My philosophy with home design is that it’s all in the details. I frequently tell my mom, “update the trim, add some wainscoting” and she never seemed to understand it. When we finally did complete those updates, it felt like a new house. I live in a 1960s split-level (it is somewhat mid-century modern, but the architecture isn’t angular enough to design it that way, so we chose a traditional style design).

1. Vaulted Ceilings

Helpful fact about vaulted ceilings: they can increase your home value by up to 25%. Typically, for a 20×20 sq ft. room, you can expect this renovation to cost around $25k. It might seem like a high price to pay for such a small change, but vaulting the ceiling adds luxury to a house and creates the illusion that the room is larger than it actually is. I recommend adding skylights to bring in natural light and make the room feel even larger.

2. Wainscoting

It might not seem necessary, but wainscoting can make a big impact in the overall vibe of the home. There are different styles of wainscoting to match your home. There’s modern, traditional, transitional, etc. Different styles require different skill levels, but there are styles of wainscoting that you can install yourself.

These two styles are somewhat simple to do yourself if you can swing a hammer.

Traditional Style

Modern Style

However, this one is much more complex to install and requires a professional.

Transitional/Craftsman

While it might seem like a small, unimportant feature, new trim can really make a house more modern. If your house was built between 1950-1995, your trim may need replacing. This is because houses built after World War 2 often have cheaper, shorter trim. Victorian houses and more modern houses have thicker, more detailed trim and it makes all the difference in the world. Experimenting with painting trim gray or black can be an amazing contrast with white walls (if the style fits your house).

4. Ceiling Accents

You might be lead to believe that no one will look up so it must be unimportant, but ceiling accent designs are rather eye-catching. In the photo below, you can see in the center portion of the ceiling, there is knotty-pine paneling. Although paneling on walls is out, putting it on the ceiling is in. Even if the wood look isn’t for you, try a coffered ceiling or contrasting paint.

Conclusion

It’s the little things that matter. Detail is everything (at least in my opinion) and having fine craftsmanship will create a feeling of sophistication throughout your home.