how to start a luxury candle company 10.
How to Design Packaging That Looks Expensive (Without Blowing the Budget)
I love nothing more than a budget challenge!
I know that might sound strange, but I seem to get my most creative when I have budget constraints. Luxury packaging doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag. High-end brands invest in premium materials and finishes, but great design choices can create a sophisticated look without blowing your budget. Here are some tips on how to make packaging look and feel upscale while keeping costs under control.
1. Keep Packaging Design Clean and Focused
Overly complex packaging can feel cheap. High-end brands often embrace simplicity, using carefully placed design elements to create impact. A refined, super- intentional approach works best:
Ample white space – Let the design breathe rather than filling every inch.
A cohesive color palette – Neutral tones, monochrome, or deep, rich colors convey elegance.
One bold feature – A striking logo, unique shape, or unexpected texture can make a lasting impression.
A well-balanced design with fewer elements often looks more expensive than something overloaded with graphics and text.
2. Elevate with Texture and Finishes
The feel of packaging in your hands is just as important as its look. Certain finishes instantly add a premium touch, and using them selectively keeps costs manageable:
Soft-touch matte coating – Creates a velvety, upscale feel.
Foil stamping – A touch of metallic detailing adds sophistication.
Spot UV gloss – Highlights key areas like logos, logo marks or patterns with contrast.
Embossing or debossing – Adds dimension without requiring extra color or graphics.
Combining matte and gloss elements can make a design feel more dynamic without increasing production costs significantly.
3. Use a Strong, Refined Color Palette
Luxury brands rarely rely on overly trendy colors. Instead, they lean into timeless, sophisticated tones:
Deep, moody shades (black, navy, emerald, burgundy)
Classic neutrals (warm taupe, soft gray, cream)
High-contrast combinations (black and white, gold on dark backgrounds)
Printing a single metallic or white ink on a colored stock can look even more impactful than full-color printing and can be a budget-friendly alternative.
4. Choose Typography with Intention
Typography is a powerful tool in luxury design. The right font choices can instantly add polish:
Elegant serif fonts – Perfect for timeless, refined branding.
Modern sans-serifs – Clean and contemporary with a minimalist feel.
Subtle customizations – Small tweaks to letterforms can make typography feel unique.
Avoid generic, overused fonts—custom lettering or a well-paired font combination can make a brand stand out.
5. Maximize Your Printing Budget
Smart printing choices can make a design feel more expensive without extra cost,
Single-color printing on premium paper – A rich stock with black or metallic ink can feel high-end without requiring complex printing techniques.
Minimalist labeling – Clear or subtly printed labels on glass or matte packaging create a sleek, upscale look.
Thoughtful material choices – A thicker paper or textured finish can be more effective than excessive design elements.
Sometimes, reducing the number of colors or special finishes allows you to invest in better materials, which can make a bigger impact overall.
Thoughtful Design = Affordable Luxury
plus, one of my best secrets to creating beautiful packaging...
Creating expensive-looking packaging isn’t about adding more, it’s about making smart, intentional choices. A streamlined design, strategic textures, refined typography, and careful material selection can transform a simple package into something that feels premium.
And just to be sure to remind you (yet) again, YOUR BRAND STORY plays a huge part in these decisions.
My last and possibly most important suggestion for creating beautiful packaging is a great relationship with your printer/manufacturer. Learn about their capabilities, learn about what they specialize in, ask quesitons, ask what cardstock they like to work with and listen to them, they are experts at what they do and although they aren't designing your packaging, they could very well help you get your packaging from good to great. Working with printers/manufacturers is teamwork, treat your relationships with them like you would your own team!
