Transform Your Home: 5 Tips to Elevate Any Space
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There are countless pretty rooms out there, but elevated spaces stand out. These are the spaces where thoughtful interior design, timeless decor, and intentional styling come together to create something truly special.
The beauty of an elevated space is in the details. These spaces feel intentional, cohesive, and thoughtfully collected. It’s about layering pieces that hold meaning, choosing quality over quantity, and designing with purpose. Elevated interiors are created with patience, vision, and a clear sense of personal style.
In this post, I’m sharing my tips to elevate any space in your home. Whether you're decorating a cozy corner or refreshing your entire living room, these simple design tips will show you how to turn an everyday space into a refined and beautiful reflection of you and the life you love.
My #1 Tip For Elevating Your Space.
We’re starting strong with this first tip because it’s an important one—and honestly, it’s my number one. If you skip it, I really believe your space just won’t have the same impact.
If you want a home that feels layered and elevated, vintage and antique pieces are the way to go. Nothing brings a space to life quite like something with a little age, charm, and a story behind it.
Skip the cookie cutter look and lean into pieces with character. Vintage and antique finds bring a sense of history and warmth that instantly make a room feel more inviting. Collecting these pieces takes time, but that’s what makes them special. They add soul and personality to your home, tell your story in a meaningful way, and create a space that feels effortlessly elevated.
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Use Lighting to Set the Mood and Highlight Your Style.
Nothing makes a home feel flatter than relying only on overhead lighting. If you want your space to feel cozy and inviting, layering your lighting is key.
Accent lighting, like a picture light over artwork or a small light that highlights an architectural detail, draws attention to what makes your home special. Task lighting, like a lamp on your nightstand, under-cabinet lights in the kitchen, or a floor lamp beside your favorite chair, adds both function and comfort, making your space feel more intentional and charming.
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Light a Candle to Add Warmth And Ambiance.
What’s one of the easiest (and quickest) ways to instantly elevate your space? Light a candle. It’s such a simple thing, but the soft glow and subtle scent can completely change the entire mood of a room. Lighting a candle is like the final touch that pulls everything together, adding warmth, atmosphere, and a sense of calm.
Whether you’re setting the table for guests or winding down at the end of the day, candles bring an effortless charm that makes any space feel more inviting.
Incorporate Thoughtful Wall Decor And Artwork.
If your walls are filled only with canvas photos or store-bought signs, it might be time to mix things up. While there’s nothing wrong with family photos (I have plenty myself!), adding a variety of textures, mediums, and pieces with a bit more personality can really elevate your space.
Thoughtful wall decor tells a story about what inspires you. Whether it’s affordable printable art or a treasured antique painting passed down through generations, there’s something out there for every style and budget. Look for pieces that feel personal and that speak to you and the life you’re creating.
Personally, I’ve always been drawn to soulful, moody landscapes and portraits, still lifes, and old tapestries—pieces that carry that quiet, timeless beauty I love and bring with them an unmistakable sense of history.
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Invest in Quality Furniture That Brings Lasting Style and Character.
If you want to truly elevate your home, one of the most impactful decisions you can make is investing in quality furniture. Whether it’s a timeless antique hutch, a beautifully made vintage dresser, or a new piece crafted with care and attention to detail, high quality furniture instantly adds a sense of sophistication and makes your space feel more polished and intentional.
We recently purchased our first piece of antique furniture—a beautiful Irish pine hutch that’s a few hundred years old. The patina on this piece is perfection, and it adds such a strong presence to our space. Not long after, we found an iron coat rack from the 1800s that we placed beside it and together they bring such a beautiful nod to the craftsmanship and charm of centuries past.
While I love the quality and age of these two pieces, it’s important to note that a standout piece doesn’t have to be antique. A thoughtfully chosen solid wood coffee table or even a beautifully designed upholstered chair can bring that same elevated feel.
When it comes to creating an elevated space, lower quality pieces might fill a room for the moment, but they rarely bring the same lasting beauty or craftsmanship as something well made.
Whether you’re searching for a vintage treasure or investing in a new, high-quality piece, take your time and be selective.
Final Thoughts On Elevating Your Space.
In the end, creating an elevated home has little to do with perfection and everything to do with intention. When you surround yourself with pieces that hold meaning and choose quality that endures, your space begins to reflect something deeper—authenticity, soul, and a quiet sense of beauty that can only come from thoughtful design.
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Hi, I’m Casey, founder of Refuge Interiors, where I combine my lifelong love of decorating and design with a passion for sourcing vintage and antique treasures to create classic, collected interiors that feel warm, inviting, and beautifully lived in.
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