Interior Design Mistakes Making Your Home Look Cheap

[@socalsal627]

I grew up so poor that when I finally had money to buy a bedroom set where the furniture matched I was so happy I almost cried. I really felt rich! So it is definitely a relative thing as far as how we interpret stuff. I agree now that more variety is better, but that memory humbles me and makes me feel grateful for everything I have.

[@mwoods4608]

mis match definitely takes me back to childhood with garage sales or college with hand me downs. Buying a matching set of living room or bedroom furniture made me feel adult & financially stable. Plus Im not good at matching different styles of things. I don't know how to put together two different wood dressers & have them look nice, let alone two different things in the living room. It would look awful!

[@supernova622]

Redacting my comment because I hadn't gotten to this part of the video and Nick used "cohesive" and "matchy matchy" enough for both of us

[@marilynhult]

I love matchy, matchy. Just can’t help myself

[@RoslynMoore-c3q]

We have heaters under our windows, fire risk with material on heaters,

[@terri4353]

Exactly!!!❤

[@misslauren881]

When my husband and I moved into our first, little, bachelor, apartment; my mom took me shopping at a Winners/ Homesense for things we would need in the apartment. I saw a print of a painting I really liked. It was a bit abstract, but had a serene feeling. Like trees being reflected in water, but it was so close up you could barely tell. I showed my mom and she said "it's beautiful, but don't buy it, I'll make you one just like it". And she did. Except the one she made is way better. Her grandmother was a skilled palette knife painter in Montreal. She thrifted an old canvas print, white washed it and palette knife painted it. It's not only colorful, but beautifully textured. And she put splashes of gold metallic paint here and there, so it shimmers at sunset. It makes my home feel like a sophisticated, adult, space, with a touch of whimsy.

[@M.Campbell]

Original art is the best!

[@feebleweevil]

@@M.Campbell Yes! There's life to something painted by a real live person. You can mix in photographs, prints etc, but an original painting can really liven up a space or gallery wall. Even if it's teeny tiny.

[@grutarg2938]

I love decorating with the art of my family, even if it’s not perfect. It reminds me of them.

[@rdean1982]

Awwwww, I love this!

[@lilolmecj]

What fun! My daughter is a watercolorist and most of our artwork is her work.

[@Missunderstood103]

I fell in love with a very simple desert scene watercolor at my local Good Will. My friend did not like the 'old piece of junk'. She buys new. Anyway, it turned out to be an original Mongolian watercolor signed and in great shape. The last one like it sold for 650.$ Now she decided she likes it... But I really could care less about it's monetary value. It's simply beautiful.

[@merriestroscher5795]

You clearly have the "eye".

[@AngelBabe]

Oh yes .. that was a good find 💯

[@katattack907]

What an exciting find! It's always so much more fun to go treasure hunting than shopping.

[@jessiemayfield6749]

So much better than mass market nonsense from Amazon or wayfair

[@jeffbguarino]

Half of this stuff is in the mind and it is in continuous flux. They did a test with wines. A very expensive wine and a cheap one. Carefully took off the labels and switched them. Then took people at the wine store for tests. They all thought the expensive label tasted better. So this was all in the mind. Only professional wine tasters knew the difference. Still you might like the taste of a cheap wine better, because it is a personal thing. Look at some of the art for sale that is millions of dollars. It is really junk and I would not pay much if anything for it. If someone gave me one of these , I would of course take it and sell it but a lot of real garbage being sold. Hunter Biden comes to mind.

[@suemiller3405]

Our family has a portrait of a fake ancestor that has actually been passed down because we love the joke of a fake ancestor!

[@cq8822]

I fully support this! Do you have a fun family. 😁

[@mpazinambao2938]

😂nice

[@stellacalder5023]

lol we have the same thing. We call him "Sir Redcoat." My aunt has him now, but my grandparents had him first and all three siblings have "babysat" him by now.

[@joanvoss7512]

Lmao

[@sheilaking8511]

I do the same. The fake ancestor family is better looking too.😂

[@berlinorama]

I agree with most of this, but full bookshelves (especially with books people actually read and/or consult) never look cheap to me.

[@limonade2684]

Dark academia is a trend with tons of open shelving.

[@lobstermash]

Agreed! And a house without books, no matter what the cost of the furnishings, just looks downmarket. The only thing worse is people who buy second-hand books and use them as "styling" objects.

[@purpurina5663]

@@lobstermashcould t agree more. I always notice in "reno" shows (and in Supernanny!) that there's never any books 😂 and then in AD celebrity home tours they have purely decorative volumes. Personal pet peeve: the Tom Ford coffee table book.

[@amg9163]

@purpurina5663 When I was as selling my NYC apartment a few years ago, the real estate agent didn't force me to clear out my furniture, so it stayed. The real estate listing photos had some additions photoshopped in, including some plants, a fruit bowl in the kitchen and a *_"Chanel"_* book on the coffee table. I laughed hysterically since it was my apartment and never *chic enough* for a designer's book. But, I shouldn't complain at all, since my apartment sold for above asking price. 😁

[@erum.m]

@@purpurina5663 That Tom Ford book... seriously ... why!!? I am going to scream if I see it one more time lol.

[@Nemilla]

Cropped curtains are unfortunately a MUST during winters, when you have radiators under every window. They blast full heat (central heating) and you are not supposed to cover them with anything which prevents the warmth spreading around - or is a fire hazard. This might not be clear if you live in a warmer country, but the radiators here in Scandinavia/Nordics even have the text: "do NOT cover". During summers I let my curtains kiss the floor, but when October comes with the snow and cold, I pin them up with safety pins. Comfort and safety come before style! Form follows function!

[@nithyadevadoss7891]

Exactly this! I leave my long curtains open if I have guests and just use blinds. On my own I shut the curtains and stuff the bottoms onto the windowsill - so ugly but a bit more insulating.

[@MegaMiaow]

Same for UK. I guess because he's from US it's not something he can understand. I don't really agree that short curtains mean cheap either. It's just a different length and style.

[@ktfd9480]

@@MegaMiaow he is from Vancouver, Canada, lol. Also, people from the US get cold winters, think of Illinois, Montana, Washington, etc.

[@jessiemayfield6749]

Heat safe radiator covers can prevent things from melting if they touch the heat and look better for safety and aesthetics combined

[@jeffbguarino]

@@ktfd9480 Yes but in Canada I don't think there are many houses with Radiators. We all have forced air Natural Gas furnaces. We do have a vent near most windows but that is on the floor. Drapes don't generally give much insulation. Windows do , so get the tri pane windows with low E. I had the old tri panes and they were cold when it was -35 outside but the new ones are warm to the touch. Put your palm on the glass.

[@rtallgal6871]

I remember when it looked cheap to have all mismatched hand-me-downs. Only rich people could afford a matching set. I love that my 35-year-old mixed junk makes me look rich now!!

[@limonade2684]

So true. Matching furniture was until now the most expensive. It was a proof that you had a lot of money at a specific day. Every castle makes matchy matchy for 24 guests or more.

[@pamelakrumvieda3153]

Yep, my gen X brain saw all the matching furniture and couldn't help it.

[@user-kpkxgtj]

This comment just goes to show that everything is "trendy" at some point, and eventually most (if not all of us) will find ourselves on the wrong side of a trend. We should just go ahead and do exactly what we want 😅

[@staceyschmidt3149]

​@@user-kpkxgtj To me, the difference is in quality of items bought. If you have your own eclectic taste, but you collected your furniture from second hand store and you were selective about it and managed to curate a high end furniture, or solid wood furniture collection, not the pressed oatmeal stuff, _and you like it_ , that counts far more than if you're "on trend" or not. That way, even if your style isn't the new "now" thing style-wise, it's still has class. And class is timeless.

[@LlyleHunter]

My objective in having a collection instead of matching furniture is to make it look like I’ve traveled and collected pieces along my travels

[@bricksloth6920]

"We don't live laugh love it anymore, we never really did" -- 😂🤣😆

[@coastaldiva]

He’s a riot!

