50 Elegant Home Design Ideas From Interior Design Experts

1 | Paint your kitchen cabinetry.

You don’t need to completely renovate your kitchen to make it more sophisticated. Michael Valente, managing partner of Renovation Sells, recommends “painting quality wood cabinets a soft white or neutral color [to] completely transform the space.”

2 | Replace your cabinet hardware.

That hardware your cabinets came with isn’t exactly screaming “elegance.” Fortunately, all it takes is a minor swap to fix that. “Changing out the bar pulls or knobs on your kitchen cabinets is an easy and inexpensive way to make your kitchen look more like a custom high-end space,” says designer Rachel Street of Philly Revival on the DIY Network. She recommends upgrading to brushed gold accents, and adding a matching faucet for a cohesive look.

3 | Wallpaper your powder room.

While adding wallpaper to a full bathroom may be a tricky proposition due to mold, wallpapering your powder room is an easy way to upgrade it. “Use a fun pattern in a powder room to make a neutral space more dramatic,” says Street.

If you tend to be indecisive, removable wallpaper is a great option, she notes.

4 | Upgrade to an ornate bathroom mirror.

That plain, frameless bathroom mirror that came with your home isn’t exactly a stylish statement piece. Street says you can “simply switch out your bathroom mirrors for something more custom and unique,” like something with an ornate frame or inlaid details. And remember: “With mirrors, bigger is almost always better!” she says.

5 | Install some crown molding.

While it may seem like a small detail, a little crown molding can instantly change the feel of any room, adding that elegant touch you crave. “Crown molding makes a bold but elegant statement in any larger room, such as the kitchen and dining room, by drawing eyes upward and instilling a sense of grandeur,” says Southern California house flipper Caleb Liu, owner of House Simply Sold.

6 | Add wainscoting to your walls.

A little wainscoting is all it takes to transform a plain room into an elegant space. “Wainscoting is a fantastic addition to visually break up a long stretch of boring drywall,” says Liu.

Simply remove your baseboards and do some careful measuring before getting started on this DIY project.

7 | Paint your walls navy.

Color makes a big difference when it comes to your walls—and opting for a deep blue hue might be the perfect way to tie things together. “If you’re ready to upgrade your living space from mismatched to elegant, consider using navy as either the main focal point or as a gorgeous accent color,” says Jessica Harris, interior designer at Living Spaces.

8 | And pair dark walls with light trim.

A little contrasting paint can make a huge difference when it comes to making your home look more elegant and sophisticated. “Switching out builder basic white paint for rich colors with bright white trim is [a] way to add elegance to a space,” says Street.

9 | Embrace white rooms.

That said, you don’t necessarily need to go bold with the color on your walls to create an elegant space. “For a tranquil ambiance, you want white or a tinted white, which enables everything else in the space to stand out,” says interior designerVicente Wolf.

10 | Declutter.

There’s nothing that can make your home look disheveled faster than objects that seem out of place. “Think of your home as a little black dress—not necessarily formal, but elegant in its clear vision,” says Wolf. He explains that the ideal room is "free of clutter and extraneous objects.”

11 | Hang a mirror in your entryway.

Make your home feel larger and more elegant in one fell swoop by investing in a hallway mirror. “There is no easier way to make an entryway feel open and relaxed, but also pulled-together and elegant, than with a crisp, stunning mirror,” says Harris.

Place it across from a large window or next to a vase of flowers for a particularly chic vignette.

12 | Install a statement overhead light fixture.

Some statement overhead lighting can make all the difference in how elegant a room looks and feels.

“Choose a dramatic light fixture for your dining room, living room, or bedroom,” says Street. “Add a beautiful chandelier in the living room or install interesting pendants over your kitchen island,” she suggests.

13 | Invest in some stylish sconces.

Looking for an easy way to turn a mundane room into something marvelous? “Add wall sconces on either side of your bed or bathroom vanity,” says Street. “Statement light fixtures can add interest and elegance to an otherwise neutral room.”

14 | Or add antique-style lamps to your nightstands.

If you’re eager to make your home more elegant, try swapping out your modern table lamps for ones that evoke a bygone era. Javier Fernandez, founder of Transitional Designs, suggests “incorporating two porcelain table lamps” with brass accents to “bring the feeling of luxury to your room.”

15 | Cover your windows with pleated drapes.

Upgrading your window treatments is as simple as investing in some pleated drapes. Fernandez recommends adding pinch-pleated drapes to lend some sophistication to your space. “Add a beautiful trim and then you can go from plain to extraordinary,” he says.

16 | Mix sizes and textures on your bed.

Uniformity does not necessarily make for an elegant bedroom. “The trick to making your bed look like one of those super inviting beds you see in catalogues is to add different layers and height,” says Street.

