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There are many explanations why someone might want their home to look more expensive. Maybe they want to make their surroundings more prosperous or maybe they want to sell their property soon. Paint color is a great way to make your interior look more expensive without going over budget, and there are some color combinations that look more “expensive” than others.
“Paint is one of the most useful and affordable ways to update your home,” says Shelby Van Daly, an interior designer at Daly House. “To be honest, an updated home will look more expensive by default.”
Part of this, Van Daly emphasizes, is cleaning and polishing your entryway, trim and walls. Van Daily adds that using different colors in your interior design can help create separate areas and give your home a more upscale look. This is especially true of your cabinets and millwork. She adds, “There are a gazillion paint options. To start choosing a paint, take color cues from artwork, rugs, or other textiles in the room.”
Painting a room dark, especially in small rooms, gives a sophisticated, grand impression, according to interior designer Christina Phillips of Christina Phillips Interior Design. Additionally, she says to pay attention to trim, adding that it can provide a darker tone or even a contrast color. bespoke, luxurious-feeling detail.”
Now that you have some ideas to start with, consider narrowing down your color choices to these “expensive” paint picks from our designers.
8 Paint Colors That Designers Say Make Your Home Look More Expensive
1) Dark Gray
Slate grey, which is dark and gloomy, is still popular and for good reason. By using different tints you can get the “expensive” effect you are trying for. For example, Phillips used British brand Little Green’s dark lead in a variety of finishes for trim and walls because she believes the warm gray-blue tone of the paint “coordinates brilliantly with a variety of wall coverings and brings an understated warmth to any room.”
Additionally, she uses Farrow & Ball’s downpipes in small bathrooms to “make it look instantly updated and attractive.” Van Daly has a soft spot for Sherwin-Williams’ Urban Bronze when it comes to dark grays. “This is the best option if you want dark inside cabinets or millwork.
2) Light Gray
Conversely, light gray is another color that can make a space appear larger. Although gray paint may be a safe option, it’s still a good option if you want to increase the value of your home. Phillips suggests gravitating toward creamy grays that lean toward taupe or gray to find the prettiest tones. Stormy Monday by Benjamin Moore which she describes as “almost lavender,” is her favorite color because it has a soothing quality and “looks deep and feels effortlessly sophisticated.”
3) White
Designers love Benjamin Moore’s White Dove for its “perfect, classic white” aspect, as Van Daly puts it. This is a color that generally works well for trim, doors and cabinets.
“It looks good with different wall colors,” says Van Daly. “To elevate the home, we use white trim in the main areas and additional paint colors for certain rooms.”
4) Off-White
Off-white, which is also in the white color family, is a great choice if you want to upgrade a room while maintaining a classic, grand aesthetic. While underlying tones can vary widely, Phillips admits that “finding the right off-white paint color can be difficult.” However, she specifically suggests Benjamin Moore’s Simply White as a tried-and-true classic. According to her, the color “looks rich and clean because it mixes just a hint of cream without any yellowness.”
5) Creamy Beige
Beige, with its sandy nature, which is not completely tan or white, can be used to warm up a space and give it the impression of being more expensive. Sherwin-Williams’ beige-hued Shoji White is a favorite interior wall color in the Daily Home.
It’s a “light, soft white that can look warm or cool depending on the lighting,” according to Van Daly. She usually uses color on the ceiling and walls with a matte finish.
6) Dark Green
Lately, dark green—which ranges from blue to forest green, which evokes pine trees—has grown increasingly fashionable. It has a strange way of making the room appear larger. Van Daly has Benjamin Moore’s Regent Green, a dark green shade.
“It’s ideal for a moody office,” she comments. “You can paint a bookshelf or an entire wall to create a gloomy, dark atmosphere. For an upgraded, upscale look, you can also consider painting the ceiling with a high-gloss finish.
7) Light Green
Another color that homeowners are increasingly adopting is sage or light green. It elevates rooms and fills them with color without being overwhelming. Van Daly’s preferred pale green? Author: Sherwin-Williams; sea salt
She describes it as “the ideal timeless light green with cool undertones” and says she likes to use it for built-ins, children’s play areas and bathroom vanities.
8) Crimson Red
A deep, crimson red color can really give the impression that the space is more expensive, even if it is somewhat sturdy. Indeed, Phillips claims that shades of red, like Little Green’s Baked Cherry, are ideal for adding richness and permanence to a space.
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