[@popeye089]

I own a home in the south. It’s going strong down here

[@Joy-io7xl]

Needed: Different level of light behind you (dining room) and corner floor light or tall modern light for cabinet on right in corner. You are missing the depth of light behind you. You are NOT missing on your choice of words and humor on the opening. Well Done!

[@prestigeworldwide5239]

I technically live in the north and every house is filled with word signs. It's ridiculous! My stepDIL, who lives in the city, has an 8 ft. sign that reads "FARMHOUSE". They're out of control, people! @@popeye089

[@ΒύρωναςΛαδιάς]

@@Joy-io7xli don’t get it?

[@lori452]

There was an artist where I am from who started out selling his pieces really reasonably on the roadside out of his car. Lord they were lovely and I remember making my husband turn the car around to go back and get his pieces! Now his art is at a gallery and I can’t afford it anymore, but I did get about 10 of his pieces,now worth 10 times the price I paid back then, some of which are hanging neatly all over my home ❤

[@richardadams6988]

@@lori452 Sounds like a great investment !

[@noth9617]

My uncle has his art in galleries all over the world. My parents shed was full of pieces he did when he was younger that my mum cleared out of her parents house. I have three of his pieces, a couple of which are signed and dated from when he was a teenager. The other isn't, but I still love ot

[@brianbryant1336]

"Who buys a boob light? They just appear in the wild." Man's out here treating lighting like a Pokémon. 🤣 Love your channel.

[@siaeva]

I was about to write this quote, you beat me to it, hilarious!!

[@susanma4899]

Even Team Rocket would give those boob lights a pass.

[@CrossCultural-c7f]

😂😂😂

[@bberdan6603]

Haha. Yes but the house we bought in the cadance community in henderson nv (new Woodside homes) came with 3 installed booby lights and since we were the last build house on the street it came with 9 boxes of unopened booby lights. At least the unopened could be donated.

[@DoinItForJohnny]

@bberdan6603 Oh no they're multiplying!!!

[@cidercik]

Ok, if you look at all the cropped curtain photos have a radiator below them. It's pretty standard here in the UK, no choice but to have cropped curtains or freeze.

[@vaderladyl]

They love to talk trash about shorter curtains here in the USA but they are a legit decor item, and can really look cute when executed well. Many countries appreciate them.

[@tammiejo]

I have short ones in my daughters room I hung to block light when she was an infant- def time to change them out but you also don’t want a baby pulling a curtain rod out of the wall and risking harm. Time and place for everything 🤷‍♀️

[@jayburris6252]

It is not true that drapes can’t come in contact with water or steam radiators. You may also have an option to have the drapes hang on either side of the window and radiators. Then add a simple shade actually block light or add privacy.

[@MyFocusVaries]

​@@tammiejoWe put in blackout pulldown blinds inside the frame in my son's room when he was a baby

[@diannaliggitt360]

USA here, and I have heating ducts under several of my windows. I love longer curtains but the shorter ones don’t block air flow. Sometimes you just have to make the practical choice.

[@GeorgeP1066]

My grandfather used to make a lot of money by buying bad paintings with high quality frames from thrift stores. He'd then take the paintings out of the frames, buy a book of prints of traditional paintings (countryside scenes, ships at sea, etc) and stick one of the prints in each frame and then sell them on for a handsome profit. The lesson is that if you see a cheap painting you like, but with an ugly frame, or a cheap ugly painting with a beautiful frame, then just buy it and replace the bit you don't like and BAM, high quality artwork to put on the wall.

[@richardadams6988]

@@GeorgeP1066 Sounds like a winner ! Your grandfather was ahead of the times !!! Hahaha

[@dreabenson7228]

I live in a manufactured home and it was under $30 thousand when I bought it at age 28 yrs old. I’ve had to replace molding, door frames, faucets, sinks, and about to change to cupboards. The changes I’ve made has made a huge difference in the quality of the look of the house.

[@drchristiv]

30k

[@kimbershark]

I bought mine for $48k and it’s now worth $153k 😊 it’s in a VERY rich area so I’m sure that helps. It would be worth even more if we own the land. But still, not bad for what it was bought for.

[@richardadams6988]

@@dreabenson7228 Maybe you should become a designer !!!

[@selenacordeiro1458]

⁠@@kimbersharkthat’s crazyyyy. In Ontario we haven’t seen a house being sold for $150,000 in about 20 years. And even then it would’ve been a very tiny and dated, almost run down, semi at that. 😅 Send help, we’re struggling here.

[@kimbershark]

@@selenacordeiro1458 if it wasn’t for finding this deal I would still be living in an apartment. Houses are crazy expensive here in Washington state

[@michellegiacalone1079]

I have a generic art and quote. It's a tree silhouette. The quote says "What matters most in life are quotes and stuff that tell you what life is really about. And here's a picture of a tree." Very GenX. I love it.

[@michellegiacalone1079]

Also 6:47 - I despise fringe on furniture. It exists to look tatty.

[@michellegiacalone1079]

PPS: I love wood floors, but the vast majority of us can't afford that sh*t.

[@marybethmiller4461]

I freaking love that! Where did you find it?

[@cc1k435]

​@@michellegiacalone1079Yeah, it needs to already be there and in need of refinishing. 😂

[@catherined4584]

I hand painted a couple of wreaths with these sayings in them (I keep them on the fridge): “Trite Sentiment,” and “Meaningless Platitude.” I made them for Christmas decor but couldn’t bear to take them down. 😂

[@KR-ue1gd]

In at least 2 of the "cropped curtain" photos you showed, the curtains were cropped because there was a radiator under the window. I think that's a good reason to keep curtains short! Let's NOT set the house on fire with curtains long enough to rest on a radiator or slip behind it. Other good reasons: to keep curtains above the floor: small children, cats, dust.

[@Trammiliin_nr2]

Jep, I had to cut my curtains shorter when my pets kept messing with them. They wanted to take naps under the radiator, but couldn't figure the curtains out. And now I also have a dust robot that can't deal with long curtains :D Also, I have a tiny rug for the pet reason. Because I live in a cold and muddy country and I have pets, I want my rug to be easily accessible. I usually vacuum it from both sides, sometimes I need to beat it and sometimes I take it to the rug cleaners. I can't imagine lifting the furniture each time I need to clean the rug. So I have a tiny rug, just the same width as my sofa, so I can easily remove and clean it without rearranging my furniture once a week.

[@rainbomg]

Good reason or no, it rarely looks so good it gets into magazines. You’re not seeing a lot of cropped curtains in images shared for their aesthetic purposes. Life jackets are ugly but practical, heck, they’re required! But when I’m looking for ideas on what to wear to an event, I’m not looking at practical, safe outfits for boat rides. If I were, I’d look up “window dressings for windows over radiators” instead of point out that this “great looks for spring” video doesn’t take into account that I’m going to be on a boat so it has to work with a life vest

[@marymarymillidweeb2661]

This week you hit the perfect balance of ribbing people's decor choices, apologetic groveling, taking a defiant stand - it IS your channel! - a dash of bitterness with a smidge of love and a large helping of good natured humour! I love your channel and look forward every week to a new episode. Thanks so much.

[@katrintobing3525]

Well said!

[@arizonashopper5095]

You summed it up perfectly!

[@katie7748]

Unlike certain others, he's sassy...not catty. I can't stand catty.

[@richardadams6988]

@marymarymillidweeb2661 I told my family, when I pass ,they could put a sign outside " EVERYTHING A DOLLAR " they laughed !!!

[@strawberrydialectics]

people say its expensive to get art but thrift stores & charity shops often have amazing art

[@mimmikibilly]

I got some at art fairs, some were gifted to me and yes, some thrift stores or flea markets have nice art. It doesn't have to be famous to be good.