Her recommendation? “Start with a crisp set of sheets, add a blanket and a fluffy comforter—folded back to see the different layers—then add pillows of different sizes.”

17 | Opt for a taller headboard.

Adding a little height to your bed frame can instantly elevate the look your bedroom. “A higher headboard will add some drama and elegance to the space,” says Street.

18 | Pare down your dresser.

Another key element for any elegant bedroom is a sparsely decorated dresser. “Try to resist the urge to display every trinket, knick-knack, or souvenir you can find—no matter how pretty it may be,” says Harris.

She suggests choosing two or three accent pieces to display instead.

19 | Assemble some small collections.

While you may not want tchotchkes cluttering up every surface in your home, a few well-curated collections can add elegance to your space. “A small personal collection of items can be put together on a mirror or silver tray to give them more prominence and instant elegance,” says Nisha MacNeil, design manager of Kerr Construction & Design.

20 | Maintain a cohesive design style.

Maintaining a cohesive aesthetic from room to room in your home can make the whole space seem more stylish.

“There should be a flow, a purpose, a direction from the exterior through to the rooms,” says MacNeil. “For instance, if the home has a traditional Colonial exterior, then that style should remain the focus for the interior.”

21 | Invest in pieces with history.

A few antiques could be the key to creating the sophisticated aesthetic you’re going for. “Invest in quality pieces that have history,” says MacNeil. "This could mean obtaining an heirloom china cabinet or a beautiful Persian rug.”

22 | And give curved furniture a chance.

Straight lines don’t always scream sophistication—but a curved sofa or armchair certainly will. “A simple way to make a room feel elegant is by choosing furniture with graceful silhouettes,” says interior designer Diana Weinstein. "Curved silhouettes in furniture always look elegant and elevated."

23 | Purchase some pieces with exposed feet.

Do away with the fabrics that graze the floor and opt for a few pieces of furniture with visible—and preferably eye-catching—feet. “When selecting upholstery, I select styles with exposed feet that are slender as opposed to ones that are chunky [or] block-like,” says Weinstein.

24 | Invest in a silk or velvet sofa.

Cotton and leather have their place, but choosing sofas made of alternative fabrics can make your living room look even more stylish. “Luxe fabrics... such as silk and velvet add dimension to a room,” notes Weinstein.

25 | Choose furniture and accents in natural materials.

When it comes to your furniture, natural materials are another great way to go. “Reclaimed woods and high-quality metals and stones call to mind the serene beauty of nature and add lasting allure to any home,” says interior designer Sarah Barnard of Sarah Barnard Design.

26 | Opt for some high gloss furniture.

Opting for glossy furniture instead of matte finishes can make a world of difference when it comes to how sophisticated your home appears. “Metallic and high gloss wood finishes really give an elegant and elevated vibe,” says Weinstein.

27 | And choose darker wood pieces.

And if you're looking to make your space look luxe, opt for darker wood pieces. “While light woods are excellent for their brightening and calming effect, the lush, earthy shades of walnut, ebony, and oak feel historic and rich for a timeless and dignified environment,” says Barnard.

28 | Break up matching sets.

Think a perfectly matched living room set screams sophistication? Think again. “A quick and easy fix is to replace the throw pillows that automatically come with a purchased sofa or sectional for more creative throw pillows,” says Bo Keuleers, interior design manager at MVA Home.

29 | Minimize the number of patterns in any given space.

Competing patterns and prints aren’t doing much for your home’s aesthetic. Instead, try mixing materials. “When we are working on an elegant scheme, we keep patterns and prints to a minimum and focus on the textures and sheens of the items we are bringing into the space,” says Weinstein.

30 | Add a textured throw to your sofa.

Want to spruce up your sofa? A textured throw is the perfect way to transform it. “A comfortable yet chic cashmere throw strewn on the back of a sofa is a great accent piece,” says designer Christina Nielsen of Christina Nielsen Design.

31 | Set out some stacked books.

A thoughtfully curated stack of books is another great way to make your home look more sophisticated in an instant. “This adds texture and density to a room without needing to spend a lot,” says Nielsen, who recommends Assouline books for their visual appeal.

32 | Add candles to your rooms.

Candles aren’t just for date night—they’re also a great way to make your home more elegant overall. “Le Labo, Diptyque, and Jo Malone all have the most beautiful packaging that work in any room, and the candlelight with dim overhead lighting completely transforms a space,” says Nielsen.

33 | Give greenery a go.

A few plants can infuse any room with some much-needed style. “Invest in a fiddle leaf fig tree for long-lasting effect in the corner of a room, [or] proteas or an orchid on a kitchen counter to make the room pop,” says Nielsen.

34 | Or set out some fake plants.

Faux plants have come a long way since the heyday of silk flowers in the ‘80s. “[Place] faux plants on a case piece or small trees in the corner of a room to add color and life,” suggests Keuleers.

