Adding the missing Touch of Elegance to your home

If your tastes run towards simplicity and elegance, but you aren’t quite sure how to add those qualities to your home, you are not alone. Many of us, in the zeal to make a statement, end up with corny or garish accent pieces that detract from the appeal of their living space. If you want to add some elegance and class to your home, here are some ideas to do it subtly.

Forget the Trim, Replace the Door
The door is the portal to your home, and is likely one of the first things guests see when they approach, so why do you still have that boring, white door that the contractors threw on when the house was built? You can repaint it in a striking color, or replace it entirely with stained glass edging. Consider you family’s safety and avoid Ottawa doors with too much glass within reach of the handle. If the door is solid, you might want to have a company like Canadian Comfort install a peephole. A statement can be as subtle as an elegant new door to freshen up the exterior.

Choose Classic Furniture and Accessorize
Loud, busy prints can make your living room look like a 1970s magazine spread, and no one ever thought a chair shaped like a high heeled shoe was elegant. Your best bet is to pick out classic pieces of furniture in neutral tones, then add accessories throughout the room for visual interest. For example, a gorgeous patterned lap rug that compliments your colors can really add pop, as can a throw carpet, artistic lamp, or piece of sculpture. Framed art can also add a lot to the elegance of a particular space. Keep the biggest furniture sturdy and simple.

Get Rid of Clutter
Elegance is about graceful living, not seeing how much stuff you can cram onto every available surface. You also don’t want to make your house look as sparse as a low-end motel room. Choose a happy medium and vary the size and shape of the objects you choose to display. Instead of bunching things together, spread them out so each piece can be appreciated. If you have a clutter problem, call in a trusted friend to help you pare down. Find ways to frame your unusual pieces to draw the eye.

Having an elegant home in not always an easy task. It can take a lot of experimentation to strike the right balance of color, visual interest, artwork and decorating to bring out the classy style you have in mind. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends for help, especially if they have gorgeous homes dressed in a style you admire!