[@GenericAccountVLR]

So true!!! Even just the frames and throw out the art and replace with a print or painting you like. Incredible savings, and the house looks more established and rich, IMO.

[@MmeO]

I think it depends on where you live.

[@M.Campbell]

Finding an unknown, but talented, local artist is the best thing that you can do. They can be very affordable and if you buy periodically, over time, they'll love you for it and work with you. If they're truly good the art will appreciate in value too. Art is so much more meaningful if you know the artist and the story behind the piece.

[@cjseckinger8796]

I volunteer in a thrift store and we do get some pretty amazing art/prints/photos regularly. I’ve actually bought a couple of pieces that I still appreciate years later.

[@GrungeGalactica]

As a carpenter/joiner who works with hardwoods like oak and ash, I’m happy you’re promoting natural materials & attention to detail. I laid an ash floor in our kitchen, literally sawmilled the tree trunk, to get the most out of the grain, staked them in the kiln machined the planks etc; it’s the best part of our kitchen- if I do say so myself 😋. But I can understand why people choose the cheap, low maintenance option too.

[@eleanorwalmsley635]

I would love to see your kitchen floor 💖💖💖💖💖 Sounds amazing

[@selenacordeiro1458]

Beautiful! If I could I would do all natural hardwood but it’s too expensive for me. And also my dogs claws would probably destroy it within the year 😭

[@bookllama8158]

Surely changing flooring every seven years is still too often? 😳If your flooring is such bad quality that you have to change it that often, then you're not saving any money by choosing the cheaper option, because you will have to keep paying up. Good flooring (except carpets) should last at least a few decades. Real wood floors can always be refinished once they start looking a bit tired.

[@fizzeli78]

Aaaaa aaaaa

[@piarateking8094]

just refinished the wood floors in my place a couple of years ago, next time we will have to replace them as they are too thin to sand them again but they will have been here 5 decades by then

[@Nick_Lewis]

That was an absolute minimum. Flooring should last waaay longer than that.

[@carolscott9973]

When my husband and I decided it was time to change our flooring, we decided we wanted hardwood floors. We talked to a flooring store - not one of the big box stores and got some very good advice from the salesman. He told us that if you can only afford the cheapest hardwood flooring, then get the highest quality engineered flooring. If you can only afford the cheapest engineered flooring, then get the highest quality luxury laminate flooring. He told us that we would have a much better product by getting the best quality for our budget, so instead of using our budget to get the cheapest of the quality product, it is much better to use our budget to get the most expensive of the lessor quality because in the end, it will look better and last longer.

[@LaughingInTiny]

​@@carolscott9973This. Always get the best you can afford. That was a wise salesman.

[@juliebrooke6099]

The IKEA‘buffalo’ you showed was actually a highland cow(Scottish).

[@maddmaxxpain]

A family member of mine loves American bison, but has several Scottish Highland cow prints in her house mixed in…then I realized she is a fan of all bovine and doesn’t care! 😬 but I will never point it out to her either!

[@Pubslife]

Just saw that print in Hobby Lobby. Case closed

[@hrw3mom103]

Hairy Coos!! My daughter lives in Scotland and I think they’re cute, but I’m not hanging a photo of one in my house.

[@Bob-fk8vd]

If you like cow prints then it’s not cheap. It’s your style. Do you. Don’t listen to these do called experts.

[@michellesuter9259]

Lol. I said "Dude, that's is a coo thank you very much."

[@mamareads43]

I’m late to the party here, but I love this creator. I need a giant coffee mug that says “Live, laugh, love…we never really did.”😂😂

[@KimE-l5d]

Just love love love Nick’s witty sarcastic humor. Makes my day!

[@jessicakarinacastillo3641]

Yeah! I love that part too 😂

[@sluggo206]

I watch the channel partly for occasional inspirations, partly to see what stupid things are trending, and partly for Nick's comedy routine

[@joanvoss7512]

Thanks for that dark moody video BTW, knowing you are busy but still read these comments.

[@Motherhubbard170]

Yes, but most importantly, he's never mean spirited. as is the modern trend

[@davidmitchell6873]

He's sassy.

[@geisenma]

I think cropped curtain CAN work, but they are definitely a more casual look. Like, in a cute retro-styled kitchen, they give a 40s or 50s feeling. Or if you live in a log cabin style home, short cropped curtains with a gingham vibe look appropriately woodsy/countryish. They aren’t for every home, but sometimes they create the right feeling. I have one short curtain in a window in my Victorian home. It’s a strangely shaped window, that faces the street, so I put up semi transparent drapes for privacy- but the window also has a radiator under it that the curtains need to be shorter than… it’s a practical choice.

[@bonniemcmaken3966]

I have a 1961 build home and I completely agree. Some of my windows are small and high up on the wall. I think cropped would look WAY better than overwhelming them with floor length in that kind of space.

[@jankbitchvic4781]

Yeah, I think if it’s a stylistic choice that fits the aesthetic, it can look great.

[@HosCreates]

As a designer I agree with you, drapes and radiators don't mix.

[@mdannyg]

Definitely, or for windows in a craftsman bungalow, the cropped curtains are more period appropriate. I actually removed all the long tall curtains that were in my house because I thought they looked ridiculous for the space.

[@Juleesuz]

We have a similar issue with one of our windows. The built in cabinets extend out a few inches in front of the window, so if we had floor length curtains, they would be in the way of opening the cabinet door. So for that window, we may opt to just have the 'cropped' curtains. Also, we have a knotty pine room (not my choice) made with real wood (not just panels). We need some curtains that are bright. For now we just have ivory/bone colored blinds, but we know we want to make them look 'not cheap' LOL. We went that route when we first moved in and got a deal on the horizontal blinds. Our home is very 60s looking, but we have tried to make it an updated period 'piece' with resale finds, etc. Only a few items in our house are 'plywood'' pieces. A bookshelf I had bought years ago, a shelf we bought to display photos, but we needed something specific, and our TV stand until we can have one made. It works for now. I do like a lot of the ideas he mentioned though.

[@spacecaptain9188]

I like the shiny plastic foil. It bounces light about the place, is easy to clean, and comes in any color I'd like. Seems like an apartment friendly way to make your space feel more inviting. The reflective surfaces can even be used to make the space feel bigger, for those of us who are claustrophobic.

[@jonathansayson7784]

Faux Ancestor….At an antique store, I found a small black and white photo of a woman who looks super intense, very buttoned up, alarmingly severe in bone structure, COULD NOT resist her, and I’m not sure why. I’ve become quite fond of her and now I see her kindly, differently, and imagine her as a complex individual. Going to make her larger and frame her….she makes me smile every time! Thanks for the validation to embrace my faux “long lost relative”. As usual, love your cheekiness Nick, along with your stellar content!

[@mikboo]

Ya know... I like your videos, but in what consumerist hellscape are people replacing their flooring every 7 years? lol

[@channamasala1]

RIGHT?! Nobody replaces their flooring every 7 years unless they have a hell of a lot more money than I do. Christ alive. Flooring gets replaced maybe once during the time you own a space, and NEVER if you rent.

[@yuma6764]

I have in floor heating in my basement, what kinda floor should I choose?

[@pamelamanning99]

Chuckle, I rent a house built in late 1700s. Original floors.

[@osxwrangler]

True! I hate my tile floors that cover very large portions of my living space. It seemed to be the thing to do at the time. At least it’s a neutral travertine- like color.

[@melaniehenry8821]

Masochists

[@cynthialovold9031]

What is your curtain solution then, when you have a piece of furniture under the windows or a radiator/baseboard heat element? You can’t have curtains laying on top of those. Shorter curtains can look nice if they are done right.

[@Kittycats26]

We have radiators under all our windows. I did still put long curtains up when we redecorated last year. I agree that is does look way better than the short ones. We do end up tucking the curtains over the corners of the radiators in the winter although we do also have a wood burner so we’re lucky we can get the heat from that.

