKEA piece into something unique and high-end.
discover the RIGHT way to paint IKEA furniture
5. Mix IKEA with Vintage and Handmade Pieces
An easy way to avoid the “IKEA showroom” look is to mix in vintage, thrifted, and artisan decor. Too much IKEA in one space can feel generic, but adding unique pieces creates depth and personality.
Need some ideas? Try incorporating:
- A vintage wooden table next to an IKEA sofa.
- A handmade ceramic vase or woven basket for texture.
- A statement antique mirror to balance modern IKEA pieces.
- Some vintage artwork hung over an IKEA storage unit.
Mixing styles and materials helps create a more layered, designer-inspired look.
6. Create a Focal Point
If you have an IKEA piece that you can’t customize and you would rather not draw attention to it, use a focal point to shift attention elsewhere.
For example:
- If you have basic IKEA nightstands, style your bed with luxurious bedding, layered pillows, and a beautiful throw.
- If you have a plain IKEA dining table, pair it with bold, statement chairs.
By drawing attention to standout elements and away from the more basic ones, any plain IKEA furniture will blend seamlessly into a high-end design.
7. Upgrade Your Lighting
Lighting can make or break a space, and layered lighting instantly makes IKEA furniture look more expensive.
- Add table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces instead of relying on overhead lights.
- Upgrade to statement lighting like sculptural chandeliers or unique pendant lights.
- Choose warm white LED bulbs to create a cozy, inviting ambiance.
- Add in-cabinet lighting to highlight your prettiest collections.
A well-lit space feels more intentional and luxurious, making even budget-friendly furniture look high-end.
8. Use Plants and Fresh Flowers
Nothing transforms a space faster than greenery! If your room feels flat, plants and flowers can add life, texture, and sophistication.
For a designer look:
- Use a large statement plant with sculptural leaves in a stylish pot or basket.
- Add small plants on shelves, nightstands, or coffee tables.
- Display fresh flowers like peonies, hydrangeas or tulips, in a chic vase for an instant upgrade.
Natural elements soften a room and make IKEA furniture feel more curated and high-end.
IKEA is a great starting point, but with a few simple upgrades, you can make your IKEA furniture look expensive and custom without breaking the bank. Repetition, wood accents, built-ins, custom finishes, vintage pieces, great lighting, and greenery are all easy ways to create a stylish, high-end space.
Try these tips, and you’ll never look at IKEA furniture the same way again!
