Decorating Guides
Why You Must Choose Elegance Over Trends
Elegance is not just a collection of decorating elements – it's the key to a serene and stylish home
Elegance is found in surprising places – a mathematical formula, the stretch of a cat, a dancer’s posture, a haiku. Elegance has nothing to do with conspicuous luxury or designer labels. It’s an elusive quality that can’t be bought, yet it’s something many of us would like to have in our lives. Let’s explore what elegance means and how it can deliver joy and beauty to our homes.
Elegance and minimalism are often used in the same breath, but they aren’t the same thing. True minimalism is introspective and disciplined, and relies on deliberate scarcity for effect. Elegance has more generosity, aiming to delight both decorator and observer.
This living room, while minimally furnished, oozes elegance. Without the distraction of clutter, it’s calm and inviting, with warmth and comfort that come from colours and textures.
This living room, while minimally furnished, oozes elegance. Without the distraction of clutter, it’s calm and inviting, with warmth and comfort that come from colours and textures.
Elegance is timeless
Trends, a word that makes some flinch and others’ pulse race, are what keep design wheels turning. Today, they come and go like lightning, many lucky to last two years. Wholesale adoption of what’s new is a formula for a home that lacks personality and will rapidly date. Greenery, however, never goes out of fashion, and this room is quietly elegant and timeless.
To quote designer Marcel Wanders, “nothing ages more quickly than ‘newness’”.
Trends, a word that makes some flinch and others’ pulse race, are what keep design wheels turning. Today, they come and go like lightning, many lucky to last two years. Wholesale adoption of what’s new is a formula for a home that lacks personality and will rapidly date. Greenery, however, never goes out of fashion, and this room is quietly elegant and timeless.
To quote designer Marcel Wanders, “nothing ages more quickly than ‘newness’”.
Trends don’t take the place of individuality. Being selective and choosing only those ‘in’ elements you really love keeps an elegant interior fresh and personal.
If a trend speaks to your elegant side, just a little will fit seamlessly into your decor. One example is rose gold, which hit the headlines a few years ago. The warm metallic knocked chrome and silver off the scene, but has become somewhat tired from slavish overuse. Used sparingly as it is here – and only because you love it – means that you’ll always enjoy it.
Wondering what’s the best colour combination with rose gold?
If a trend speaks to your elegant side, just a little will fit seamlessly into your decor. One example is rose gold, which hit the headlines a few years ago. The warm metallic knocked chrome and silver off the scene, but has become somewhat tired from slavish overuse. Used sparingly as it is here – and only because you love it – means that you’ll always enjoy it.
Wondering what’s the best colour combination with rose gold?
Elegance is in the details
Elegance knows the importance of details. You may think only you will notice, but paying attention to the little things pulls a total style together. Charles Eames was adamant that “the details are not the details. They make the design”.
An elegant touch
Fresh flowers can make a dull room elegant, but stuffing them carelessly into any old vase won’t. Take a class in the Japanese floral art of ikebana to take your floral displays from random to stunningly elegant.
Elegance knows the importance of details. You may think only you will notice, but paying attention to the little things pulls a total style together. Charles Eames was adamant that “the details are not the details. They make the design”.
An elegant touch
Fresh flowers can make a dull room elegant, but stuffing them carelessly into any old vase won’t. Take a class in the Japanese floral art of ikebana to take your floral displays from random to stunningly elegant.
Don’t just decorate – do. Elegance is embodied in actions as well as aesthetics. One way to achieve this is to elevate everyday rituals into something special. Make a reviving cup of tea more than a teabag in a chunky rinsed-out mug. Spend a few minutes warming a beautiful teapot, spoon in loose tea leaves and sip from a cup that feels good in your hand.
Elegance is confident
Finding your personal decorating style is the first step in deciding how you want your home to feel. It’s something only you can do, observing, experimenting and learning from inevitable missteps.
With a design market overflowing with options, even the most confident decorator will have moments of indecision. If you are considering a bold move with a colour, pattern or accessory, don’t jump the gun. Take time, live with the idea, look around, seek advice. If you follow your heart, you will decide well.
Take this quiz to find out your decorating style
Finding your personal decorating style is the first step in deciding how you want your home to feel. It’s something only you can do, observing, experimenting and learning from inevitable missteps.
