10 Simple Upgrades to Make Your Home Look Elegant


In Coco Chanel’s words, “Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future.” In other words, elegance is not all about superficiality; elegance is the power of one’s character. You’re here because you want an elegant abode. Good. But here’s the reality: we don’t all have a top-notch interior designer on our speed dial to make our home look elegant. How we wish we do though. If you don’t have one, never fret because you can create a dignified interior on your own!

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Declutter

Unless you’re aiming to land a spot on the next season of Hoarders, don’t wait for New Year to start clearing up your house of unnecessary things. An elegant home is devoid of clutter that exudes unpleasing chaos rather than tie up a space.

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Coat It

Freshen up the walls of your bedroom or living room with an amazing hue. Don’t limit yourself to black and white. They are not the only colors that can add elegance to a space. Earth tones such as tans and grays will create the same effect. You know what looks elegant and striking? Lacquered walls! Glamorize your wall in high gloss Hague Blue a la Miles Redd or a lacquered wall in Rosewood.  

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Patterned Wallcovering

You prefer a busy wall instead of one solid color? No problem! You can try one of the million patterns wallpaper offers. We love this luxurious Martinique wallpaper! You can also go for Kelly Wearstler’s Agate in Taupe and Gold. A hexagon print in noir and gold is irresistible in our book, too!

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Accoutrement

You don’t have to possess a de Kooning or a Fornasetti to achieve an elegant interior. Who are we kidding? They are ultra fabulous! For now, you can substitute. You can go for something symmetrical or go towards an amorphous composition. A gold-trimmed mirror or different sizes of photo frames (with monochrome photos) can produce an  instant luxe vibe. A heap of coffee table books topped with a brass paperweight is another example. A Lucite trunk with gold handles is something to consider as well.  

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Spruce up your window Your choice of curtain design can set an elegant tone to the room. Pick a rich fabric that will not interfere with the rest of the room’s décor. A solid color with fine texture is best. How about coordinating my sofa cover with my curtains? Say, damask? No, darling. Just no.  

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Re-upholster your sofa This is one of the simplest ways to revive a space into elegance. If you want a fail-safe color that will blend well with just about anything, go for black, white, or soft beige. You can always add depth via texture and dimension through different decorative pillow patterns.

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Decorative Pillows

Never underestimate the power of decorative pillows. Equalizing them is an interior faux pas. Play with colors, textures, designs, and sizes. Mix solids with wild prints, or fur with silk.

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Area rug

A great rug can anchor the entire room. It’s that important. When choosing an area rug, always incorporate your lifestyle with the design you like. If you have kids, pets, or if the space is well-used, the rug is naturally highly prone to immediate wear and tear. The solution is to pick a rug with excellent quality. It’ll be cheaper in the long run.  

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Decorate with fresh flowers

Nothing beats the real thing. Nothing exudes elegance like fresh flowers. Peonies in the room? Yes, please! You don’t need an extravagant floral arrangement. Just bundle up a couple stems of lilies, rose, magnolia, bourvardia, and sweet pea.

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Hardware

Replace old drawer handles with sleek pulls. This is an easy DIY with a huge impact. You can try a modern slim barrel or cup pulls for kitchen drawers.   Check out more interior tips here!