It's a common misconception that decorating your home with expensive pieces is the only way to make it stand out. Whether you want a minimalist, modern, bohemian or eclectic design aesthetic, there are a myriad of options to enhance your space without going over budget. To inspire your next look, we asked 15 inspirational interior designers to share their favorite home pieces. They give insight on how they made the decor work for their style, and they offer useful advice on how you can, too.
When it comes to planning your home's overall look, you can always find ideas and similar products to complement current design trends (don't miss our roundup of smart decor ideas for 2022). And if you have a passion for crafts, consider adding character to your home with creative DIY home decor projects or upcycling your pieces. Before you even think of renovating and buying an excessive amount of decor that might break the bank, see how these designers beautify homes in a cost-effective way.
Use Brass Accents for a Glamorous Look
Joy Williams, founder of Joyful Designs Studio, gets her inspiration from her travels. She showcases a photo of a shared entryway for two luxury condos in a David Adler property in Chicago — where the space was designed with brass accents, saturated colors and an original artwork she commissioned from a local Chicago artist. "I think all of these things make this room pop and makes one want to linger to discover its secrets," Williams says.
Design Tip: When it comes to making your room stand out, Williams recommends incorporating brass urns or bowls. In this case, they mimicked the accent knobs on the credenza for earthiness and glamour.
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Add a Playful Element With the Juxtaposition of Abstract Art
Caron Woolsey, founder and principal designer of CW Interiors, designed this stately older home with the juxtaposition of abstract art on parchment paper. "The geometry of the art instantly adds an unexpected and playful dynamic to this family room that boasts gorgeous millwork," Woolsey says. "The antiquing and aged paper grounds the overall artisanal energy of this room and the people who reside there."
Create Drama With an Oversized Mirror
Mirrors have the power to brighten up a space by reflecting extra light from your table lamp. This is exactly why Ashley DeLapp, founder and principal designer of Ashley DeLapp Interior Design, transformed this bedroom with an oversized vintage mirror. "The mirrors help showcase the vintage lamps and bedside accessories that otherwise would’ve gotten lost against such a busy pattern," DeLapp says. When shopping for mirrors on your own, she recommends keeping your proportions, the height of the headboard and lamps, and width of the nightstands in mind.
Design Tip: "You want to leave 3"4" on each side of your mirror and a 3 "5" space above your nightstand," DeLapp says. "I typically go for rectangular shapes since they draw your eye up and make a room feel larger."
Display Your Books in a Unique Way
According to Andi Morse, founder and principal designer of Morse Design, you can easily modify your home by using books in a different way. Instead of simply displaying them on your bookshelves, you can reverse them so the pages are shown. "Books that you have lying around the house can be used, as well as picking some up at Goodwill or house sales," Morse says. "They are extremely affordable and create a sophisticated look that grabs your attention."
Give the Chairs a Pop of Color
"Using dining chairs as the pop of color is a great way to show a bold aesthetic even in a contemporary dining space," says Beth Diana Smith, founder of Beth Diana Smith Interiors. "To achieve this look in an affordable way, you can reupholster your existing chairs or paint the frame of the chair which is a great DIY."
Smith's Tip: If you're looking for a quicker update, use colorful scent pillows for a fun dining experience.
Decorate With Vintage Art
"I love the idea that one amazing piece can finish or dazzle a space, and oftentimes a vintage piece can do the trick," says Hillary Stamm of HSM Interiors. And when it came to designing this office space, antique art was incorporated to create a gorgeous, moody and throwback look. "The vintage art with the old library details against the textured paint makes the whole space go from good to unforgettable."
Feature Area Rugs
Abigail Marcelo, founder of Casa Marcelo, enjoys spending countless hours sourcing area rugs. Marcelo believes they set the tone and foundation in her projects. "A patterned rug is my favorite kind of rug to source, even if it's a small-scale pattern," Marcelo says. "Pattern adds texture to a space and is great in laying the foundation for the palette to contrast with."
This office's rug was chosen to make a statement and to be a soft underfoot. "The geometry of the pattern draws your eye around the room and the style offers a slightly bohemian vibe," Marcelo says. "The bold black and ivory color also allows the greens and golds in the room to really pop."
Design Tip: When it comes to choosing the right rug for your space, Marcelo stresses the importance of getting samples first and choosing a pattern that ties some of your favorite colors together.
