7 On-a-Budget Ways to Make Your Home Look Like a Million Bucks

What are your beautiful throws, towels and coverlets doing hiding in the closet? Lester is a huge fan of putting your prized soft goods out on display for everyday enjoyment. (Think: a blanket draped over the back of a sofa or a stack of your best towels on a stool in the bathroom.)

You’ve heard us wax poetic about the wonders of greenery before, but let this photo and pro tip from Lester serve as a reminder: A few branches placed in a big ole’ vase adds serious wow factor…for absolutely no cost.

Hats, baskets, scarves and even a well-placed pair of rain boots make for super-lovely foyer decor. “My personal favorite trick is to arrange a grouping of straw hats in all shapes and sizes,” says Lester. “It adds so much dimension.”

One chic and easy room update? Create a small reading nook where there wasn’t one before. (Hint: Break up your living room layout by moving a cozy chair, small cocktail table and plant to a sunny corner.)

Stacks on stacks on stacks of coffee table books are the ultimate shortcut for a professionally styled look. Hit up flea markets and used book stores for cheapies—then group them three-deep across your coffee table, topped with treasured tchotchkes.

Ever heard of printable art? It's exactly what it sounds like: Many e-tailers, like Etsy and Juniper Print Shop, sell high-resolution artwork downloads—which you can print at home (or email to your local print shop) and frame yourself on the cheaps. “Print the art on watercolor paper,” says Lester. “This adds a little texture and a more luxurious feel to the piece.”