12 Quick Styling Updates from Los Angeles Homes That Instantly Elevate a Room

Looking to refresh your living space without a major renovation? Los Angeles interior designers have mastered the art of quick room transformations that capture the city’s effortless blend of casual luxury and creative energy.

These simple styling tricks can be completed in an afternoon but deliver dramatic results that make any room feel professionally designed.

Whether you’re in a beachside bungalow or a downtown loft, these LA-inspired upgrades will instantly elevate your space.

1. Dress Window Treatments Higher

Mounting curtain rods closer to the ceiling creates an instant illusion of height and grandeur in any room. LA designers swear by this trick for making standard-height rooms feel more luxurious without structural changes.

The extra visual space draws the eye upward, making ceilings appear loftier while allowing more natural light to flood in perfect for capturing that famous California sunshine. Select floor-length drapes that barely kiss the ground for the most elegant effect.

This small adjustment typically takes less than an hour but transforms the entire feel of a space. Even in smaller apartments, this designer hack creates an airy, expansive feeling that’s quintessentially Los Angeles.

2. Set A Clear Focal Point

Creating one standout element in each room gives the eye somewhere to land, instantly making spaces feel more intentional and designed. LA homes often feature statement pieces that reflect personality a bold coffee table, striking artwork, or an architectural fireplace.

When arranging furniture, position pieces to highlight this focal point rather than compete with it. This organizing principle brings immediate harmony to rooms that previously felt scattered or undefined.

For quick implementation, evaluate what naturally draws attention in your space and enhance it. Maybe it’s framing your view of palm trees or highlighting that vintage credenza you love. Focusing on one spectacular element elevates everything around it.

3. Layer Ambient Lighting

Moving beyond single overhead fixtures transforms LA interiors from flat to dynamic in minutes. Strategic lighting at different heights creates depth while highlighting architectural details and setting the perfect mood for Southern California’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle.

Try adding table lamps on side tables, floor lamps behind reading chairs, and small accent lights to illuminate artwork or plants. The key is creating pools of light throughout the room rather than one harsh source.

Battery-operated picture lights require no wiring yet add gallery-quality illumination to wall art. This layered approach mimics how lighting designers work in high-end LA homes and restaurants, creating that coveted golden-hour glow that makes everyone and everything look more beautiful.

4. Mix Textures & Materials

Combining different textures creates instant visual interest and tactile appeal in any Los Angeles space. Pairing smooth surfaces with rough ones like sleek marble alongside nubby linen or polished wood with woven rattan adds dimension without requiring major purchases.

LA designers frequently layer materials that reference the city’s diverse landscapes: ocean-inspired glass, desert-toned ceramics, and canyon-colored woods. This mixing of elements prevents rooms from feeling flat or one-dimensional.

Simply swapping out smooth throw pillows for bouclé or adding a chunky knit throw to a leather sofa makes an immediate difference. The contrast between materials creates that collected-over-time look that defines sophisticated California interiors, even when everything was actually assembled in an afternoon.

5. Add Potted Greenery

Nothing transforms a Los Angeles space faster than introducing living plants. The city’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle makes greenery essential for that quintessential California vibe, instantly bringing life and energy to any room.

Large statement plants like fiddle leaf figs or bird of paradise create immediate impact in empty corners. For smaller spaces, clustering potted succulents or hanging air plants provides that same organic element without sacrificing floor space.

If maintenance concerns you, high-quality faux plants have become remarkably realistic. Many LA designers strategically mix real and artificial greenery to create lush environments that require minimal care. Even one substantial plant can anchor a room and improve air quality while adding that fresh, vibrant feeling associated with Southern California design.

6. Use Statement Accessories

Strategic placement of a few bold accessories creates instant personality in Los Angeles homes. Unlike cluttered spaces filled with small knickknacks, LA designers favor fewer, larger statement pieces that make stronger visual impacts.

Oversized ceramic vessels, sculptural objects, or large-scale books create immediate presence. The trick is choosing items with interesting shapes, unexpected scales, or rich textures that can stand alone as artistic elements.

Group items in odd numbers (typically threes) for the most pleasing arrangement. This approach lets each piece breathe while creating a cohesive collection. Even budget-friendly finds appear more luxurious when displayed with intention and space around them a styling secret that makes LA homes look effortlessly curated rather than over-decorated.

