The HGTV Dream Residence is at all times filled with pinch-me moments: the views, the finishes, the furnishings price range most of us don’t get to have in actual life. 😅
When Robert and I visited the Dream Residence for an occasion lately on Lake Wylie in Charlotte, I made it my mission to look previous the big-ticket wow issue and hunt for sensible, budget-friendly adorning tips that anybody might replicate at house. There have been so many good ones!
It was a cloudy, wet day after we visited, so my pictures aren’t the very best quality, however the inspiration is unquestionably nonetheless there.
Listed here are three reasonably priced design concepts from the HGTV Dream Residence 2026 that show nice type isn’t at all times about spending extra, it’s about pondering creatively. (By the way in which, you possibly can enter to win the home right here.)
1. Painter’s tape can do some wonderful issues
Certainly one of my favourite particulars within the house was the espresso bar wall. As an alternative of leaving the wall a fundamental impartial, the lead designer, Brian Patrick Flynn, used painter’s tape to outline a piece across the wall cabinets and painted it the identical teal shade as the cupboards.
Why does this make a distinction?
- The area feels intentional and elevated
- The crisp traces mimick the look of customized trim or molding (with out the fee)
- The entire nook feels “designed,” not unintentional
It was such a great reminder that paint + painter’s tape can create architectural curiosity with out really including structure.
This trick works fantastically for:
- Espresso bars
- Constructed-in cabinets
- Desk nooks
- Mudroom drop zones
In case you’re craving element however not able to decide to actual trimwork, that is an wonderful in-between resolution. (We did an identical color-blocking trick to imitate the look of board & batten on this nursery years in the past.)
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2. Objects as wall décor
This home leaned arduous into objects as artwork, and I liked it. As an alternative of conventional wall décor in every single place, they showcased collections of things. It made the house really feel private, layered, curated, and really on-theme for a lake home.
Just a few standouts:
- A full gallery wall of classic fishing baskets within the pantry
- Fishing reels displayed in a shadowbox in a bed room
- Classic type life preserver vests framed on a rest room wall
What I liked most is that these weren’t valuable, untouchable rooms. Even hardworking areas obtained persona.
In case you’re even mildly helpful, you can DIY these shadowboxes by constructing a easy lumber body with a plywood again.
In case you gather something… baskets, hats, instruments, plates, leisure gear, that is such a significant (and reasonably priced) solution to enhance your partitions.
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3. Contrasting trim and ceilings = instantaneous drama
We’ve used this trick in our personal home earlier than, so seeing it within the Dream Residence simply strengthened how highly effective it’s.
Within the bedrooms, the designers distinction painted:
- Doorways
- Baseboards
- Shelving
- And the ceiling
…in a wealthy, moody shade towards impartial partitions.
One room featured a deep burgundy trim and ceiling, and I saved pondering, “think about this room with out it.” It could’ve been good, positive. However with that distinction? It’s unforgettable.
That is one in every of my favourite high-impact, low-cost upgrades as a result of:
- You’re solely shopping for a gallon or two of paint
- You’re accentuating what’s already there
- The payoff feels daring and customized
In case you’re nervous, begin small: a ceiling, a set of doorways, or built-in cabinets. Paint is forgiving, and the drama is value it.
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In fact, there have been loads of wow design parts that clearly value huge cash (like the first bed room with gigantic skylights and the dreamy lake view). However it was refreshing to see attainable concepts combined in in every single place.
You’ll be able to take the Dream Residence full digital tour right here, if you wish to see the remainder of it.
The Takeaway
What I liked most in regards to the HGTV Dream Residence 2026 wasn’t simply the posh, it was what number of concepts translated fantastically to actual houses with actual budgets.
The frequent thread in all of those?
- Paint used creatively
- On a regular basis objects handled like artwork
These are the sorts of tips I’m at all times attempting to find, and those that make a house really feel considerate, layered, and lived-in with out blowing the price range.
Extra Finances-Pleasant Adorning Concepts
