Million-dollar interiors on a budget

By Lisa Martin

Your interior can look rich without spending a ton of money. Seeking designer-chic on a budget so tight it squeaks?

Three nationally known designers offer tips for getting million-dollar looks that won’t wallop your wallet.

Design tips from Chris Madden, lifestyle guru and best-selling author:

• Snap too: “I love framing black and white photographs; above my tub, I hung nine that I’ve collected over the years. Photographs can be easily blown up and only need a nice, simple frame.”
• Bold strokes: Paint one wall a different color for an eye-popping accent wall, and do the painting yourself to save a lot of money!
• Treasure hunt: It can be very exciting and worthwhile to search your attic, basement, and garage for unique and exciting accessories like old books (which add instant charm to a desk or coffee table), old suitcases, hatboxes, or trunks.

Interior tricks from Marni Jameson, syndicated columnist and best-selling author:

• Break the mould: Mess around with moulding on a wall—add a chair rail and paint one color above, then another below.
• Shine on: “I did my entire master bath in metallic paint, which looks regal, but is cheap.”
• Tantalize with texture: When arranging accessories, remember texture. Place a wooden bowl on a glass-topped table. The contrast works.
• Dim some: Put dimmer switches on everything, even in your closets. For every 10% you dim a light, you save 10% in energy and double the life of the bulb. So, you wind up using half the energy while making the bulb last five times as long!

And bold ideas from Kristan Cunningham, lead designer of HGTV’s “Design on a Dime”

• Wow walls: Comb your local thrift stores, estate sales, and flea markets for artwork that speaks to you. Buy some modern frames and bring the works you’ve chosen up to date.
• Go for bold: Add some glamour to the bathroom, the smallest room in your home, by being bold with the wall color. After all, you don’t have to spend hours on end in here, so you can use a deep, rich hue and not risk getting sick of it.
• Simple chic: Keep your accessories simple and elegant—no big bowls of potpourri, shell-shaped soaps, or cartoon shower curtains! Remember, less is more here, and that means less out of your wallet as well.