With a design market overflowing with options, even the most confident decorator will have moments of indecision. If you are considering a bold move with a colour, pattern or accessory, don’t jump the gun. Take time, live with the idea, look around, seek advice. If you follow your heart, you will decide well.
Take this quiz to find out your decorating style
Elegance isn’t expensive
Elegance is often mistaken for a style with a designer label attached. But elegance doesn’t require limitless resources –confidence, restraint and a keen eye for beauty will help you produce elegant interiors far more effectively than deep pockets ever will.
Nothing in this hallway screams ‘Look at me, I cost a lot!’ Neither stark nor cluttered, it is cool, relaxed and extremely elegant.
Elegance is often mistaken for a style with a designer label attached. But elegance doesn’t require limitless resources –confidence, restraint and a keen eye for beauty will help you produce elegant interiors far more effectively than deep pockets ever will.
Nothing in this hallway screams ‘Look at me, I cost a lot!’ Neither stark nor cluttered, it is cool, relaxed and extremely elegant.
Elegance is less but better
Elegance and clutter cannot coexist. Clutter is a condition that creeps up on us, burying our attempts at cool, composed decor under unremarkable debris. Stunning pieces, such as this Arne Jacobsen Egg chair, deserve room to shine without unnecessary distractions.
Find out how to reduce clutter at home with these 12 ideas
Elegance and clutter cannot coexist. Clutter is a condition that creeps up on us, burying our attempts at cool, composed decor under unremarkable debris. Stunning pieces, such as this Arne Jacobsen Egg chair, deserve room to shine without unnecessary distractions.
Find out how to reduce clutter at home with these 12 ideas
A beautiful object doesn’t always need a function, but can stand elegantly on its own merits. Don’t be tempted to distract from something gorgeous, like these fabulous bowls from New Zealand ceramic artist Amanda Shanley, by hiding their light under a bunch of bananas. They are beautiful – and that is enough.
Elegance is clean
Elegance fades in the face of grubbiness. Photographer to the beautiful people Cecil Beaton said, “What is elegance? Soap and water!”
Elegance fades in the face of grubbiness. Photographer to the beautiful people Cecil Beaton said, “What is elegance? Soap and water!”
Elegance has good manners
Grace and hospitality are integral to elegance. Saying thank you is elegant. So is treating guests like royalty. Little touches such as fresh sheets, flowers, a tea and coffee tray, and convenient hanging space in a guest room make them feel special.
Check out the 5 essentials that every guest room should have
Grace and hospitality are integral to elegance. Saying thank you is elegant. So is treating guests like royalty. Little touches such as fresh sheets, flowers, a tea and coffee tray, and convenient hanging space in a guest room make them feel special.
Check out the 5 essentials that every guest room should have
Elegance doesn’t need much room
Sometimes the most elegant homes are the most compact ones. The need for functionality and clean, minimalist furniture dictates fewer unnecessary elements, and sometimes the sheer artistry of cleverly used space is elegant in itself.
Sometimes the most elegant homes are the most compact ones. The need for functionality and clean, minimalist furniture dictates fewer unnecessary elements, and sometimes the sheer artistry of cleverly used space is elegant in itself.
It’s almost impossible to have an elegant home when it’s shared with work, kids, pets and mess. Set aside just one small nook in your home and arrange it to address your need for restful, quiet elegance.
The secret to maintaining a calm and composed home is smart storage. If you can tuck all the accoutrements of daily life away – shoes, laundry, mail – in practical storage, you’ll be able to restore order in very little time.
Read more:
How to Create an Elegant Living Room
Tell us:
What according to you is elegance? How can one design an elegant home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The secret to maintaining a calm and composed home is smart storage. If you can tuck all the accoutrements of daily life away – shoes, laundry, mail – in practical storage, you’ll be able to restore order in very little time.
Read more:
How to Create an Elegant Living Room
Tell us:
What according to you is elegance? How can one design an elegant home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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If creative chaos is your bag, elegance is probably meaningless to you. And that’s the essence of it: it’s a state of mind, not a superficial style to be turned on and off. It comes from seeing beauty in small things, in taking away rather than adding, in one perfect piece instead of many nondescript ones.
There are parallels between fashion and interior design. When Coco Chanel said “elegance is refusal”, she referred to refusal to embellish something already beautiful.