[@jennifergraham3752]

Builders and landlords are keeping the Boob Light/vertical blind manufacturers in business that’s for sure. They have them delivered in bulk in the dark of night wrapped in nondescript brown paper 😂

[@joyousbloom731]

Vertical blinds should be outlawed!

[@M.Campbell]

@@joyousbloom731My cats LOVE them. When we moved into our house I left them up just so they could play with them. They went after them like they were on a mission. Once they tore them up I replaced them with curtains. They never bothered anything else. They have good taste.

[@joyousbloom731]

@@M.Campbell 😆

[@Pascale5625]

@@joyousbloom731 And valances too!

[@MicheleLaCagnina]

Blinds should be outlawed. If you have to go super cheap, at least go with shades.

[@lizblock9593]

I see your puppet show curtains and raise you my beige aluminum blinds for making a place look truly cheap!

[@fiddlersthree8463]

🤣🤣I'm not a poker player, but I'm throwing in plastic "Venetian" whose slats sag in the middle.

[@rachelgilbert3164]

Yeah but are slats missing or broken off because the cats bent them to get to the window sill? Haha yes there are much worse things than cropped curtains 😂

[@lisarogers5873]

I saw a simulated walkthrough where most rooms had Scandinavian-style wood slats on the ceiling with small recessed LED lights in them. The texture, light, and mood it created was amazing.

[@benjiplant]

My pic at 10:05!! I’m honored

[@etsprout]

My house came with an extended “Live well, Laugh much, Love often” quote sticker on the wall. We ripped it apart to say “Much Ugh” and it’s my favorite thing 😂

[@amg9163]

😆

[@stephen6851]

That doesn’t make sense. Maybe ugh much?

[@MicheleLaCagnina]

Genius!

[@GM-qq1wi]

"Much ugh" is way more coherent and relatable than "live laugh love" and any its infinite iterations.

[@karinaburana562]

​@@stephen6851 "Much ugh" seems like a nice throwback to the old dogs meme

[@erinmalone2669]

When we bought our hose, 6 years ago, we got all new furniture, shaggy rug and put our own cool stuff up. I have over 150 metal lunchboxes from the 60s 70s and 80s. I got extremely strong magnets and fixed the magnets to the wall and my lunchbox is attached. I would never damage the lunchboxes by putting a screw through them. I laid out the boxes in, rose and columns that surround the TV on the wall. When people come to our house, they love how fun it is, but it also has a good amount of class without stuffiness.❤

[@scasny]

Yea for bar or a game room. Living room, it sort of cheapen your space. If the rest of the house look similar then great. Sort of cheap and thrifty is a look, and not in a bad way. Its young, light and funny, interesting and with little nostalgia. Also they "love" it because it look like you put effort in it and dont want to insult you. What matters that you love it, as you have to look at it every day. Like i have a gas tank on the wall in my kitchen, from my first bike. I am all for weird decor but usually mass produce marketing products is not my favorite. Like i am at heart biker and have a gas tank on the wall, a helmet with gloves on the fridge. A guitar on the wall if you play, or a skateboards if you ride. What does lunch boxes say about you. In my personal opinion just pick a boring wall and plastered it with the boxes from the floor to the ceiling. No or minimal gaps and some accent lighting and it will be so dramatic, such a bold statement. And turn fun to stylish if that is your goal.

[@cindyonyoutube]

"Use photos of an old lady's family that you don't even know - creepy and fun at the same time!!" I love that!!! 🤣

[@basilspaghetti]

Some kid was selling a framed drawing of his grandma at a flea market and I bought one, so now even though I don't have kids myself I have a drawing of an old lady I don't know by a kid I also don't know.

[@Elizabeth-xo9sn]

It’s not creepy.

[@Oldbird2]

Instant ancestors.

[@karinalemus2305]

That’s actually supporting local young artists 😊

[@eleanorwalmsley635]

Quality of photographs was better back then

[@illbeyourstumbleine]

My sister had those cheap small 3 inch baseboards and builder grade hollow doors. She didn’t have the money to replace them, so she bought the cheapest trim she could find and placed it a couple inches above her baseboards and then painted the baseboards, the trim and the wall between them all the same color. So now they look like larger boards with some interesting trim. She did basically the same with her plain doors. She used trim and framed in the doors and made the frames around them bigger with trim and paint as well, just like the baseboards. Got new knobs and painted all the doors that all are basically side by side down the hallway a beautiful green color and wallpapered the hall walls. She spent under 500 dollars (got new light fixtures and light switches) and the before and after are just incredible, it looks like a new home. Really proud of her❤ Hope this helps anyone else on a budget and sick of their basic boring homes.

[@ashleycat11]

This is the perfect example of how, when it comes to aesthetics, 'inexpensive' and 'cheap' aren't synonyms.

[@JeanandKenny]

The baseboard trick is a fabulous idea and might very well save me hundreds of dollars! I hate cheap trim so much and I have it all over my house.

[@illbeyourstumbleine]

@@JeanandKenny yes, it really looks great! Her doors also look amazing. I glad I was able to explain it ok for people to understand. Her doors she used like a flat and a round edge trim on the door itself to make it look like a fancy door. I really wish I could post pictures on here to help explain sometimes! Good luck!

[@mikejrexec]

Such a great idea.

[@TerriEnglish]

@@illbeyourstumbleinenot sure I get it exactly, but can envision, which is 3/4 of solving the problem-such useful information!

[@vnil1313]

I came for the tips and stayed for the sarcasm.😂😂😂😂

[@alisonmartin6101]

I found you when you were interviewed by Chelsea on the Financial Diet. I was incredibly impressed with your humour and non-judgemental advice, and now I'm binge watching your KZbin channel. I'm a former West End Vancouver gal, and am delighted that a talented Canadian is so successful on KZbin. I now live on one of the tiny Gulf Islands a ferry ride from Vancouver in a slightly weird house with my eclectic style.

[@jstanley8545]

Came here to get roasted for my vertical blinds, short curtains, wimpy baseboards, and boob lights. Oh, and glossy ikea godmorgan sink cabinet. lol. Nick's humor never disappoints. Love the channel and the roasting.

[@Gardeningishardinarizona]

Right?!?!? 😂

[@nattamused9074]

Same.

[@Barbara-er1co]

Me too

[@kathleengarness1660]

yes on the baseboards. My carpenter redid the stock builder baseboards, colonial casings, and hollow core doors with high profile fluted casings, bullseye corners, and six panel doors. What a difference. My house was built in the late 1870s by two German brothers and their dad who came here right after the Chicago fire, was remodeled in the 1940s with paneling and dropped ceilings throughout most of the rooms, and then I made an effort to somewhat restore the character of the place after I purchased it, having the paneling removed, the plastic tile in the kitchen stripped off, and the walls repaired. But we lived with the colonial casings from the paneling until I could afford for the carpenter down the block to swap out the moldings and doors, I like the space much better now.

[@lesliecarolynn]

Bruh, your intro is gold. THIS is why I watch you. Interior design advice but also, incredible dialogue, humor and roast.

[@melaniehenry8821]

Saying cropped curtains look like you’re about to start a puppet show sent me 😂

[@teresamuriniti5026]

Me too😅😅😅😅

[@NaneeH63]

I like my cropped curtains in my office. 😊

[@angelikaschweitzer8574]

@@NaneeH63 if you have baseboard heaters below the window, keep the curtains a few inches higher, or they may become a fire hazard. I'd rather my home look 'cheap' than 'burnt' 😂

[@candarorum]

In Europe we have the heaters under the window. If you have long curtains covering the heaters, you can damage the fabric and you are using more energy to heat up the room. I have to have short curtains, that stop at the top of the heaters... 😢

[@GwenDow-hl1bc]

Hilarious

[@josephromance3908]

Your first picture of shelving is a lot of books. A house full of books is not cheap. It speaks to education and a thoughtful person.

