Add a touch of luxury to your 2025 home makeover

At this time of year, you may have made it your January resolution to upgrade your home. And while a loft extension or a bit of painting may seem the obvious options, one thing you may not have considered is improving your residence to give it some luxury appeal.

There are more reasons for doing this than you may have realised. A sophisticated, comfortable space, for example, reflects your style and contributes to your overall wellbeing. At the same time, you should add value to your home if and when you decide to move on.

And with remote working meaning more of us spending time at home, you’ll no doubt appreciate having well-curated indoor and outdoor space to enjoy.

What gives a place the look of luxury?

A lot of it comes down to the way you dress your space, plus the quality of your materials. Probably the first thing to do is have a good declutter – a cluttered home hardly screams ‘expensive and luxurious’.

Here are some other ideas for creating a des res:

1. Make a statement with lighting

You don’t need to live in a Downton Abbey-style pile to invest in an elegant chandelier. And whatever the style of your property, there are plenty of models to choose from – what’s more, they don’t have to cost a fortune.

2. Upgrade your stairs

While this idea may not have sprung immediately to mind, you can transform the look of your place with a refinished balustrade or banister, or freshly painted stair risers.

3. Have wood flooring rather than carpets

Warm underfoot, long-lasting and natural-looking, wooden floors always look desirable and will set the tone for the whole room. Any space is given a touch of luxury and class with wood flooring, especially if you go for real timber.

4. Display the art that you love

Choosing art for your home can initially seem a daunting prospect, with texture, shape, size and colours and positioning all key considerations. But bare walls can just look empty. Don’t rush, and focus on pieces you genuinely love and which fit and suit the space well. You can build up your art over months; equally, consider fine art prints which could offer a superb alternative to original artwork and transform any space while, again, making it look very elegant.

5. Quality outdoor furniture

Quality materials can make a home look expensive without breaking the bank, and that extends to the pieces you have in the garden or other open-air area. Invest in teak outdoor chairs as part of a gorgeous garden furniture set, for example, and you’ll be buying quality, longevity and lasting style.

After all, this wonderful hardwood is renowned for its almost unmatchable robustness and resistance to the elements. Equally, low-maintenance teak stands firms against pests, moisture and the effects of time thanks to its plentiful natural oils, while bringing both luxury and practicality to outside spaces. Indeed, few, if any, other materials provide quite the same feeling of luxury and elegance. What’s more, its history and tradition of use in quality items dates back centuries.