A stylish, inviting bedroom is all in the details, yet choose the wrong features, and you can unintentionally cheapen the look of your space. By Angela Patrone, Senior Lifestyle Reporter PUBLISHED: 04:13, Sun, Jun 14, 2026
There are not many areas in your home that match the distinctive charm of your bedroom – the space you often turn to for peaceful moments of tranquillity and relaxation, and maybe even the place where you feel free to experiment with bolder home decor choices than in other parts of your house. It is completely natural to want your bedroom to look its best. However, certain decorating cliches can give a home a cheap appearance, and this can certainly apply to the bedroom as well. With this in mind, interior designers have shared a few of the factors that contribute to a bedroom looking inexpensive and what you should steer clear of.
Viscose and Polyester Curtains
For those who are fans of curtains over blinds in bedrooms, it is best to choose ones that look plush while also efficiently moderating light in the room. Saba Kapoor, co-founder of Nivasa, told Livingetc you should avoid viscose curtains at all costs, as they make a room look cheap. The designer said, “This semi-synthetic curtain usually gives a cheap look and feel to the room. If you want your curtains to look light and flowy, go for lace or breezy cotton.” Another curtain fabric to steer clear of is polyester. Though cheap on the pocket, this material takes away the sumptuousness from a room and can never give a rich look, however beautiful the design is.
Matching Furniture
Although intended to unify the room, it can sometimes produce the opposite effect, as noted by Samantha-Jane Agbontaen, an interior designer and founder of House Designer. She said, “In my opinion, matchy-matchy is a tacky move. Furniture, rugs and curtains all from the same collection; it can look like a showroom, not a home. The fix is mixing designs; don’t buy everything from one shop.”
Faux Gold
Gold accents add warmth and a sense of value to a space, but they can end up contributing to tackiness, especially as they age. Samantha-Jane pointed out, “Tacky gold accessories tend to look more yellow than polished brass. It is very clear when it is cheap.” The designer’s expert tip is to never mix chrome and brass together. She says to stick to one finish and don't let it be overwhelming.
Metal Blinds
Metal blinds may look okay in some office settings, but “they look sad in a bedroom”, where window treatments should be soft and inviting, warned Antoinette Allande Anderson, the founder of Antoinette Allande Interiors. Nonetheless, her advice does not mean that you should entirely avoid blinds on your windows. Instead, she pointed out that wood blinds are okay because they are natural and have a warm shade but claimed that fabric Roman shades or drapes are ideal.
Beds Without Headboards
According to interior designers at Online Bedrooms, having no headboards is a “big no-no” when it comes to bedroom design, as you will be left thinking “something is missing” every time you step into the room. They said: “It cheapens the appearance of the bed and looks like little effort has been put into decorating the space.” A headboard can serve as a focal point in a bedroom's decor. For anyone seeking a simple method to enhance their bedroom's appearance, choosing a headboard could be the perfect solution. Available in a wide range of materials and styles, the ideal headboard can provide a beautiful backdrop, allowing the bed to stand out from the wall in multiple ways.