[@svetlanasath7792]

Mostly, people with such book selves don't actually will to read their book, they just buy it as a decoration

[@deziredawn7275]

​@svetlanasath7792 my goal is to own a library

[@michellesuter9259]

@svetlanasath7792 I really can't wrap my brain around buying books as decoration. Mine are stuffed full and I have read them all. Broad range too!

[@SuzyQ-qd8xf]

@@josephromance3908 I love how books make a home feel like home 🏠

[@ndubld]

Add: Puddled curtains full of dust & hair. If you're going to puddle, you have to clean more often. Exposed cords, particularly on things like sconces, & media components. Unless you're living in a dorm room, buy cord covers & paint them to match your walls.

[@rmcnally3645]

Add: puddled curtains... full of raisins and butterfly hair clips ...when you have kids 😭

[@jackiecornwall9160]

Unspeakable stuff in there if you have a puppy!

[@juliannemclaughlinfineart]

As an artist, I try to make my art affordable so anyone can buy a painting. Buy what speaks to you, what you like, what reminds you of a happy time or place or something that just brings you joy.

[@sidilicious11]

I too make affordable wall art, cloth banners that I print with my own stamps that I carve from my drawings. Bold, colorful, and artistic.

[@polishtheday]

I have a lot of art in my places, some thrifted, some original and some lithos of art I like but cannot afford. I got most from auctions. The one that gives me the most joy is a piece I found at a thrift store of Sylvester and Tweetie Bird, now hanging in my kitchen, that was likely meant for a kid’s room. It adds colour to a mostly neutral room and also tricks the eye into perceiving Tweetie like Sylvester might and vice versa. Your eye is first drawn to Tweetie. Then you notice Sylvester and it’s a bit of a shock, like the one Tweetie might have if he turned around. Added to this is the memory of watching the cartoons as a child. Makes me smile while having my morning coffee.

[@probablynot1368]

A quick question for artists. I bought an original oil painting from a local, well-respected Southwest US art gallery. Gorgeous, quite large, and very expensive. We tend to save our money for original works of art, that we search for to ‘fit’ with our decor - and at the same, we’re supporting the original artist. Several months later, while visiting a nearby gift shop, I was shocked to see printed note cards of our original oil painting! I contacted the artist, expressing my surprise that our original painting was now being used for mass production of note cards, mugs, etc. The artist told me that I may have the original painting, but she had the original rights, and could use those ‘rights’ to print cards, mugs, posters, reproduction prints, etc. She told me that if I had commissioned a painting from her, then I would own the rights. Is this a thing? She said just look at the thousands of products that use Van Gogh’s, Monet’s, DaVinci’s, etc. work. Do I have to register a copyright to prevent further reproduction? This has left a cheaped-out taste for this artist’s work. This is all confusing.

[@polishtheday]

@@probablynot1368It’s common for artists to sell copies, sometimes in limited editions, of original work. I have some of works by famous artists like Braque and Miro and some by the less famous. Even if I could afford the originals, I don’t think I’d go that route with more expensive pieces because I’d have to worry about them being damaged or stolen and humidity levels. It’s just not worth it. The important thing is that I like these pieces. It gives me pleasure to look at them. The only time decor enters the picture is when I’m hanging them. They still need to be in a place that’s aesthetically pleasing to me and need to work with what’s around them. I have enough pieces that I can play with colour, using it to brighten up neutral spaces or to warm up a room that feels cold in winter. Art can also create atmosphere. I like the clean lines of mid-century modern but also the coziness of old British houses that looked lived in and aren’t trying too hard. I jokingly call my style New York brownstone furnished with stuff found on a curb. A single work of art can create a balance between these two extremes. But I don’t really care if my place looks expensive. I’m glad the previous owner put black laminate over the first-growth timber floors in my kitchen where water spills would be a major problem. It’s easy to clean and resistant to scratches from my pets.

[@juliannemclaughlinfineart]

@@probablynot1368 Hi there, so the short answer to your question is, yes, she does own the intellectual property rights to your painting as the creator. However, it's my opinion that she (or the gallery) should have told you that your painting was going to be used for prints and other materials. This is a very important thing for artists to communicate with their clients. I always let people know that what they own is an original by me and if I do decide to use it for prints etc. I tell them. If a client came to me upset that the painting they bought was being used for prints etc. and they were unhappy about it, I would refund them the money. That's just me. Lastly, not every artist does reprints etc. I rarely do them. Hope this helps!

[@snowysnowyriver]

Here in the UK, if there are radiators under windows, we don't usually have floor-length curtains. It wastes expensive energy because all that gets warm is the curtain and the window.

[@chellejack3480]

Unless you have an interior designer coming into your home all the time critiquing it, most people in the suburbs have homes decorated cheaply and don't care. It's okay. 😅

[@lovemesomeslippers]

Maybe just the people you know.

[@oreotookie]

I buy stuff to decorate that makes me happy. I will go to antique stores to get a vase that looks nice on a shelf. Some stuff is cheap. It makes me happy so who cares.

[@653j521]

@@lovemesomeslippers You care and therefore we need to care that you care?

[@lovemesomeslippers]

@@653j521 my point was that the writer shouldn’t be saying most people in the suburbs when they don’t know most people in the suburbs.

[@chellejack3480]

@lovemesomeslippers I live in a very expensive home in the suburbs. And I can tell you that many people shop cheaply because thats the the only stores available to us. Again, nobody cares, except interior designers and shallow people.

[@jazzminforrestall406]

My mom likes giant art so much she painted a 4 foot by 4 foot picture of Jupiter from the perspective of one of the moons. The level of detail is insane. She once told me "oh I just work on this painting when I'm bored it's a lot of fun"

[@theartofcute217]

That's honestly so cool to me. 😮 I would love that in any home. Much better than "live, laugh, love"

[@jazzminforrestall406]

@@theartofcute217 she has so many paintings that we could cover every wall in the house and still have some in storage. She started painting like 10 years ago and she's gotten so good at it because she literally paints every single day.

[@theartofcute217]

@@jazzminforrestall406 That is so cool. Does she by chance have a website or a Facebook page I could check out?

[@richardadams6988]

@@jazzminforrestall406 Does she smoke weed !! Hahaha, I like her !

[@jazzminforrestall406]

@@richardadams6988 yes! ❤️ And she always gives me some every time she gets more ❤️

[@Missyocean2]

Thanks!

[@krisl.4314]

The one-man banter is almost better than the advice (almost). Please keep it coming!

[@lizloukiss]

Saturday mornings are for sipping coffee, giggling, and nodding in agreement with Nick. ☕️😂

[@GenericAccountVLR]

lol because it’s true. (( nodding )) 😂

[@doodlesbydannie]

Yes to all he just said 😂

[@Find_Amelia_Island]

Thanks!

[@katarh]

The coolest wall filler I have is an art quilt I found entirely by accident - the steak house we go to has rotating artist's work on the walls, and I fell in love with a small abstract art quilt in bold colors. I contacted the artist and had her reserve it for me after the show was over. It was $150 but frankly that was a steal for the amount of labor that goes into even a small quilt, and it's now the centerpiece of my living room.

[@RaeThomas-hh5gv]

thank you for recognizing the effort and skill that goes into fiber art. i hope you enjoy your quilt for decades to come. be sure to take it down and let it "rest" if you don't have it framed, otherwise it might start to sag/weaken the fibers where it's attached.

[@plumppomelo]

I have questions about art quilts!!! How do you keep it clean? How do you hand it up and not deform over time?

[@richardadams6988]

@@katarh How are your steaks !!! Hahaha

[@Natalie-hg3gh]

ONLY $150?!!!??!!!!!

[@richardadams6988]

@@katarh I wish I could see it !!

[@lawdeedaw0803]

Re: cropped curtains: I note that several of your photos are of windows that have radiators under them. (Very common here in France - weird.) In that case, I would advocate in favor of shorter curtains so you can get the heat from the raditator when the curtains are closed. Sure, some heat will always get through, but energy efficiency requires not trapping the heat against the cold exterior wall and window.