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Add Color to Your Bed Frames
There are so many ways to revamp your bedroom — including adding color to your bed frames. Shaolin Low of Studio Shaolin chose blue bed frames from Amazon for a vacation rental. They help bring out the color in all the other aspects of the design. "It was something simple and easy, but definitely packs a bunch," Low says. "If you're looking for high impact with low cost, a colorful headboard or bed frame can add a lot to a space!"
Make Your Fridge Stand Out
Chicago-based interior designer, Kate Marker, finds this retro-inspired and warm salmon-colored fridge to be the kitchen's show stopper. The Big Chill fridge lends a sense of time standing still in her eclectic cottage in southwest Michigan's picturesque Harbor Country. "The grounded but whimsical color warms the space and complements the sun-soaked color palette of greens, woods and warm whites," Marker tells us. "It is a design choice meant to invoke joy when spending time in a vacation mindset with loved ones."And if you're unable to invest in a Big Chill fridge, don't hesitate finding one that'll compliment your cooking area.
Make a Pool Table Your Statement Piece
Rebecca Rollins of Rebecca Rollins Interiors found an affordable pool table for their Moondust Project. "This pool table is one I will let stand in the middle of the game room that is open to the family room and kitchen," she says. With its metal base, warm wood tone and black felt, it makes a beautiful statement in the room.
Hide Clutter in Woven Floor Baskets
As the founder and principal designer of NJA Interiors, Naïka Andre combines her Haitian heritage with her love of travel to make eye-catching and vibrant designs throughout a space. In her client's home, they included a colorful Senegalese woven floor basket into the design that she purchased from a local small business in Brooklyn, NY. While her clients use it to store blankets, the storage possibilities are endless. "It’s multifunctional and works in various settings," Naïka says. "You can use it as a shoe bin in your entryway, a laundry hamper in your bathroom or to store toys in the family room."
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LuxiLilyBaskets Cotton Rope Basket with Corn Skin
Consider Wallpaper Murals or Painting Your Own
Emma started her design firm, Emma Beryl Interiors, in 2015. With her work, you'll find a combination of vintage and modern pieces, along with a mix of unexpected materials that make a room pop. This includes designing this kids room with a striking mural — perfect for bringing creativity and a sense of adventure into a space. "When you are designing a kid's room, it's important to embrace color and imagination to make the space come to life," she says. "I love that this mural feels appropriate for a toddler, but will also be something that an older child will love, too." Emma considers a kid's room to be one of "the best places to take chances and do something fun."
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ElegantWalls Watercolor Forest Animal Wallpaper
Feature Botanical Artwork
Bria Hammel, founder and creative director of Bria Hammel Interiors, loves adding botanical artwork to projects. "For our Fargo Project’s sunroom, we opted for this black and white eucalyptus art, as it adds the perfect pop of contrast against the white fireplace mantel for a graphic, statement moment," she says. If you don't have a green thumb but love plants, botanical artwork can be easily incorporated into any part of your home for a lively aesthetic.
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Add Greenery to the Space
Atlanta-based designer Imani James, uses fresh flowers and plants in her interiors. "Fresh greenery is particularly attractive when included in vignettes, on top of nightstands and placed in empty corners," she says. "Hydrangeas and orchids add an instant touch of elegance." Her favorite plants are Monsteras, Birds of Paradise and snake plants for their ability to take up space in empty nooks, while improving indoor air quality.
Imani's note: "Snake plants help convert used-up carbon dioxide back into oxygen as you sleep at night. So, they are especially beneficial in the bedroom!"
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Create Photo Gallery Walls
As the founder of Ivyleaf Interior Decor, Jeannelly Jay enjoys creating photo galleries to spruce up empty walls — especially in common areas such as entryways or living rooms. While adding character to your interior, she also believes they make great conversation starters. "The best way to create a photo wall is to pick images that you absolutely love, printed in the same orientation," she explains. "Whether vertical or horizontal, as long as the sizes of the pictures are the same, you can create a design that is clean and symmetrical."
Jeannelly's design tip: You can easily arrange photo walls with measuring tape, a pencil and a level (to ensure they're hung perfectly). If you find the task to be too difficult, she suggests hiring a handyman for a mess-free installation.
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Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
