6 Color Updates to Make Your Home Feel More Expensive, Experts Say
Sarah Cherry
Updated on February 23, 2026
Some homeowners are willing to do whatever it takes to increase the value of their house. Unfortunately, many of these upgrades or renovations can be both costly and time-consuming, to the extent that they might not feel worth the investment. But that doesn't mean you can't get a more luxurious look through smaller switch-ups. In fact, just utilizing different hues in certain ways can help elevate your space, according to experts. Read on to discover six color updates that can instantly make your home feel more expensive.
RELATED: 7 Tips to Make Your Living Room Look Expensive Without Breaking the Bank.
1 Paint your front door black.
Switching up the hues in your home might seem like a very involved process: Sometimes you make one change and feel like you have to keep the changes rolling, because your space no longer matches.
But David Ambrogio, a home improvement expert and the owner of NOLA Wholesale Properties, says painting your front door black is an easy upgrade that won't require you to make others, if you don't want to.
"A black front door makes a bold statement without being overwhelming, and it serves as a perfect neutral background that works with any exterior decor," Ambrogio explains. "Plus, it adds the right amount of pop to any home exterior without clashing with anything else you have going on outside."
RELATED: "Moody" Paint Colors Can Increase Your Home's Value, New Study Says.
2 Change the color of your fireplace.
Old brick fireplaces are a common sight in many people's homes, and a simple color change here can make all the difference, according to Daniel A. Herg, a household design expert and head of marketing at DecorAndDecor.
"A red brick fireplace, although classy, can look old and worn when not maintained," he cautions. "And if you have a more modern home, it tends to cheapen the look."
Herg advises homeowners make a switch to light gray, white, or black for their fireplaces.
"This color change makes it feel much more expensive and luxurious," he says.
RELATED: The 10 Worst Paint Colors for Your Home, Experts Say.
3 Go for gold accents.
Gold colors can really "elevate your space," Artem Kropovinsky, an interior designer and founder of Arsight, says. But that doesn't mean you need to suddenly slap a layer of shimmering paint on your walls. Instead, Kropovinsky recommends utilizing gold accents throughout your space.
"Whether it's in the form of gilded picture frames, light fixtures, or small decor pieces, these touches can infuse a regal, high-end feel into your home," he says. "Gold stands for opulence and wealth—it's an immediate identifier of luxury."
Jay Sanders, a contractor and owner of the home remodeling company Castle Dream Construction, also advises homeowners to switch out their standard outlet covers and light switch covers for gold ones.
"Most homes come with basic white everything because it is often the cheapest option," Sanders says. "Once you switch out the basic white to a premium choice, the room looks more valuable and high-end."
4 Don't forget your green.
Adding some greenery to your home is one of the most simple and cost-effective ways to transform it, according to Anthony Lara, a home decorator and owner of residential painting company Picazzo Painting.
"Really, indoor plants and even just a simple vase can make a space more luxurious," he says.
Lara advises putting a few flowers in a bud vase and adding it to your dining room, foyer, or even on a coffee table.
"If you're not a fan of taking care of plants, you can also look for a few stalks of high-end imitation foliage that can be used all year in a variety of situations," he adds.
RELATED: 8 Indoor Plants That Keep Bugs Away, According to Experts.
5 Leave your larger pieces neutral.
A bright yellow couch can certainly make for an interesting conversation starter. But if you want your home to have more of that "high-end feel," you should stick to neutral colors for your large furniture items, according to Bob Thomas, a retired painter and decorator with an expertise in color theory and interior design.
This includes colors like beige, gray, or taupe.
"Neutrals convey a sense of simplicity and elegance and can work with a wide range of other colors," he explains.
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6 But go a bit bolder for your walls.
When it comes to the walls of a home, neutral colors are still best, Murat Yashar, an interior designer at House of Worktops, tells Best Life. But they need to be richer and deeper than what you might lean toward with your larger furniture pieces—like charcoal gray, navy blue, or mild taupe, according to Yashar.
"These colors produce a sophisticated and opulent backdrop that immediately elevates the space," he says. "Additionally, darker neutrals add depth and intimacy, elevating the ambiance of the space."
Kali Coleman Kali Coleman is a Senior Editor at Best Life. Her primary focus is covering news, where she often keeps readers informed on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and up-to-date on the latest retail closures.Read moreFiled UnderDecor • HomeRead This Next"Moody" Paint Colors Increase Your Home's Value
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