Luxe For Less Star Michel Smith Boyd Warns Homeowners To Not Make This Design Mistake

When designing a home on a budget, it's essential to know where to splurge and where to save. Because his mission is to bring luxury to everyone no matter their budget, Michel Smith Boyd, host of HGTV show "Luxe for Less," knows which items you should spend more money on and which pieces can be bought at bargain prices. 

However, because everyone has a different definition of luxury, you may want to go all out in an area where someone else would save. '"I feel like people are discovering... that they do deserve [luxury] and not only do they deserve it, that they can actually define what luxury is for them," Boyd explains in an interview with Ebony. In other words, it's important to understand what elements will make your home feel the most lavish for you, as this will determine where you should spend the most. At the same time, Boyd says that there is one thing that everyone, no matter the size of their budget, should never splurge on.

According to Michel Smith Boyd, spending lots of money on things that are purely decorative or that aren't practical is a huge design mistake. He says (per Realtor), "A lot of times we spend money on things we see, that our guests will see, that will make the biggest impression: particular brands or logos and so forth." While he knows that these items can impress, he also understands that they shouldn't be prioritized since they aren't a necessity. In other words, if you can purchase the same item for much less without the logo, you should do so. 

Similarly, Boyd says another great place to save money is on items that aren't used very often, or that won't get worn down easily. For instance, he says, "If I had $10,000, I wouldn't spend $2,000 of it on the coffee table." This is because a coffee table could easily be bought for less and still provide the same look and function. Along with the coffee table, you could also save on items like side tables, curtains, and small decorations.  

Instead of overspending on designer items or things that could easily be bought for less, Michel Smith Boyd says to splurge on the things that will be used the most. For instance, while he wouldn't spend $2,000 on a coffee table, he would spend that amount on a couch, mattress, and items in the kitchen. He says, "You know what's really important? A great mattress and bed, great sofa, great kitchen cabinets, and hardware — things that are really going to add value to the home, but also get the most wear and tear is where the dollars have to go first," per Realtor.

He continues, "When it comes to where to apply those luxury dollars, start with the spaces we can touch [like] countertops. They don't just look pretty, they're not just durable, but they feel good. Countertops and floors you shouldn't skimp on because [they] are things that add value to the home and you don't want to screw that up when it comes to resale value and also durability. There's a practicality even in luxury." Therefore, focusing your budget on the things you use every day is most important. As Boyd says in the introduction for "Luxe for Less," "I want the money where we touch."