7. Infuse Green Accents

Incorporating shades of green brings immediate freshness to Los Angeles interiors. This versatile color connects indoor spaces with Southern California’s lush landscapes while providing a sophisticated neutral that works with virtually any design style.

Emerald throw pillows, sage ceramics, or olive textiles can be introduced in minutes yet dramatically shift a room’s energy. Green functions almost as a neutral in LA design circles, pairing beautifully with woods, metals, and other colors without overwhelming.

If you’re hesitant about color commitment, start with plants as your green element, then build from there. The natural variation in plant foliage creates depth while maintaining the organic feel that defines relaxed California interiors. This simple color addition instantly makes spaces feel more alive and connected to nature.

8. Incorporate Chrome Accents

Adding touches of chrome or polished metal creates immediate luxury in Los Angeles spaces. These reflective surfaces bounce light around rooms, amplifying that coveted California sunshine while adding sophisticated contrast to organic materials.

Small chrome elements picture frames, lamp bases, or decorative objects deliver outsized impact for minimal investment. They create visual punctuation that draws attention and adds definition to softer elements in a room.

LA designers particularly love mixing metal finishes rather than matching everything. Try pairing chrome with brass or blackened steel for a collected, evolved look. Even replacing basic hardware on existing furniture with chrome alternatives instantly modernizes pieces, making budget-friendly items appear more expensive and intentional a favorite trick among Los Angeles designers working with varied client budgets.

9. Blend Vintage & Modern Pieces

Combining eras creates immediate character in Los Angeles interiors. The city’s design aesthetic often mixes mid-century modern furniture with contemporary art or pairs antique accessories with sleek architectural elements.

This blending prevents rooms from feeling like showrooms while adding depth that can’t be achieved when everything comes from the same store or period. LA designers recommend introducing just one statement vintage piece perhaps a distinctive chair, unique lamp, or characterful side table to transform a space.

Frequenting the Rose Bowl Flea Market or Melrose Avenue vintage shops helps Angelenos discover one-of-a-kind treasures. Even incorporating a single heirloom or found object among newer pieces creates that layered, collected-over-time feeling that makes rooms feel authentic and personal rather than mass-produced.

10. Use Rugs to Define Space

Strategically placed area rugs instantly create zones within Los Angeles’s popular open-concept spaces. This designer trick establishes visual boundaries without walls, helping rooms feel purposeful and organized rather than undefined.

For maximum impact, choose rugs large enough that furniture legs rest on them at least the front legs of sofas and chairs. This creates cohesion within conversation areas while separating them from dining or work zones.

LA designers often layer rugs for added texture and dimension, perhaps placing a smaller vintage piece atop a larger natural fiber base. Even in smaller apartments, properly sized rugs make spaces feel larger by creating clear purpose for each area. This simple addition grounds furniture groupings while adding color, pattern and texture in one easy step.

11. Introduce Pops of Color

Strategic color accents energize Los Angeles interiors without overwhelming the senses. Unlike fully painted feature walls, these smaller color moments create impact while maintaining the airy, relaxed vibe the city is known for.

Try introducing a vibrant hue through easily changeable elements pillows, throws, vases, or art. LA designers often pull colors from the surrounding landscape: ocean blues, sunset oranges, or mountain lavenders that reference the city’s iconic views.

The key is repetition with restraint using your accent color three times throughout a space creates intentional rhythm without feeling chaotic. This approach allows for seasonal refreshes without major commitments. Even color-cautious decorators can embrace this technique since these additions can be swapped out as tastes change or trends evolve.

12. Display Curated Artwork

Thoughtfully arranged art transforms Los Angeles spaces from basic to personalized in minutes. The city’s vibrant creative scene influences how residents display artwork often in unexpected groupings that tell visual stories.

Gallery walls remain popular, but LA designers increasingly favor the impact of one oversized piece or a carefully composed triptych. Black and white photography particularly shines in California’s abundant natural light, creating dramatic contrast against neutral walls.

For immediate impact without commitment, try leaning larger framed pieces on mantels or shelves rather than hanging them. This casual display method feels distinctly Californian while allowing for easy rearrangement. Even inexpensive prints appear more significant when properly matted and framed another designer secret for achieving high-end looks without gallery-level investments.