[@joanmyron]

Exactly, I have the same here in Romania. I guess it depends on how cropped curtains are too, the material, texture, color etc. And we also have 2 cats. Long curtains would be a big no no 😹

[@ask230]

Such an interesting observation you made about "feeling with your eyes." So so so true!

[@nailguncrouch1017]

Quick question does cat fur count as texture?

[@TreasureDeal]

Yes and it counts as fiber if some gets in the food. I've always had animals and fur/hair is the fabric of life. 😊❤

[@Lulusvideos1]

It sure does in my house! 😺

[@Ka-kai]

We call it cashmere...

[@jeaniestella1841]

Yes, if you love your cat !

[@pburke5274]

Its insulation.

[@ThePrairieChronicles]

New viewer. A couple of suggestions about remotes, etc left out. I grew up around clutter, so I _hate_ clutter. I found 25+ years ago that putting a soft velcro strip on the back of my tv remote (with the sharp strip on the back of my tv) allowed me to keep the remote hidden when not in use, but "out". I later modified a shelving unit, added doors and drawers, and put the tv remote, PlayStation controllers, headphones, etc in one drawer. Games, books, etc went behind the doors. Hidden, but close by. I also made a footstool with a removable top, so a throw, book I was reading, crochet project, etc could get tossed into the footstool when someone came over. Hidden, but close by. I've been "between rentals" for three long years as of this month, with my stuff in rented storage. I look forward to finding a new home, unpacking, sharing my journey on yt, and going through your channel's videos as I try to re-start my life and settle into a home.

[@elizabethnavarre7972]

I just love how he doesn't shame people, especially like in the flooring section. He recognizes that not everyone has an extra 50K just lying around and four to six weeks (or more!) of not living in your house to swap out flooring. Love that! Constructive, realistic suggestions delivered with kindness and just a hint of sass and humor - the world needs more of you, Sir!

[@stellacalder5023]

2:50 one good tip here to save money is to frame smaller art with mats, where appropriate. It makes smaller pieces of art look bigger and more polished. It just sort of gives that visual signal of "I put effort into this and it's not just a poster thrown in a cheap frame." And if you do any yarncrafts, like crochet or knitting, you can find tapestry patterns ranging from traditional to modern. Monochromatic patterns can also look more modern and "finished." I framed the all-white Sophie's Universe I made for my bedroom wall and honestly framing a 6'x6' piece of fiber art was more expensive than the yarn itself but SO worth it.

[@lovemesomeslippers]

I just looked up the Sophie’s Universe! How long did that take you? I bet it’s very impressive in all white! Fabulous.

[@stellacalder5023]

@@lovemesomeslippers I worked on it on and off for about 3 years. It’s an intricate pattern, so I’d frequently get tired of not being able to watch TV or anything while working on it and switch to a simpler project for a while, but if you’ve crocheted anything at all before, you’ll definitely be able to do it because of how carefully the pattern was written and the video tutorials that clearly show every step.

[@user-kpkxgtj]

Oh, that's one fantastic blanket, well done! I made some squares with the intention of joining them into a rug, then decided to make a couple of tapestries to hang on the wall instead (I was only 4 squares in and already couldn't justify the cost of the yarn). I may end up borrowing this idea of framing them instead of hanging them off small poles like I had originally planned.

[@misslauren881]

This is a great idea. I have a goal to grow, soak, rake, spin, dye, and weave a small square of flax. When I do, I'd like to hang it in a place of pride. So when people come to my house and ask "what's that dinghy scrap of coarse linen doing in a frame?", I can tell them that I made it from scratch. If I make enough, I might even teach myself to embroider it a tiny bit.

[@lovemesomeslippers]

@@stellacalder5023 I’m a knitter who’s stayed away from showstopper projects because I’m not sure if I’ll pick them up again if I need to take a break. Maybe I’ll ease into it with an intricate throw. You’ve inspired me!

[@glockenrein]

In my city you can rent art. You can get a membership like in a library and take home a contemporary art piece for up to ten weeks. They’re unfortunately framed extremely boringly but it’s fun.

[@momtoafew]

That sounds so fun!!!

[@floraposteschild4184]

If y'all are in Vancouver (like Nick) you can rent through the library system, and also Vancouver Art Gallery, North Van Arts, and so on.

[@glockenrein]

@@floraposteschild4184 I love that this is a worldwide thing! I’m in Europe! 😄

[@lour8237]

That's such a good idea!

[@Patrick-kt5mc]

Not for me. Putting up something just to have to take it down again sounds like a hassle. That might be fun if you entertain a lot with your artsy-fartsy friends.

[@meganfoster8838]

My husband and went to a house with the word art labels ("wash" "eat" "dream" "relax") everywhere. On the way home, we were suggesting (in)appropriate labels for the loo... On the topic of cropped curtains, I notice that in one of the "bad" pictures, there was a radiator beneath the window, and yes, radiators and wall-mounted heaters shouldn't be covered because of the fire hazard, and I'd rather be safe than stylish.

[@EmL-kg5gn]

I hate being told what to do so nothing would stress me more than a relax sign! Good thing I’m particular about hand washing I’ve had a similar experience joking about toilet signs 🤣 It was the only room without a sign so I know they had that dilemma haha

[@sundari555-f2g]

Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love🧿

[@KathyHussey063]

Most people can't afford for their living spaces to reflect anything much more than "we're paying the house note somehow." they seem to be waiting to one day decorate (to me anyway.).In alot of homes people have the bare minimum of furniture, art, drapes, rug... it really amazes me how many people never fix up even their living rooms with some sort of intentional design or color palette of items. I've known so many people who lived in houses, expensive houses, for years without ever even putting any drapes, curtains, shades in anywhere & never decorating at all. I remember thinking "I don't want to live in a home that's beautiful & this expensive if all I can do is live in it, but can't afford to furnish/decorate it, go tto the movies sometimes or ever eat out....I mean I'd HAVE to fix up at least the living room, kitchen, a bathroom for company to use. ?It woulddrive me nits not having the riht furniture or something maybe not myfirst chouce but that would do til I could do it like O really wanted to. I learned to sew curtains like the ones I saw in a professional drapery installer's store & I painted, wall papered, stenciled some, put down flooring, wired lights when first married at 23, over 40 years ago, in our first lil house 'cause we didn't have alot of money, so it doesn't have to be crazy expensive to make a room look nice but apparently a lott of people work alot just to pay bills & there's not much time for all that or enough money .

[@geeandreid23]

Exactly and don't go into debt trying to follow all the design advice from the thousands of designers on KZbin. It is all just their opinion. Remember, "Everything you see is just perspective, everything you hear is just opinion."

[@tmbrown1755]

This!

[@richardadams6988]

@n.sundari889 Their not home big enough for all the things I like and love !!! Hahaha

[@richardadams6988]

@@KathyHussey063 YOU need to hang out with some new people !!! Hahaha

[@sarahwatts7152]

There's looking cheap, and there's sounding cheap. Solid doors and insulation are so important!

[@kisikisikisi]

Don't get me started on the signs. I've seen so many HOME signs here in Finland which is very unfortunate because "home" is "mold" in Finnish.

[@misslauren881]

I have only one of those. But it's the lyrics to You Are My Sunshine, which was my grandparents' courting song, and also what she used to sing to her children, and her children's children, and her children's, children's, children. But I agree, they are, usually, awful.

[@katmahasti]

​@@misslauren881Oh! Now THAT is sweet!

[@sharonclaridge]

🤣

[@tibbs4000]

​@@misslauren881 my parent's song too and my dad whistled it all the time. Thanks for the memory ❤

[@LythaWausW]

Bad English is trending in Germany in home/garden decor too. It's ridiculous.