35 | Paint an accent wall.

A single wall painted in a standout color can instantly liven up any room. “I would typically recommend going with a color that is darker to include contrast to the room or a fun vibrant color,” says Keuleers.

36 | Or wallpaper one.

Want to make an even bolder statement? “Another alternative is utilizing a patterned wallpaper,” says Keuleers. Just remember to choose patterns that won't compete with the furniture in your space.

37 | Invest in artwork by emerging artists.

You don’t need a home full of Matisses and Renoirs to make your home look like a million bucks. Nielsen says you can purchase work from emerging artists to start a collection without breaking the bank. “No matter your budget, artwork with personal meaning is a staple... and an accent that will never go out of style,” she says.

38 | And opt for larger pieces of art.

While a collection of smaller pieces of art can create a fun focal point in a room, larger pieces can completely transform it. “Grand works of art bring welcome drama and style and can make a room feel expansive,” says Barnard. She explains that well-placed art “contributes peace and refinement to any space.”

39 | Upgrade to a unique dining table.

Your table is the centerpiece of your dining room, so invest in one that’s got some interesting details. According to Nielsen, your dining room table “is the perfect chance to do something different.”

A Scandinavian wood table in particular is “sleek yet durable,” she says, and can easily transition from dining room to office furniture.

40 | Reupholster your dining room chairs in luxe fabrics.

If you’re not in love with your current dining room chairs, before buying a new set, consider reupholstering them in a luxe toile or striped fabric. “Reupholstery is a simple way to change the look of your room,” says Nielsen, noting Christopher Moore’s elegant prints can provide a nice change of pace.

41 | Lay down a sisal rug.

Move over, fluffy carpet—sisal is the resilient and elegant material your floors need. According to Nielsen, a sisal rug is a “timeless investment.”

“The texture works in any kind of aesthetic, and it is also very resistant to serious staining, which is an issue with most carpets that prove more delicate than durable,” she says.

42 | Match your carpet to your walls.

Want an easy way to make your space look more elegant? Opt for carpet and wall paint in the same hue. “Match your carpet to your walls for a dramatic, monochrome effect,” says Kellie Sirna, co-founder and principal of Studio 11 Design.

If you want an edgier look, “pair a sleek carpet with textured walls for an unexpected aesthetic,” she suggests.

43 | Create a gallery wall of mirrors.

Family photos and art aren’t the only items that can create a gorgeous gallery wall. “For those who are more eclectic and love to collect unique pieces, you can create a gallery wall of mirrors accumulated over time,” says Keuleers.

Playing with scale and shape or creating a grid of uniform mirrors are both good choices to add appeal and elegance to your space.

44 | Or add some wood paneling.

While ‘70s faux wood paneling isn’t exactly sophisticated, creating a real wood accent wall “can add some serious elegance and wow factor, especially on a fireplace wall,” says Nicole Gittens, principal designer at New Visions Interiors and Events.

According to Gittens, painting the paneling can give it an even more sophisticated feel.

45 | Install hardwood flooring.

That dingy wall-to-wall carpeting isn’t doing your home any favors. “Hardwood immediately updates and improves the look of every room,” says Marty Basher, a design expert with Modular Closets. And if that's too expensive, imitation wood flooring can similarly transform your space on a budget.

46 | Invest in some metallic accents.

Just a few shiny pieces throughout your space—think frames, vases, and pillows with a metallic finish—can completely change it for the better. “Using gold or silver metallics strategically throughout a space will lift its elegance,” says Basher.

47 | Update your light switch covers.

Even the tiniest details can add tons of elegance to your home. “Simply switching up your light switches… can already do a lot toward increasing the elegant appeal of your home,” says Amira Johnson, interior designer with Emerald Doors.

48 | Give your front door a makeover.

It’s not just interior finishes that can make or break your house's aesthetic. A new front door can completely transform your home, too. “A new front door adds character to your home, creates a great first impression for visitors, and, as an important bonus, it helps your home save energy by preventing hot and cold air transference,” says Eamon Lynch, director of warranty service at Power Home Remodeling.

Lynch recommends upgrading to a low-maintenance steel or fiberglass door with a windowed surround to allow more natural light inside.

49 | Add shutters.

Want another way to boost your home's curb appeal? Try adding some shutters. “Shutters are important design elements that help distinguish your home,” says Lynch, who notes that this is an easy project to complete with little more than a drill and a ladder.

50 | Revamp your front porch.

Your home's elegant factor starts from the outside in. And another place you can up your chic factor is with your front porch style. “Keep it simple with a great wreath that has just one color or a monochromatic tone-on-tone look that also contrasts from the color of the door,” says Lindsay Schleis, vice president of business development at Polywood.

She suggests investing in a coordinating front door mat and some complementary planters to seal the deal.