Gone are the days when luxurious home amenities were reserved for movie stars or members of the royal family. Today, anyone can enjoy a slice or two of the good life without breaking the bank. You see, the key to creating a sumptuous living space is not necessarily having a lot of money; you can add luxury to any home if you know how to incorporate the latest affordable offerings.

Many manufacturers have introduced new home-improvement products with eye-catching details, sophisticated technology and customizable options — all classic characteristics of luxury — at widely affordable price points. To make your space feel like a million bucks, keep these characteristics in mind when planning home updates or shopping for opulent objects such as the examples shown here.


Luxury Is In The Details
Small touches can make a big difference when it comes to creating a luxurious look. For example, replacing plain cabinet hardware with detailed knobs and pulls is an inexpensive way to showcase your style. Mayfair and Encore collections from Hickory Hardware (photo A; about $4 to $7 apiece) can provide functional finishing touches to a country- or contemporary-style room, and Enamel Infill cabinet hardware from Lee Valley (photo B; about $4 to $11 each) can add a splash of mod color in an unexpected place. Unique accents such as the Chelsea 19-1/8-in. two-piece urethane ceiling medallion from Fypon (photo C; about $50) is another simple-to-install option that adds architectural beauty to a room.

In the bathroom, emulating spa style evokes a sense of opulence. The Rothbury two-handle bathroom sink faucet in antique bronze from Moen (photo D; about $387) features rectangular trim around the spout and a rich finish at a lower price than Moen’s branded luxury line. StyleDrains from California Faucets (photo E; $270 to $351) can also add a designer’s touch to your shower while helping to improve your drain’s flow efficiency.


Luxury Is Smart
Home technologies are constantly changing our daily lives, and the latest innovations make it possible for even modest homes to virtually think for themselves. The HomeSettings Lighting Control Starter Kit from Intermatic (photo F; $100) employs new Z-wave technology for wireless lighting control throughout a home. The kit includes two lamp modules and a master remote with a random timer setting. The best part, however, is that later on you can integrate additional modules, switches and even software and a USB stick for controlling home settings from a personal computer.

A similarly sophisticated-yet-inexpensive amenity, Jasco’s GE Choice Alert Wireless Alarm System (photo G; from $30 apiece) allows homeowners to choose from a selection of sensors, sirens, alerts and signal repeaters to create a personalized security system.

New technology is also making its way into the bathroom. For example, Kohler’s SoundTiles (photo H; $295 a pair) can provide concert-quality music for shower singers. The 4x4-in. coaxial speakers can be controlled by a stand-alone home-audio system or Kohler’s DTV II digital showering system. 

Even windows are getting smarter: Today’s tinted models reduce annoying glare, furniture-fading UV rays and expensive energy bills. Companies such as Sage Electrochromics are developing self-tinting glass; a more budget-friendly option is 3M’s Night Vision Window Film (photo I; $6 to $8 installed), which can be applied to existing windows.


Luxury Is Custon
You don’t have to build a million-dollar home to enjoy the luxury of custom design. Modular flooring products such as Striped Poodle and Toy Poodle modular carpet tiles from Flor (photo J; $14 each) enable you to create a variety of unique patterns. The more tiles you add, the more combinations you can design. Likewise, with high resolution image tiles from Imagine Tile (photo K; $15 a square foot) you can create one-of-a-kind compositions for floors, murals, backsplashes and more.

To accent walls, you can use RoomMates peel-and-stick appliqués from York Wallcoverings (photo L; about $14 to $21 apiece) to achieve the look of lush damask (a timeless symbol of luxury) or professionally painted stenciling for a fraction of the cost. The self-adhering vinyl appliqués can be repositioned and leave no residue on walls.

Another creativity-stimulating option for adding flair to your home is Illumination Series solid surfacing from DuPont Corian (photo M; $40 to $75 a square foot). This semitranslucent material can be backlit to create glowing countertops, radiant wall art or just about any other bright idea you can envision. It’s just one example of the many budget-wise ways you can indulge your senses and begin to transform even a humble abode into your own royal retreat.