[@Green4CloveR]

No, I’m not a good person. I’m strictly here for the catty interior design comments! 😂

[@richardadams6988]

@@Green4CloveR Good !! Appreciate you !

[@mariad3743]

I appreciate you get the design truth out there. Watching you is like going to get my teeth cleaned. You have to have it done. But sometimes it hurts, but in the end you come out smiling! Thank you for keeping us grounded in good design.

[@LadyCaroline123]

Ten years ago he was probably saying to buy the live, love, life crap. Good grief, think for yourself.

[@LavenderandLinen]

“They’re cute, but it looks like your gonna do a little puppet show.” 😂

[@janhaley1212]

I buy art on vacations. I have black and white prints of an old mill in Missouri and the Alamo,etc. then I photographed the old mill and had it enlarged and framed. I framed a colorful 1943 seed catalog where my FIL worked. I framed a piece of sheet music with a beautiful picture on the front. Temple rubbings from India my MIL brought back. And a few water color prints of famous old mansions. I even made a batik picture of black eyed Susan’s that I framed. I even hung a Swedish tole painted wooden plate. Not all in the same room though! I’ve never bought art from stores like IKEA or Homegoods. My art pieces mean something to me. I’m having a friend do a gallery wall in my living room to include 2 ceramic Poole Pottery flying ducks. I definitely have my own style when it comes to hanging things on my walls. Hopefully they don’t look cheap!

[@catherinemori4496]

If YOU think they look good, that’s all that matters!

[@j.m.7056]

Fabulous!

[@misslauren881]

Every piece of art in my house was made for me by the wonderful creative and artistic women in my life. Mom, grandmother, great grandmother, best friend. It's incredible to look around and see all the loving, female, energy in my home.

[@reneeh.1249]

I buy books on vacation, specific to the location or just something interesting I haven’t seen elsewhere. Memories & learning or entertainment 😊

[@adriannasaucedo3499]

I love how you say what you think without filter, thank you! Great video!

[@jenniferpearce1052]

I don't always agree with your takes, but I love your disclaimer at the beginning. We are here for the fun!

[@MyFocusVaries]

Holy moly That gallery wall example? Warn us next time. I'm traumatized.

[@elvisneedsboats3714]

I was traumatized by all that mirrored furniture at about 14:55. Holy moley indeed!

[@MyFocusVaries]

​@@elvisneedsboats3714 OMG. I went back to look, and even though you warned me, my stomach clenched. Wow.

[@Motherhubbard170]

haha one wonders where Nick finds these photos

[@elsiestormont1366]

Ha ha! Agree. I cringed! 😬 yikes!

[@Nick_Lewis]

Quite the jump scare.

[@shakimalenise]

Oh and I have had to rewind so many times because I have been obsessed with these DIY pend and lamps and wall sconces and there has been soooooo much inspiration, thanks for all the words !! You a legit casted to my big screen playing through surround sound like music!!

[@skitza95]

If you want a cohesive gallery wall that’s cheap you can put up old record sleeves - there is some incredible art on them, they have a vintage patina, and you can curate them which is fun if you have an eye for design and colour. They work together because they’re the same width on the wall so things aren’t poking out chaotically😊

[@femmina63]

I almost spit out my coffee when you said cute little puppet show

[@danahill7029]

Me too 😂😂

[@blairchetram2449]

The "remember her" killllled me when you talk about real natural material😂😂 so many good points that I'm hoping to keep in mind as I decorate my new home!

[@sunshinepatsoph4219]

Hi Nick, nice to have a video to watch after very bad week news around the world.

[@juliemacdonald6572]

A lot of the crop curtain examples you showed were above radiators. That is a safety and logic reason. If you close full length over radiators when they are switch on (usually cold nights) they will be covering the radiator creating a fire risk, but more importantly will be blocking the heat pushing it to the cold window rather than out to the room.

[@jojones4666]

There are many other options. Blinds of different varieties , Roman blinds. Vertical blinds etc

[@richardadams6988]

@juliemacdonald6572 Do they still make radiator ?

[@bargirlbie]

@@richardadams6988people still buy older houses with radiator heating. It can be extremely expensive and risky to get them taken out (so much potential risk of damage to the structure of the home) and it doesn’t make sense if they’re working.

[@richardadams6988]

@@bargirlbie O K

[@richardadams6988]

@juliemacdonald6572 R Remember, putting a pot of water on the top of the radiator, in the winter to put some moisture in the house !!! Do you remember?

[@aliyamathiesen7290]

My favorite decor is our icon corner. I’m Eastern Orthodox and so we have icons (paintings) of different saints on two different walls, and I think it looks so cool but is also meaningful

[@Star_sweeper]

Thrift stores are the BEST place to find art, hardly anything hanging on our walls was purchased brand new

[@oh_k8]

1. Potlights 2. Word portraits/signs 3. Those tiny tri coloured rectangular tile backsplashes 4. Black faucets and or sinks.

[@amandasharp8549]

As someone who's decorated dozens of airbnbs... all of these are spot on 😄 So much difference

[@northstarhealthmentorshipllc]

About the curtains: if you have old plaster walls and radiators (floor or tall), you gotta hang the rod on the wood frame and stop above the radiator. I would LOVE a video about how to optimize design when we HAVE to hang on the frame and crop... every designer seems to just say, "don't do that". Those of us in old and/or historic homes need guidance please 💕💖💕

[@vaderladyl]

You will never find a mainstream so called designer to agree with you on that. You need one that knows about historical homes that cannot use standard items like long curtains. Better keep looking for videos or better yet, google for historical/older homes with baseboard heaters and plaster walls.

[@northstarhealthmentorshipllc]

​​​@@vaderladyl even the floor plans of old homes make it hard to utilize modern design advice. I live in a 4 square and how do you place your furniture in your living room when you have 2 walls that are door ways and windows on the other 2?!? I guess I need to find a "historic" designer, lol. Let me know if you know of one 🤣

[@horizoon]

I have radiators under my windows. For functionality I have pull down blinds and for the looks I have floor length curtains that I never close...

[@vaderladyl]

@@northstarhealthmentorshipllc I know several but keep forgetting their names but try Garrett Le Chic, for starters. He specializes in historic homes and working with what you have. But I rely more on articles I read on Google than on these KZbinrs. Better more accurate, helpful and tailored info there.

[@seaside2001]

Yes those darned radiators. I have had them in century old homes I have lived in and you have to keep them clear of drapery etc. because they heat the darned house for goodness sake. You can't pull the drapery over them at night for privacy.

[@maryegerton6848]

Hi Nick. Great video. I am moving to a basement apartment in my son’s house and I am completely doing it over. New floors (some heated) a new kitchen, bathroom reno, the whole jam. lol I’m scared. Thank God for this video. I want real wood floors and beautiful baseboards. I know this is a big ask, but could you do a video on how to make a basement apartment look stunningly beautiful? Maybe something you’d live in? 😳

[@Adventures_in_AK]

I love all of these tips! Especially the lighting, you can buy an inexpensive lamp at walmart/target etc and switch out the lampshade for an inexpensive light in a room. As someone who grew up with very little, I learned how to make that dollar stretch to make our house a home. Sales, saving up for bigger ticket items, buying a defective item and fixing it, and more. You can look good on a Walmart budget or look like trash.

[@randomharts]

Just a thought, but most of the cropped curtain photos you showed had radiators/heaters or seating under them where it would be weird if not down-right dangerous to have full length curtains…probably okay if these are the reasons🤔

[@floraposteschild4184]

I'm surprised he didn't mention that exception. He has in the past.

[@michaelholtzman1463]

I have rads, I’ve gotten around this by doing full panels on the sides and a sheer that drops just behind the rad

[@bricksloth6920]

If you have a vinyl floor budget not a hardwood budget, embrace that vinyl and get unabashedly honest vinyl that isn't pretending to be wood or marble or tile. Black and white vinyl looks respectable and not cheap, because it's not pretending to be something it's not.

