How to Make Cheap Curtains Look Expensive: 5 Budget-Friendly Tips
Curtains have the unique ability to instantly transform a room—adding warmth, softness, and a high-end designer feel. However, high-quality drapery can be expensive, especially for large windows or custom sizes. The good news? You don’t need designer curtains to get a designer look.
Below are 5 budget-friendly curtain tips—backed by design principles and expert recommendations—to help you upgrade your space beautifully and affordably.
1. Upgrade the Hardware — It’s the Secret of Every Luxury Look
Even the most beautiful fabric can look cheap when hung on thin, flimsy hardware. High-end designers agree that quality hardware is the foundation of expensive-looking curtains.
✔ What to Choose
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Thick rods with a matte, brushed, or wood finish
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Metal brackets instead of plastic
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Decorative finials that match your interior style (modern, classic, farmhouse)
✔ Why It Works
According to HGTV design experts, quality rods add architectural presence and instantly elevate budget curtains.
✔ Installation Tip That Changes Everything
Hang the rod close to the ceiling, not just above the window frame.
This gives the illusion of:
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Higher ceilings
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Larger windows
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A custom-made window treatment
✔ Recommended Hardware (Internal Link)
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Modern Gliding Curtain Track System
https://hugmoomcurtain.com/collections/hardware/products/snake-track-modern-gliding-system
2. Layer Your Curtains Like a Designer
Layering is one of the easiest high-impact tricks to make cheap curtains look expensive. Interior designers on Instagram often use it in living rooms and bedrooms to create a hotel-level look.
✔ Effective Layer Combinations
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Sheer + Blackout:
Light linen sheers paired with a heavier velvet or thermal panel
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Double Sheer:
Two slightly different tones create soft depth -
Sheer + Patterned Panel:
Enhances texture and light diffusion
✔ Why It Works
Houzz designers note that pairing sheer and opaque layers adds dimension, increases softness, and mimics custom $1,000+ drapery installations.
3. Add Stylish Trims and Tiebacks for a Custom Look
Small decorative additions can make basic curtains look intentional and elegant.
✔ Upgrade With:
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Curtain tiebacks (fabric, rope, metal)
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Tassel tiebacks
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Lace or decorative trim along the edges
https://hugmoomcurtain.com/collections/hardware/products/snowball-curtain-lace-three-colors
✔ Why It Works
According to Architectural Digest, well-chosen trim is what separates basic curtains from custom luxury drapery.
Even inexpensive Amazon curtains can look boutique-level with a simple border or tieback.
4. Choose Fabrics That Look High-End (Even If They Aren’t)
Some fabrics naturally look more luxurious. Even on a small budget, choosing the right material makes a dramatic difference.
✔ Best Affordable High-End-Looking Fabrics
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Linen or linen-blend
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Cotton or cotton-blend
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Faux silk or textured jacquard
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Velvet (especially for winter or luxe spaces)
✔ Avoid
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Shiny, stiff polyester
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Thin, translucent synthetic fabric
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Overly bright or neon colors
✔ Pro Tip
Neutral tones like ivory, taupe, greige, beige, charcoal, or soft gray almost always look more expensive and complement modern American and EU interiors.
✔ Why It Works
Design experts at The Spruce report that textured fabrics—linen, velvet, jacquard—reflect light softly, giving a premium appearance even at low cost.
5. Master the Length & Fullness — The Easiest Way to Fake Custom Drapery
Even $20 curtains can look $200 when hung correctly.
✔ Length
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They should touch the floor or create a small “puddle” of 1–2 inches.
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Never leave them 2–3 inches short—it cheapens the entire room.
✔ Fullness
Your curtain width should be 1.5–2× the width of the window.
This ensures soft, hotel-style pleats instead of a flat, lifeless sheet.
✔ Add Weight to the Hem
Sewing small weights (or using curtain hem tape) at the bottom helps drapes fall straight—another designer trick to mimic custom tailoring.
✔ Why It Works
Interior designer Shea McGee notes that fullness and length matter more than fabric price in creating expensive-looking drapery.
Final Thoughts: Luxury Is in the Styling, Not the Price Tag
With the right design strategies, inexpensive curtains can deliver the same charm and sophistication as premium custom drapes.
✔ Recap of the 5 Tips
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Upgrade the hardware
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Layer your curtains
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Add trim or tiebacks
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Choose the right fabric
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Perfect the length & fullness
These small details—many costing less than $20—can transform your entire space.
If you're looking for affordable curtain upgrades, you can explore Hugmoom’s curated hardware, layering sheers, and elegant accessories at:
https://hugmoomcurtain.com/
External Expert References
(You may place these as linked anchors in the article)
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HGTV – “Designer Curtain Hanging Tips”
https://www.hgtv.com/design/rooms/living-and-dining-rooms/how-to-hang-curtains -
The Spruce – “Choosing Curtain Fabrics Like a Designer”
https://www.thespruce.com/types-of-curtain-fabrics-5209821 -
Architectural Digest – “How Designers Create Custom-Look Drapery”
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-hang-curtains -
Houzz – “Layered Drapery Ideas”
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-layer-window-treatments -
Apartment Therapy – “Why Curtain Length Matters”
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/curtain-hanging-mistakes-368298
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