Affordable interior design tricks…….I’m writing this from my Queens apartment, feet tucked under me on a couch I got secondhand from a woman in Astoria who swore it was “barely sat on” (it definitely had a life before me). There’s a mug ring on the coffee table. The plant in the corner is technically alive. And the lighting? Soft. Cozy. Expensive-looking-ish.
Here’s the thing though: I did not spend expert-level money to get it this way. Not even close.
I’ve lived in enough NYC apartments to know that “affordable interior design tricks” aren’t just helpful—they’re survival skills. Because unless your side hustle is secretly a hedge fund, most of us are trying to make our homes feel nice without eating ramen for six months straight.
And yeah, I’ve watched the design shows. I’ve scrolled the perfectly curated feeds. I’ve heard the experts talk about “investment pieces” with a straight face. Meanwhile, I’m over here thinking, Investment?? I just paid ConEd.
So this is me, talking to you, coffee in hand, spilling the affordable interior design tricks the experts do not want you to know—or at least don’t make money telling you. Some of these I learned the hard way and Some came from moments of panic at 11:47 p.m. when my apartment still didn’t feel right.
Let the writing breathe. The couch squeaks when I shift. We’re fine.
The lie we all bought into (and probably cried about once)
Somewhere along the line, we were told good design costs a lot. Like, a lot. As if style has a minimum spend requirement.
It doesn’t.
What it does require? A little patience. A little audacity. And the willingness to ignore advice that sounds like it came from someone who’s never lived with a radiator that hisses like it’s mad at you.
Affordable interior design tricks aren’t about cutting corners—they’re about cutting noise.
1. Paint is the biggest cheat code (and no one talks about it enough)
If I could legally tattoo one design tip on people, it would be this:
Paint changes everything.
Walls. Cabinets. Doors. That sad little bathroom vanity. I once painted a beat-up dresser and felt like I committed a small miracle.
Experts love to upsell furniture. But paint? Paint is cheap. And dramatic. And forgiving if you mess up a little (which you will).
Pro tip from someone who learned the hard way: sample first. I once painted a wall what I thought was warm beige and ended up with something that looked like a wet bandage.
We laugh now.
2. Lighting is doing more work than your furniture ever will
You know that overhead light that feels like it’s judging you?
Yeah. Turn it off.
Affordable interior design trick #2: lamps everywhere. Table lamps. Floor lamps. Even a tiny one on a shelf for vibes.
Warm bulbs only. Anything labeled “daylight” is lying to you.
3. Curtains: stop buying them short (please)
I didn’t know this for YEARS.
Curtains should go high. And long. Like they’re trying to touch the ceiling and the floor at the same time.
Short curtains make rooms feel… confused. Like they couldn’t commit.
Affordable interior design trick? IKEA curtains + higher curtain rods = instant drama. The good kind.
4. Your rug is probably too small (mine was)
I fought this advice forever. Rugs are expensive! I get it!
But a too-small rug makes the whole room look like it’s floating away.
One trick: layer rugs. Neutral base. Smaller patterned rug on top. Suddenly it’s intentional. Suddenly you’re interesting.
5. Secondhand is not a compromise—it’s a flex
I don’t care what anyone says: secondhand furniture has personality.
Facebook Marketplace. Craigslist. Thrift stores. Estate sales. That weird guy on the corner who always seems to have chairs.
Experts won’t tell you this because they can’t commission it.
But I’ve found some of my favorite pieces for less than the cost of a takeout order that didn’t even come with napkins.
6. Art doesn’t have to be “real art” (relax)
I have framed postcards. Kids’ drawings. A map I ripped out of a magazine.
Affordable interior design trick? Frame anything.
Frames elevate chaos. It’s science. Probably.
7. Mirrors = fake square footage
Put a mirror across from a window.
Boom. More light and More depth. More “oh wow, your place feels bigger.”
Experts call it design. I call it optical trickery and I love it.
8. Shelves don’t need to be styled like a showroom
This one took me forever to learn.
You don’t need to fill every inch and don’t need matching objects. You don’t need rules.
Some books. One weird object. Space to breathe.
Done.
9. Throw pillows are allowed to be mismatched
Matching sets are boring. Sorry.
Different textures. Different sizes. Same-ish color family.
Affordable interior design trick: pillow covers are cheap. Swap them seasonally. Instant refresh without buying new pillows every time like a maniac.
10. Plants (real or fake, no judgment)
Plants soften rooms. Period.
If you kill plants? Fake ones exist. They don’t call you out and don’t need sunlight. They don’t die out of spite.
11. The “one wall rule”
You don’t need to redo the whole room.
One accent wall. One wallpaper moment. One bold color.
Affordable interior design trick that feels brave but isn’t actually that risky.
12. Move your furniture away from the walls
I know. It feels illegal in small apartments.
Try it anyway. Even a few inches makes things feel intentional instead of “waiting room.”
13. Baskets hide sins
Cords. Blankets. Random stuff you don’t want to deal with right now.
Baskets don’t ask questions.
14. The power of repeating a color (quietly)
Pick one color. Repeat it in small ways.
Pillow. Book spine. Art. Mug.
It ties everything together without screaming.
15. Your bathroom deserves personality too
Bathrooms are always an afterthought. Why?
Fun shower curtain. Small rug. Art above the toilet (yes, art).
Affordable interior design tricks apply everywhere—even the room where you scroll your phone the longest.
16. Hardware swaps = instant upgrade
Cabinet knobs. Drawer pulls. Light switch plates.
Tiny changes. Big payoff.
Experts love renovations. I love a screwdriver.
17. Hide the cords like your life depends on it
Cords ruin vibes faster than bad Wi-Fi.
Cable clips. Cord covers. Strategic furniture placement.
You don’t need perfection—just less chaos.
18. Your home doesn’t need a theme
Not everything has to match a vibe or an aesthetic.
Your life isn’t a Pinterest board. It’s allowed to be layered and weird.
19. Thrift store frames are gold
Even if the art inside is terrible.
Swap the art. Keep the frame. Boom.
20. Break one “rule” on purpose
Hang art lower. Mix metals. Use a chair as a nightstand.
Experts hate this one simple trick (sorry, had to).
21. Scent is part of design (fight me)
Candles. Diffusers. Incense.
Your home should smell like you live there—not like packaging.
22. Let things evolve slowly
This is a big one.
The best homes aren’t done in a weekend. They grow and change. They collect stories.
Affordable interior design tricks often involve waiting—and being okay with that.
23. Rearranging is free (and underrated)
Before you buy anything… move stuff around.
I’ve “designed” entire rooms by just shifting furniture and pretending I’m a genius.
24. Not every room needs to impress people
Some rooms are just for you.
Messy. Cozy. Unapologetic.
That counts.
25. If you love it, it works
This is the secret experts don’t want you to know.
Taste isn’t something you buy.
It’s something you trust.
A couple places I love poking around:
- Apartment Therapy (still solid, still fun)
- Emily Henderson’s blog (great ideas, steal selectively)
