{"id":47870,"date":"2025-07-18T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/?p=47870"},"modified":"2025-08-08T21:09:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T12:09:28","slug":"smart-buying-tips-how-to-find-expensive-looking-furniture-for-less","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/interior-design\/smart-buying-tips-how-to-find-expensive-looking-furniture-for-less\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Buying Tips: How to Find Expensive-Looking Furniture for Less\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Many people think that buying stylish furniture will make them exceed their budget. Indeed, it is only natural to want to keep the costs down when furnishing your home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, buying cheap furniture with poor quality or overly cheap-looking pieces can ruin the overall look of your interior. On the other hand, by choosing expensive-looking furniture, you can create a stylish and high-quality space even with a limited budget.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll share tips on how to choose and buy affordable, expensive-looking furniture. Feel free to use this article as a reference when shopping for furniture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.villagehouse.jp\/en\/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;utm_campaign=2022&amp;utm_content=2025-7-18-native-link-1x1-expensivelookingfurniture-enhp-readers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Village House<\/a>, we offer over 1,000 affordable and stylish rental properties all across Japan. If you\u2019re looking for a new place to live, be sure to check out our website!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.villagehouse.jp\/en\/?utm_source=vhblog&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;utm_campaign=2020&amp;utm_content=2019-12-16-static-property-768x300-v1-enhp-sitevisitors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/768x300-EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1862\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/768x300-EN.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/768x300-EN-300x117.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for choosing expensive-looking furniture: \u2460 Pay attention to the design and materials&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-92-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47895\" style=\"width:768px\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-92-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-92-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-92-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-92.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>When selecting affordable, expensive-looking furniture, pay close attention to the design and materials. Scandinavian-style furniture with straight lines and simple yet sophisticated shapes can create a high-quality impression, even at a low price. Moreover, furniture with attention to detail\u2014such as well-designed handles or stylish legs\u2014can create a sense of luxury.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for materials, wooden furniture with a solid grain or pieces made with natural wood veneer are recommended. Iron, steel, and glass elements also offer a sense of weight and elegance, helping the furniture look more expensive than it actually is.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, furniture made from overly glossy plastic or low-quality laminate tends to look cheap, so it\u2019s best to avoid them if possible. By paying attention to the balance between materials and design, even affordable furniture can help create a sophisticated space.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for choosing expensive-looking furniture: \u2461 Keep a consistent color scheme&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-107.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47955\" style=\"width:768px\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-107.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-107-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>When choosing budget-friendly furniture, it\u2019s important to consider the color scheme of the furniture you already have. If the colors and textures of the furniture are all different, the whole room can end up looking cluttered and give off a cheap impression.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t need to stick to just one color for everything, but if you keep it to within three colors\u2014 a base color, a secondary color, and an accent color\u2014it can create a sense of harmony to the space. In particular, basic colors such as white, gray, beige, and black are recommended as they tend to look expensive and are easy to mix and match with other furniture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to wooden furniture, natural colors will give the whole room a bright look, while dark colors will give a calm and luxurious impression. When in doubt, choose colors that match the furniture you already have in order to create a cohesive and sophisticated interior.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips for choosing expensive-looking furniture: \u2462 Incorporate simple designs&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-89-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47883\" style=\"width:768px\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-89-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-89-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-89-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-89.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>A &#8220;simple design&#8221; is an important element to keep in mind when choosing expensive-looking furniture. Because of the minimal decoration, it\u2019s harder to spot the difference between budget and high-end pieces, allowing even affordable furniture to blend naturally into the room. Plus, simple furniture works well with any interior style and won\u2019t disrupt the overall harmony of the room.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, even with simple designs, it\u2019s important not to overlook quality. When purchasing budget furniture, pay close attention to the materials and craftsmanship. Look out for cheap-looking finishes or poor construction\u2014especially in noticeable areas such as legs, joints, and edges.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.villagehouse.jp\/en\/?utm_source=vhblog&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;utm_campaign=2020&amp;utm_content=2019-12-16-static-property-768x300-v1-enhp-sitevisitors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/768x300-EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1862\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/768x300-EN.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/768x300-EN-300x117.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shop for affordable and stylish furniture online&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-101.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47931\" style=\"width:768px\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-101.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-101-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Online shopping offers a convenient way to browse and purchase furniture with a wide variety of options. It saves you the trouble of visiting multiple stores and allows you to compare products of various designs and price ranges from the comfort of your own home. It\u2019s an effective solution for those with busy schedules to find their ideal furniture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there are some points to be aware of when shopping online, such as cases where the color and texture of the product from the image differ from the actual product. To avoid disappointment, choose websites that display high-resolution photos from multiple angles and zoomed-in images so that you can see the true color, detailed design, and size of the furniture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key points to keep in mind when shopping for furniture online<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Measure the installation space and delivery path&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure to check whether the furniture can fit through your front door, hallway, elevator, and other entry points. Additionally, measure the space where you plan to place the furniture to ensure that it isn\u2019t too large for the area.