MANILA, Philippines — Award-winning interior designer IDr. Chat Fores shared expert tips in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on how to elevate home and condominium interiors to look “expensive” without a massive financial investment. The key, according to Fores, lies in layering design elements, repurposing existing items, and appealing to all five senses.
Expert Tips for a Luxurious Home:
1. The Living Room:
- Monochromatic Palette: Use a single neutral color (beige, gray, or white) for a sophisticated, cohesive look. Use textures to add visual interest.
- Vertical Lines: Install floor-to-ceiling curtains to create the illusion of height and volume, even for standard-sized windows.
- Layered Lighting: Use table or floor lamps with warm white bulbs and light-colored shades. Larger, generous lamp sizes often look more high-end than small ones.
- The “Sense” Strategy: Luxurious homes appeal to the senses. Fores emphasizes smell (clustering identical candles) and sound (using compact speakers that double as décor).
2. Bathrooms and Bedrooms:
- Hotel Vibes: Use all-white towels and bedsheets. In the bathroom, roll face towels in a basket and hang large bath towels on rods for a clean, spa-like feel.
- Clutter-Free: The fastest way to make a space feel high-end is to remove clutter and only keep essentials on bedside tables and counters.
- Artwork: Use quality frames with consistent matting (2 to 8 inches) to make simple prints or posters look like curated gallery pieces.
3. The Power of Repurposing:
- DIY Luxury: Turn an old patterned rug into upholstery for a bench or ottoman.
- Creative Upcycling: Convert a small mirror into a bathroom tray for toiletries or turn old toys and knick-knacks into a unique lamp base.
Conclusion
Chat Fores, founder of Chat Fores Design Studio, encourages homeowners to see beyond capital gains and focus on how a space feels. By layering neutral colors, quality fabrics, and warm lighting, any space can be transformed into a comfortable and elegant sanctuary.