People With High-End Decor Taste Always Use These Design Elements

From the moment you step through the door, some homes just feel high-end. You can't put your finger on it, but the house exudes class without relying on a single designer label or flashy, look-at-me decor. Elements work in perfect harmony to balance the rooms with intention and refinement. That's what people with high-end tastes do — they fill their homes with luxury without it coming off as showy or pretentious. The key is to incorporate a few quiet design elements to set your home apart.

High-end elements aren't exclusive to spacious houses or luxury homes. The look can easily be incorporated into any type of house, regardless of its size, aesthetic, or ZIP code. People with high-end tastes have a few core elements in common: Think lush drapery that pools onto the floor or marble countertops highlighted by a wood accent wall. Nothing is random — everything has a purpose, and usually more than one. To make rooms look bigger, they might have an ornate mirror hanging on a wall, which can also be used as a focal point to give additional depth to a space.

While quality goes hand in hand with luxury, that doesn't mean it has to cost an arm and a leg. Even simple changes, like decluttering a room using your smartphone or picking fresh flowers from your garden, can get you closer to a high-end look for next to nothing. When you want your home to scream "high-end," these well-chosen elements are what you need.

For subtle but functional sophistication, an ornate mirror can pull double duty as a work of art — if you know where to place it. In high-end homes, mirrors are used as a focal point above fireplace mantels or leaning against an entryway wall for a last head-to-toe check before heading out the door. Whether gilded gold, carved wood, or antique silver, a mirror instantly makes any space look bigger, regardless of its size.

You can do so much with faux fur decor to add a high-end aesthetic to every room. Luxe interiors have layers of faux fur throws, rugs, and pillows to bring softness and warmth. Toss a faux fur blanket over a chair in the living room or add a faux fur ottoman beside your bed for an understated look. Keep the colors in neutral tones with ivories, taupes, and greys to give them a more realistic appearance.

Homes with a luxe vibe all have one thing in common: They aren't cluttered. Decluttering is the cheapest and easiest way to elevate your home into one filled with luxury and minimalism. But that doesn't mean you have to keep things stark and impersonal. It's about intentional decor that makes it look like an area of your home was made especially for that piece of decor. Pro tip: All you need to declutter any room in your home is your phone's camera.

Bring an air of luxury to your space with floral decor. Flowers and greenery add showy color and warmth to any room, delivering a high-end element that doesn't have to cost a fortune to get. The best part is that real flowers are always changing, so as soon as one set wilts, you can replace it with a new bunch. Even if faux florals are more up your alley, you can add them to a clear vase and put a little water inside for a realistic effect.

Playing with textures in a room makes it feel layered and curated. People with high-end decor taste combine a variety of rich elements, like a velvet sofa on top of a jute rug, a faux fur throw pillow tossed on a boucle armchair, or a leather loveseat with a wood-grain coffee table. Just be sure you know which textures don't belong together — for example, avoid layering similar-looking fabrics like velvet and mohair and matching textures to adjacent rooms.

Ditch the builder-grade faucets, light fixtures, and other hardware filling up your home and replace them with something that stands out. Whether that's upgrading to trendy cabinet hardware that makes your kitchen look more expensive or door handles that shine with a metallic-y gold hue, luxury aesthetics don't settle for basic and ordinary. Instead, you'll see opulent hardware like waterfall faucets in sinks or rainfall showerheads in bathrooms. 

High-end decor relies on subtleties. Accent lighting is just the element to give rooms a magazine-worthy glow without a ton of effort. It's picture lights above artwork, wall sconces surrounding a mirror, spotlights that shine on a textured accent wall, or, like us, lights underneath kitchen cabinets. This type of layered illumination can even be added to unexpected areas, like behind mirrors or underneath cabinets, to give them an instant light show.

In homes that rely on high-end decor, area rugs are a common theme. They add a refinement that can help tie the whole look together by anchoring your space and giving it a curated aesthetic. The key is to find an area rug that fits your decor style and the proportions of the room. A quality area rug is a room's finishing touch — it should complement the other tones without overpowering them. 

Window treatments can make or break a room. That's why people with high-end tastes tend to pick drapes with bold patterns or lush fabrics that effortlessly blend with their decor. If you have outdated curtains lying around, there are plenty of creative ways to give them a fresh, modern upgrade that can take them from eyesore to high-end decor. Tip: Hang the curtain rods closer to the ceiling to make lower ceilings look much taller.

Don't underestimate the power of vintage furniture and antique decor. They're some of the best ways to bring a timeless, classic, high-end aesthetic to your space. Thrift stores and estate sales are treasure troves if you're looking for unique home decor. Brand-new items like crystal chandeliers or handmade solid wood cabinets can cost thousands but retail for way less at secondhand stores. Chances are, you'll find something totally unique without spending a fortune.

Instead of putting mass-produced decor inside their homes, people who have high-end tastes want their homes to stand out, and that means opting for bespoke, one-of-a-kind elements. This can be handmade wood panels made by a local artisan or a commissioned wall mural from your favorite artist. Bespoke elements tell a story that can reflect your personality and make your space feel intentional, which is the ultimate sign of high-end decor.

With the right materials and setup, bathrooms can be personal retreats. People with high-end tastes prefer their bathrooms to have a serene, soothing atmosphere that doubles as a spa-like sanctuary. Elements like a freestanding bathtub, plush towels, warm wood tones, a motion-activated toilet, and an unexpected light fixture that flatters the space can work together to make all the difference. 

When you live in a house that explodes with high-end decor, it's important to keep it monitored with the most advanced technology. That's one reason you'll find the latest tech inside these homes. Whether it's a security system or total home automation that controls motorized shades and the outside light schedule, technology enhances the atmosphere without interfering with the aesthetic. These gadgets are almost built into the architecture, making them invisible home integrations.

Architectural molding is that additional step you don't need to take, but it can mean the difference between a house that stands out and one that's just meh. A framed entryway subtly separates spaces without closing them off, and don't feel limited to doorways — put faux molding around any type of opening, like surrounding windows or along the ceiling and walls. You can add trim to existing baseboards for a seamless DIY accent wall.

We love the look of a wallpaper patch on a ceiling, especially with a statement light fixture hanging from it. While the ceiling is an often overlooked element, people with high-end decor taste see the untapped potential. A wallpapered ceiling draws the eye upward and gives the room a custom feel. Whether it's layered in dining rooms, powder rooms, or bedrooms, wallpapering your ceiling is one of the best ways to bring a posh aesthetic to an otherwise ordinary space.