If you’re someone who prefers personalized car interior upgrades over buying a more expensive vehicle, you’ve come to the right place. With the following list of DIY car upgrades, you can make your car’s interior look more upscale, even without an unlimited budget. Go one step further by enhancing the cabin with a luxury car freshener exclusively from Drift.

Why Small Upgrades Make Your Car’s Interior Feel Luxurious

Attention to detail and an eye for styling can help elevate any car interior, whether it’s a compact hatch, a bulky SUV, a family minivan, or anything in between. In fact, if you think about car interior decor like a designer, focusing on materials and finishes can steer you in the right direction. It’s the same concept behind refreshed models that reflect more modern styling cues. 

So, how can you approach car interior upgrades without going over budget? Start by swapping out basic materials for premium finishes and decorative accents. Then add subtle ambient lighting. 

Next, capitalize on functionality with technology additions that also bring a sense of character to the mix. You can also integrate soft-touch surfaces for enhanced creature comforts. Finally, install high-quality protective materials—like floor mats and seat covers—to keep the luxe feel without sacrificing longevity.

How to Choose the Best Car Interior Upgrades for Your Vehicle

Deciding to upgrade your car’s interior is one thing, but determining exactly where you’ll put your funds and attention is yet another. Use the steps below to discover the best place to center your efforts. 

Consider Your Car’s Style and Age

A car’s age and its corresponding technology are key points to consider when making upgrades to your car’s interior. The style can also make a difference in whether you focus on technological upgrades or enhancements more geared toward the more prominent and useful features. 

Prioritize Improving Your Car’s Look and Comfort

When car upgrades are focused on creature comforts rather than technology, they’re often done to make the ride more pleasant. For example, a custom shift knob can make any manual car more fun to shift. Contributing to a car’s overall aesthetic can also drive car interior upgrades.

Balance Budget With ROI

Getting the most bang for your buck is the name of the game with most upgrades, whether they involve a car’s interior or exterior. As you list the many car interior upgrades you want to make, consider which offers the most return on investment (ROI). 

Check (and Double-Check) Compatibility

Any enhancement you make to your car’s interior should pass the compatibility check as a priority. If whatever component you purchase doesn’t fit your vehicle, it’s money wasted. 

Consider Longevity

Although closely associated with ROI, an upgrade’s longevity also depends on how often you use the upgraded accessory. If you plan on using the upgrade a lot, consider purchasing a sturdier version to withstand the excess use. 

Align With Your Personal Style

No car interior upgrade goes into the shopping cart without resonating with your personal style. Common styling cues include colors, patterns, textures, and form. 

Top Car Interior Upgrades for Instant Luxury

Upgrading your vehicle to make it look more luxurious might be a tall order, but with the ideas below, it’s easy enough to get the creative juices flowing. What concepts will you use to make your own car interior upgrades? 

Custom Shift Knob

Admittedly, shift knobs are quickly becoming a thing of the past, especially as more automotive manufacturers switch to different shifting methods. However, if your vehicle still has a shift knob, there are plenty of customizable options you can choose from to express your personality. You can upgrade everything from shape and color to texture and size.

Drift Luxury Car Freshener

Choose from Drift’s exclusive lineup of Wood, Stone, and Metal car fresheners to upgrade not only your car’s interior, but also the ambiance. These signature car fresheners feature essential and fragrance oil blends infused into sustainably sourced alder wood, organic stone, and alloy metal. They’re also free from harsh chemicals, vegan, cruelty-free, and safe for use around pets and young children.

Ambient Lighting Kit

Contribute to the mood you set with a Drift luxury car freshener by complementing it with ambient lighting. These kits can easily be installed in your vehicle in a short amount of time. Plus, they’re great for achieving a calm demeanor behind the wheel, especially in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Wireless Charger

Besides an ambient lighting kit, a wireless charger is one of the most prominent technological upgrades you can make to your vehicle. Wireless chargers enable you to juice up your phone while you’re commuting, running errands, or driving to pick up the kids. If your car didn’t come with a wireless charger from the factory, consider adding one yourself. 

Carbon Fiber Trim

This car interior decor choice doesn’t jive with everyone’s style, but it’s an upscale upgrade that speaks volumes. Many supercars incorporate carbon fiber trim because of its aesthetic and lightweight form. 

Premium Storage

As utilitarian as premium storage sounds, it’s a true luxury upgrade when you consider how much you store in your vehicle. Upscale storage solutions help keep your vehicle organized so you can quickly find what you’re looking for. They can also help maintain items that are prone to rolling around or tipping over as you drive.

Ceramic Window Tint

You can either choose to install ceramic window tint yourself or pay a professional to complete the job. Ceramic window tint protects your car’s interior from harmful UV rays, keeps the cabin at a comfortable temperature—depending on the season—and doesn’t affect your ability to see out the car windows. It can be a bit more expensive than some of the other upgrades on the list, but it’s a worthy investment. 

Elevate Your Drive, One Car Interior Upgrade at a Time

Car interior upgrades can turn any daily commute into a rewarding journey behind the wheel. Whether you make your own DIY car upgrades or use those listed above, enhancing the interior personalizes the space to you. Continue that endeavor with a Drift signature car freshener designed to elevate any car interior decor.