How to make cheap furniture look more expensive

We have all had to get furniture on a budget, and when we assemble it are disappointed by how, well, cheap it looks. Here is how to dress up some of those inexpensive bargain furniture pieces… but dress them up on a budget!

First, switch out the hardware, such as drawer knobs. The ones included in budget furniture are also budget themselves. But splurge on a drawer knows or handles that will dress up the dresser and make it look more expensive. Ceramic knobs, those with unusual pull knobs, or hand painted designs can do wonders for inexpensive furniture.

Avoid the faux wood furniture and stick with black or white. The faux wood grain always looks cheaper, not to mention they usually aren’t that good looking!

If you get white, can you paint some trim pieces on the furniture to match the room? If it is a dresser, paint the pieces next to the drawers a coordinating color to suit your room. If it is a desk, paint the chair to match as well. Or paint the drawers themselves. If it is a table, paint the table legs.

If you are purchasing pieces from IKEA, look at the assembled pieces… you may decide to select different pieces based on how they look assembled, as opposed to pictures on boxes or in a catalog.