How to Make Your Home Look Expensive (Without the High Price Tag)

You walk into a home and immediately feel it, that quiet sense of calm, the way light and texture seem to flow together, the softness underfoot. It feels expensive. But here’s a secret: it’s not about how much was spent, it’s about how and where it was spent.

True luxury isn’t about labels or price tags, it’s about balance, comfort, and cohesion. And here's the good news: the team at Carpet Court has put together this guide together to help you create that same feeling in your home, starting with a few high-impact upgrades that deliver serious visual and sensory payoff, without the high price tag. So read on for our five steps to an expensive looking home…

1. Go Wide: The Flooring Trick Designers Swear By

When it comes to flooring, the quickest way to make your home look more high-end is to think bigger. Wide and long planks create instant luxury. They give the illusion of space, calm the eye, and make rooms feel more refined, like something straight out of an interior design magazine.

Why it works:

• Fewer joins = less clutter. Wide planks look seamless and continuous, giving a smooth, architectural finish.

• They make rooms feel larger. Fewer seams and cleaner lines visually expand smaller spaces.

• They signal quality. Wide boards feel intentional and considered, the hallmark of modern design.

• Pattern elevates style. Straight layouts are sleek and minimal, while herringbone or chevron patterns add a timeless, boutique feel.

 “Once customers see how wide planks change the flow of a room, they never go back. It’s one of the simplest ways to make your home feel more open and expensive.”

- Carpet Court 

Pro Tip: Choose light to mid-tone finishes for open-plan spaces, they reflect more light and create an airy, expensive look. And if you really like the look of timber, just not the price tag, then choose laminate flooring and go wide. 

Want to learn more about plank size and patterns? Check out our Laminate Flooring Guide.

2. Add Comfort and Calm with Plush Carpet

There’s a reason luxury hotels use plush carpets in their bedrooms and lounges, it’s warm, quiet, and instantly inviting. A good carpet doesn’t just look refined, it feels indulgent every time you walk on it.

Here’s how to get that premium feel:

• Keep colours tonal. Layer shades of beige, cream, or taupe for calm, cohesive rooms.

• Add texture. Subtle pattern or cut-and-loop pile adds light movement and visual depth.

• Think longevity. Quality carpet will still feel luxurious years down the line. It’s an investment in daily comfort.
  
  

“High-quality carpet transforms a home from functional to comfortable — it’s the foundation of everyday luxury.”

- Carpet Court

Ready to transform your space from functional to luxurious with Carpet Court’s curated carpet collections? Explore carpet styles and textures

3. Upgrade the Underlay - The Hidden Luxury

If carpet is the star, underlay is the stage it performs on. You can’t see it, but you can absolutely feel  it. A premium underlay adds that signature “spring” beneath your feet, softens sound, and improves warmth, all hallmarks of a high-end home.

Here’s why it matters:

• Comfort you can feel. Every step feels cushioned and quiet.

• Sound control. It reduces echoes, footsteps, and sound transfer between rooms.

• Thermal insulation. Keeps your home warm in winter and cool in summer, and cuts down on energy use.

• Longevity. A quality underlay can extend your carpet’s lifespan by years.
  
  

“A good underlay can make even an affordable carpet feel like a five-star upgrade.”

- Carpet Court

Pro Tip: If you’re upgrading your carpet, never skip the underlay. It’s the small decision that makes everything feel five times better. Read more in our Carpet Underlay Guide.

4. Add a Designer Finish with Rugs

Rugs are the bridge between flooring and furniture, they bring a room together, add warmth, and create a sense of harmony. Even in carpeted rooms, rugs add layering, one of the biggest secrets of luxury interiors.

How to make rugs work like a designer:

• Size up. Rugs should sit under your key furniture (sofa, dining table, or bed) to look intentional.

• Play with texture. Think wool, jute, or shag, they add visual and tactile interest.

• Layer - with subtlety. Try a neutral base with a patterned accent or runner on top.

• Stick to timeless tones. Stone, oatmeal, and charcoal work with everything.
  
  

“A rug acts like a frame for your furniture — it defines the space and brings harmony to the whole room.”

- Carpet Court

Explore our curated Weave Rug Collection for timeless textures and designer finishes.

5. Finish the Look: Light, Height, and Flow

Once your flooring is sorted, your next step is refinement. Lighting, curtains, and styling are the final touches that make a home feel finished.

A few small tricks with big impact:

• Let in the light. Choose soft, natural tones and reflective textures to make spaces feel calm and bright.

• Hang curtains high and wide. It elongates walls and gives rooms a grander feel.

• Layer your materials. Combine timber with linen, wool, or matte metals for depth and texture.

• Keep it simple. Luxury is as much about restraint as it is about richness, give your pieces room to breathe.
  
  

For beautifully made curtains and blinds that complement your Carpet Court flooring, visit us at CurtainStudio.

So If You Want An Expensive Home, Without The Expense… 

Luxury isn’t about having more, it’s about making better choices. A few thoughtful upgrades can completely change how your home looks and feels. Start from the ground up: choose flooring that flows, underlay that comforts, and textures that invite you to stay a little longer.

So if you’re ready to enhance your home value without breaking the bank, head on down to your local Carpet Court to chat with one of our instore experts or explore Carpet Court’s range of carpets, laminates, underlays and rugs online, and discover just how truly effortless everyday luxury can be.

FAQs

1. What’s the easiest way to make my home look expensive?
Start with your floors. Wide-plank laminate, soft carpet, and thick underlay instantly add a sense of quality and calm, both visually and underfoot.

2. What’s one small change that makes a big difference?
Underlay. It’s hidden, but it changes how everything feels, from the way your home sounds to how your carpet bounces.

3. Do rugs really make that much impact?
Absolutely. Rugs anchor your furniture, soften acoustics, and make rooms feel cohesive. They’re the simplest way to add warmth and polish.