What Elegance Is, and Why You Need It in Your Life
Elegance is not just a collection of decorating elements — it’s the key to a serene and stylish home
Janet Dunn
November 8, 2018
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
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 is restrained. The essence of elegance is this: 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 that “elegance is refusal,” she was referring to the refusal to embellish something already beautiful.
There are parallels between fashion and interior design. When Coco Chanel said that “elegance is refusal,” she was referring to the refusal to embellish something already beautiful.
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 colors and textures.
How to Declutter Without Going Minimalist
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 colors and textures.
How to Declutter Without Going Minimalist
Elegance is timeless. Trends, a term that makes some flinch and others flutter with excitement, 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 style, as demonstrated by this quietly elegant room.
To quote designer Marcel Wanders, “Nothing ages more quickly than ‘newness.’ ”
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 it has become somewhat tired from slavish overuse. Using it sparingly, as was done here, and only because you love it will ensure that you’ll always enjoy it.
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 it has become somewhat tired from slavish overuse. Using it sparingly, as was done here, and only because you love it will ensure that you’ll always enjoy it.
Elegance is in the details. Elegance knows the importance of details. You may think that only you will notice, but paying attention to the little things pulls a style together. Charles Eames was adamant that “the details are not the details. They make the design.”
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 arrangements from random to stunning.
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 arrangements from random to stunning.
Don’t just decorate — do. Elegance is embodied in actions as well as aesthetics. One way to achieve this is to elevate everyday rituals to 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.
Find a teapot on Houzz
Find a teapot on Houzz
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 the inevitable missteps.
With a design market overflowing with options, even the most confident decorator will have moments of indecision. If you’re considering a bold move with a color, 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.
With a design market overflowing with options, even the most confident decorator will have moments of indecision. If you’re considering a bold move with a color, 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.
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.
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. Gorgeous pieces such as this Arne Jacobsen Egg chair deserve room to shine without unnecessary distractions.
A beautiful object doesn’t always need a function — it can stand elegantly on its own merits. Don’t be tempted to distract from something beautiful, such as 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 has fun. Perhaps most importantly, elegance isn’t formal and humorless. It flows from inner confidence and leaves plenty of room for frivolity and self-expression.
The bedroom in this New York home combines the elegance of a classic fireplace and parquet flooring with warm and welcoming red, a quirky mirror and wonderfully exaggerated giant-stitch rugs.
Browse rugs
The bedroom in this New York home combines the elegance of a classic fireplace and parquet flooring with warm and welcoming red, a quirky mirror and wonderfully exaggerated giant-stitch rugs.
Browse rugs
Elegance is clean. Elegance fades in the face of grubbiness. Fashion photographer Cecil Beaton once 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.
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.
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.
Tell us: How do you create elegance in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
More
10 Upgrades for a Touch of Kitchen Elegance
Simple Pleasures: A Cozy Home for Fall
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.
Tell us: How do you create elegance in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
More
10 Upgrades for a Touch of Kitchen Elegance
Simple Pleasures: A Cozy Home for Fall
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I feel I need to point out that the minimalism of the photos and so beloved of the article's definition of elegance is a design trend like any other.
Other times, other ages certainly achieved design elegance in their interiors and couture, without ending up with this everlasting Scandinavian style.
Witness the Victorian period, which delighted in excess of line and pattern; not to your personal taste, perhaps, but hardly lacking elegance.
It seems so odd to hear the phrase 'classical" and "timeless" batted about when its nothing of the sort, and in fact the users mean "its white and I like it."
JMHO.
What an interesting article and discussion. As a novice who appreciates elegance but has little idea how to implement it, I appreciate the ideas set forth by the author and those who commented. I've googled "elegance" and there is surprisingly little assistance in defining what makes a design elegant. Thanks - now I'm a little bit closer to being able to achieve the design I want in my home. But I agree that these particular images aren't very representative. I'd love to see more articles on elegance so that more points of view are represented and alternate images of elegance are presented.
Well said! Thank you