How-To

7 Items That Make Your Home Look “Low Quality,” According to Interior Designers

Kelsey Clark ·
Scandinavian living room with cream sofa, wooden chairs, geometric rug, and neutral palette creating airy, cohesive space

Like fashion, good style at home doesn’t come down to budget — it comes down to taste. In fact, we strongly believe that you can easily create a unique, luxurious home on a Home Goods budget with a little digging and a vision (and maybe a good DIY or two).

But, a few common faux pas can hold your aesthetic back — even with the best of intentions. Our designers believe that certain cookie-cutter items and design mishaps have a way of cheapening a home, regardless of actual money spent.

Ahead, Havenly designers get candid about what not to do if you’re looking to create a luxe, design-forward space — keep scrolling for their candid thoughts on cheap faux pas.

1. Builder-grade lighting

Traditional bedroom with mustard velvet headboard, floral curtains, and soft neutral bedding in warm, inviting setting

Let’s face it: builder-grade light fixtures are just begging to be upgraded, from kitchen island pendants to bathroom vanity fixtures and beyond. Swapping the plastic Home Depot drum light for something more eye-catching will help you create a more personalized, high-end look in your home. Don’t leave the $10 boob lights up for eternity — even a simple IKEA lantern pendant can make a space look more design-forward for as little as $5.

2. Too small area rugs

Farmhouse dining room with round wood table, brass pendant, charcoal walls, and floor-to-ceiling curtains

In our humble opinion, a four-by-six area rug floating between a sofa and accent chairs just screams “college house.” Thanks to brands like Wayfair, Overstock, Rugs USA, and more, you can get a beautiful eight-by-ten rug that will properly fit your space for just a few hundred dollars. Investing in a properly-sized area rug will ensure that your space feels cozy, warm, and most importantly, finished.

3. Matching furniture sets

Modern rustic living room with exposed beams, terracotta accents, high ceilings, and light-filled contemporary aesthetic

We’ve said this before, and we’ll say it again: matching furniture sets — whether in the living room, bedroom, or basement — can easily make a room feel like a furniture superstore. Skip the matching sofa and accent chairs combo in favor of pieces that offer different shapes, silhouettes, and materials, like in the above living room. This contrast makes a space feel artful and unique, as opposed to cookie-cutter, and you can easily bring the look to life on a budget.

4. Cliche word art

Contemporary kitchen with exposed brick, white cabinetry, marble island, and brass fixtures in warm industrial style

We always recommend avoiding generic printed quotes, particularly on wood blocks, that read, “Live, Laugh, Love” or “Keep Calm…” You get it. Instead, fill your home with art that holds some meaning to you — whether purchased while traveling, discovered at a local flea market, passed down from a loved one, or simply a scene that makes you feel something. Of course, if the aforementioned word art does that for you, then by all means, go for it! (And we mean that.)