How to Get The Model Home Look

By Michelle Lynne
President, ML Interiors Group 

So, you want your house to sparkle like a model home? Well, it can be done! The trick is making the space feel cozy and inviting while simultaneously keeping it clean. That means your space should appear as if you are ready for surprise guests at any minute.

Essentially, you want to make your home feel lived in, without showing any of the usual signs of, well, living. That pile of magazines in the corner, the stack of books on your coffee table, and all that unopened and yet-to-be-sorted mail needs to be tidied up and put away.

Here’s how to get that model home look:

Stay Clutter-Free and Make Cleaning Easy

Have you ever seen a model home? Did you notice what was missing? That’s right, clutter. There are no papers strewn about, no dishes in the sink, and the toys are put away. It’s a magical place where the odds and ends have vanished. You can pull it off by getting into the habit of putting items away once you’re finished with them or spending 15 minutes at the end of the day tucking things back into their rightful place. Keeping your home sparkling clean can take time, but a few moments of daily attention are all you really need. Wiping down your counters and high-traffic areas is easy, quick, and efficient.

And if you want to keep a junk drawer or two, go for it. Don’t worry, we’ll never tell!

Standout Artwork Creates a Perfect Model Home Appearance

The right piece of art can completely transform a space. It does not need to be a bold color or pattern, but it should stand out in some way. Maybe one of the dominant colors in a painting matches the accent color you use in the rest of the room, or perhaps it has a gold frame that matches the metal finish on your side chairs.

You don’t need to buy a large piece of artwork to pull off this look, either. You can use several smaller pieces to create a cohesive design. A photo wall or even a mix of artwork, photos, and cute sayings works extremely well. Just make sure you stick with a unifying color or theme.

Use Window Treatments as Your Shower Curtains

If you want your bathroom to look like it’s straight out of a model home, here’s a little secret. Use a regular window treatment instead of a shower curtain. Better yet, use two panels, one on each side of a shower-tub combination. Hang the two panels as high as possible and allow a gap of only an inch or two above the floor to make the room look larger.

You’ll have a luxurious space that looks like it’s right out of a home design magazine. Pro tip: Make sure you add a shower curtain liner to avoid watery messes.

Matching Fabrics

This is such an easy way to tie a space together, especially if you have an open concept kitchen-living room combination. Pick out some fabric you love and use it on a couple of different accent pieces. Use it on pillows, window curtains, or a dining chair. Placemats and napkins are another great way to create that coordinated look. You can even use the fabric on the back of a bookcase for a splash of texture and color.

When it comes to the chairs, you do not necessarily need to reupholster the entire piece. Instead, put the fabric on the back of the chairs to make them pop and tie everything together.

Don’t Forget Small Spaces.

Have you ever seen a model home with a laundry room that has no décor? Probably not. Even small spaces can benefit from decorative touches. Add baskets in the laundry room or even a cute old-fashioned sign.

The same goes for your closets. Baskets work well here to corral extra items and keep everything organized. Plus, you will never need to search for that purse or shirt again.

Do the same in your pantry. Adding baskets or clear bins to keep everything together will give the space such a clean, organized look. Marie Kondo and the women of “The Home Edit” would be so proud!

Need help setting it all up? Contact us at MLInteriorsGroup.com so we can talk about upgrading your space.