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check the quality of materials and construction&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t decide based on photos alone. Make sure to confirm things like: What material is it made out of? Is the steel plate thick and sturdy? Is the wood solid or veneer? Low-cost materials like MDF or thin metal can often look cheap, so it\u2019s best to avoid them when possible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Understand the return policy and warranty details&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For large furniture pieces, return shipping costs can be quite high. To avoid any unexpected issues, it\u2019s important to check the return policy, shipping fees, assembly costs, and warranty details before making a purchase.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check customer reviews&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Be sure to check user ratings and photos, and pay close attention to customer reviews about their impressions after long-term use\u2014comments such as \u201cthe cushions sag over time\u201d or \u201cthe surface paint starts to peel.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Confirm the total cost, including shipping and assembly fees&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if shipping is free, there may be additional fees for delivery and assembly. For heavy or bulky furniture, setting it up alone can be difficult. To avoid surprises like \u201cthe shipping and assembly ended up costing more than expected,\u201d make sure to review the total cost before making a purchase.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shop for furniture from secondhand shops&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-102.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47935\" style=\"width:768px\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-102.png 1200w, https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-102-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Secondhand or thrift stores are recommended for those looking to find expensive-looking furniture at a low price. You can often find pieces that were originally expensive being sold at affordable prices, and if you choose the ones in good condition, it can feel like they are worth more than their price.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wooden furniture, in particular, is one of the materials that develops character with age. Furniture made from high-quality wood can still be fully functional even if it is a little bit old.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also find stylish secondhand furniture with a retro feel, as well as bargains with unique designs at secondhand stores. If you&#8217;re not in a rush and enjoy the experience of browsing in person, shopping for expensive-looking furniture at thrift stores can be a fun and rewarding option.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.villagehouse.jp\/en\/?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=display&amp;utm_campaign=2022&amp;utm_content=2025-7-18-native-link-1x1-expensivelookingfurniture-enhp-readers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Village House<\/a>, we offer rental properties all across Japan with rent starting from as low as \u00a520,000 per month. Additionally, there are no security deposits, key money, handling fees, or renewal fees\uff08\u203b\uff09. If you&#8217;re looking to save on initial costs and rent, please feel free to contact us anytime!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u203bDepending on the contract details and screening results, a security deposit may be required.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related articles<\/strong><strong>\uff1a<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/moving-tips\/4-tips-to-furnish-your-apartment-in-japan-on-a-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">4 tips to furnish your apartment in Japan on a budget<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/japanese-apartment-life\/a-beginners-guide-to-secondhand-shopping-for-your-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Secondhand Shopping for Your Home<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/japanese-apartment-life\/supporting-sustainability-an-introduction-to-eco-friendly-furniture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Supporting Sustainability: An Introduction to Eco-Friendly Furniture<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/japanese-apartment-life\/how-to-save-money-on-big-household-appliances\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Save Money on Big Household Appliances<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/interior-design\/dining-nook-ideas-for-small-apartments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dining Nook Ideas for Small Apartments<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"sabox-plus-item\"><div class=\"saboxplugin-wrap\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" itemscope itemprop=\"author\"><div class=\"saboxplugin-tab\"><div class=\"saboxplugin-gravatar\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Machiko_ProfilePhoto.jpeg\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" alt=\"\" itemprop=\"image\" title=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"saboxplugin-authorname\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/author\/writer-1-en\/\" class=\"vcard author\" rel=\"author\"><span class=\"fn\">Machiko Doi<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"saboxplugin-desc\"><div itemprop=\"description\"><p class=\"p1\">Hello, I&#8217;m Machiko Doi, a freelance writer who writes about housing and living in Japan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">I live in an 80-year-old house that I inherited from my grandparents along with my two shelter cats and daughter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">We live a relaxed life while repairing the house.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">I like to cook vegetables from the garden and fresh fish caught by my father, and enjoy them with cold beer on a hot day or hot sake on a cold day.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"saboxplugin-socials \"><a title=\"Twitter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/machico_neco\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"saboxplugin-icon-grey\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sab-twitter\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 30 30\"><path d=\"M26.37,26l-8.795-12.822l0.015,0.012L25.52,4h-2.65l-6.46,7.48L11.28,4H4.33l8.211,11.971L12.54,15.97L3.88,26h2.65 l7.182-8.322L19.42,26H26.37z M10.23,6l12.34,18h-2.1L8.12,6H10.23z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many people think that buying stylish furniture will make them exceed their budget. Indeed, it is only natural to want to keep the costs down when furnishing your home.&nbsp; However, buying cheap furniture with poor quality or overly cheap-looking pieces can ruin the overall look of your interior. On the other hand, by choosing expensive-looking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":47871,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interior-design"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47870"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47870\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47871"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}