[@limonade2684]

Or try to make it look like natural wood. The grey wood was unnatural and horrible.

[@snowmonster42]

I absolutely agree with this. Trying to make anything look like something that it's not never fools anyone and it does look cheap. Inexpensive is totally different from cheap.

[@Laudanum-gq3bl]

My kitchen has some lovely aqua and blue vinyl tiles and I enjoy it. The cabinets are white and the wall light grey (rental) so it pops.

[@ladycactus110]

I can’t take the off-gassing from vinyl flooring and wall-to-wall carpeting.

[@cathybacot1745]

I love you giving advise about not having generic crap while sitting there with a generic home goods CLOCK over your shoulder (talk about basic and cheap looking) 😂

[@sharonsullivan731]

I love that clock and I don't think it looks cheap. Validating that everyone has unique tastes and preferences. All good!

[@cathybacot1745]

lol stupid fake cheap clock just like stupid fake art that he is literally talking about.

[@susanpetropoulos1039]

It has sentimental value.

[@msthang5122]

Thank you for mentioning the words and quotes thing. One of my pet peeves is a room that has, in giant letters, KITCHEN or LAUNDRY. Like, I know what room I'm in.

[@heathercroft3543]

Or the one in the kitchen that says EAT.

[@crotchwolf1929]

I want to buy those and stick them in the wrong room. Like put "Kitchen" in the bathroom, "Laundry" in the dining room and "bathroom" in the furnace room.

[@timslater566]

@@crotchwolf1929🤣🤣🤣…me too!👍

[@richardadams6988]

@msthang5122 Well sometimes people need a little help !,you know

[@DJTI99]

OMG!! Casings. I bought a house six months ago, and I've been slowly replacing the manufactured wood door casings with stained oak. Whoever put the old ones in, didn't even bother covering the nail holes. blech. There is a boob light in the dining area, and the kitchen recessed lighting is not even recessed. The bulbs they put in stick out of the opening. And there is no lighting under the cabinets. Let's not even get started on the jacked up ceiling fans. Eventually, this will be 100% my place. Have to attack it one room at a time.

[@Cheesyenchilady]

We are in the same boat. Slowly but surely making our home feel special. ❤

[@j.m.7056]

Takes time but well worth the work!

[@Motherhubbard170]

I see Home Depot has gorgeous black pendant lights that can be screwed into a recessed light fixture; probably have to order online though

[@lilolmecj]

One day I was at Home Depot and chanced on some led Unser cabinet lights on clearance. The fixtures are not really visible below the bottom edge of the upper cabinets but they were a nice addition. They aren’t wired in but I got wire clips to hold the cord and again not something that draws the eye. They really improved my kitchen.

[@michaelillian672]

@@lilolmecj I will check those out. I'm looking for lights that have a super high PRI, since I'm going to be starting my vegan cooking channel back up.

[@jordanxfile]

I absolutely adore your rants about lighting temperature 🥰 I never understood how people could live with the hospital lights, not to mention they are almost always overhead lights.

[@empressmeowmeow9581]

I created a dressing room / office for myself out of a spare bedroom and furnished it with a lot of antiques. One of the things I loved doing was finding old photos of wedding parties and graduation classes from the turn of the century through the early 1930s and all of these beautiful "adopted" people make me happy both because they are so lovely to look at and also because I've given them a home.

[@Juleesuz]

It makes me so sad to see donated old photos. That may be a thought.

[@pamelakrumvieda3153]

Love you! I would say carefully match your curtains to your space. If you have a formal dining space and you use short, wispy curtains, it will look like you were too cheap to spend an extra $50 on a choice that would match the space. In contrast, I think cute, short curtains in a child's room matches the space better than long, heavy fabrics. I love that you encourage us to curate our spaces and I think that applies to curtains and not just throw pillows and knick knacks.

[@Missyocean2]

Thank you Nick - “choose what you want to display” - that was a eureka moment for me. Your good at breaking design down! Thank you sooo much

[@Spangletiger]

This is the first video of Nick's channel that I've watched. It had barely started before I hit the subscribe button. I don't think that I've ever laughed so much over interior design before! Looking forward to binge-watching the rest of his videos.

[@221b-Maker-Street]

I've got one: Oversized clocks on the wall.

[@marialemcr]

Especially those that don't actually work

[@Lucysmom26]

This is it. It's oversized wall clocks. Over. Utterly over. Over 5 years ago. The definition of 'basic.' OK also just gonna throw in oversized rectangular tiling in bathrooms.

[@gialollobrigida1713]

@@cathhl2440yes!!!

[@jennifersetser9091]

For those of us who are vision challenged..that big clock helps keep us on track…

[@ronswansonsdog2833]

This comment. Maybe he’ll see it 😂

[@patriciakelly2714]

Hi Nick, loved your video. You are so right about the inserts of the cushions and the amount of furniture in a room. Thanks for the witty and funny interpretation of what makes a home look cheap. There are some fantastic pieces of really good furniture in second hand shops, and are sold mostly very cheap. I love a piece that has been loved. Over the years that is solid and not chip board. Xx

[@redsoxexpat]

I've got a huge pet peeve about people who install display shelving (for decoration, not function) and then go thrifting for meaningless tat to 'style' the shelves/cubicles like a shop display of uninteresting, unnecessary, dust-collecting, impersonal items!!! So boring.

[@rebajackson2369]

I hate when people style their shelves with books and turn the spines to the back. Also, firewood decor with a gas fireplace.

[@joanvoss7512]

Tacky as hell I know

[@supernova622]

What if I thrift decorative not functional items because I think they are beautiful and bring me joy to look at and treat my living space like a personal curio shop?

[@merrywalsh2809]

I agree. The objects should have a function. Some examples would be candles, books, bar glasses, a vase of greenery, a decorative box that holds something you use, piece of original art or sculpture that speaks to you.

[@653j521]

@@supernova622 If it looks good, it's decor not junk.

[@sandrasmale5871]

I love the sensitivity you show toward anyone aspiring to improve their space but perhaps lack the resources to do it. It's what sets you apart, I think, from many of the other designers on KZbin who think it is more important to showcase their amazing talents than to connect and truly help people who want their space to be wonderful but don't necessarily have the budget to go all in on the high end stuff. I'm really enjoying your channel!

[@Juleesuz]

My mom says her style is "Early Estate Sale" decor. LOL! We do lots of resale shopping and garage/rummage sales and have found a lot of really great pieces for our place. They do not match, but they come together in their own way collectively. Plus knowing we got them for a deal really makes them feel even better! We get so excited when we find a neat piece. We aren't overly frugal, just thrifty and resourceful!

[@bobruda]

Judged art fairs are a good place to find one of a kind art and no where near as expensive as in a art gallery/store.

[@jlanderson21257]

"You look like you just don't care....because you don't, you dont". LOVE IT. One thing that I bought during the early days that was less expensive than a real painting, was lithographs...there are many fine lithographs, from turn of the century and up through Edna Hibel that are signed and beautiful, and do not look like mass produced blown up photos. Appreciate your time stamps.

[@johnnysimes5082]

I do a lot of my own renovation, and millwork to me is the strongest way to upgrade. Also the most expensive. Figure $2 to $8 per foot just for the millwork, plus caulk & paint. Paying someone to install will be exorbitant. Luxury homes feel luxurious in large part to the millwork, and in my experience you can easily drop $1500 per room minimum, or likely $3000 to upgrade baseboards, crown molding, casings, and wall picture frame. A $1M home may have $100k in just millwork. Just have to find the balance between expense and a visually impressive space. Fun stuff.

[@fruitbable]

So much this... it took me 4 months to move into my condo bc I wanted to update the old plastic orange oak millwork. My mom and I did it ourselves (bless her), and I didn't get anything fancy, but it was *still* probably 1/3 of my total renovation costs (and all I really did besides that was get new appliances and paint the whole place) 😅