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Photo Credit: Follow The Flow/Getty ImagesHave you ever been curious about what interior designers include in their own homes? What are their secrets for designing stunning spaces? The answer doesn’t lie in a specific sofa or coffee table. It’s the small details—decorative items and products that complete the look of a room. Whether it’s the bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen, here are ten items you’ll always spot in an interior designer’s home.
Premium Quality Cleaning Supplies
“Tools that simplify cleaning and everyday tasks are always at the top of every designer’s must-have list,” says Shay Holland, interior designer and host of HGTV’s Unfinished Business.
These range from budget-friendly options like Magic Erasers (perfect for erasing wall scuffs) to premium products such as a Dyson vacuum cleaner. “Dyson vacuums not only look sleek, but their slim design and versatile attachments make cleaning everything from rugs to sofa cushions a breeze,” Holland explains.
If a Dyson doesn’t fit your budget, there are several other brands offering similar slim designs that are just as easy to store. Explore some of our top vacuum picks across various price points.
Beautifully Crafted Kitchen Essentials
From elegant wooden spatulas to stylish espresso makers, Holland shares that interior designers often feature well-designed kitchen essentials in their homes. Items on the kitchen countertop are especially important. “For us, aesthetically pleasing tools are just as vital for nourishing the soul as they are for feeding the body. Practical can be beautiful,” she says.
Premium Bedding
Spending the night at an interior designer’s home? One thing you won’t have to worry about is sleeping on uncomfortable sheets, Holland assures me. “We always invest in high-quality linens, particularly bedding. No one enjoys sleeping on low-quality sheets that pill after the first wash or bunch up during the night. While thread count can indicate quality, we don’t get fixated on it.” Unsure which ones to choose? Here are some of the best bed sheets we've reviewed.
Proper Lighting
Interior designers understand how to set the perfect lighting. This means ensuring there’s ample lighting throughout the home and replacing standard fixtures with more elegant options. “Every designer will prioritize good lighting,” Holland says. “Lighting is not just a design choice, it can significantly influence your mood and overall well-being—and great design is about enhancing both.”
Even choosing high-quality light bulbs can transform a home’s atmosphere. So, ditch the fluorescent bulbs and opt for classic incandescent or more energy-efficient LED bulbs instead.
Elegant Table Linens
Malka Helft of Think Chic Interiors shares that designers always feature high-quality table linens, like cloth napkins, in their homes. “Cloth napkins are one of my secret elements for hosting and enhancing the dining experience. With unique patterns and designs, a well-chosen fabric napkin can add that special touch of elegance that makes your home stand out.”
A Stylishly Accessorized Bathroom
Though powder rooms are often compact, they provide a perfect space for bold design choices. “Bathroom accessories can dramatically influence the mood of a powder room. I frequently swap out my soap dispenser, wastebasket, tissue box holder, and other small items to keep things fresh and engaging,” Helft explains. “Whether made of leather, metal, or glass, these subtle upgrades can make a significant impact.”
Crisp White Towels
Regardless of your bathroom’s style, you can never go wrong with white towels, according to Helft. “I always stock up on bath, hand, and face towels in bright white. These soft towels create a polished, spa-like ambiance that my guests consistently comment on. While they might show dirt more easily, they’re simple to clean and maintain their brightness. Plus, if you keep an eye out, you can often find them on sale.” And if you have bleach in your cleaning supplies, white towels are surprisingly easy to keep fresh.
A Stylish Catchall Tray
Whether placed on a nightstand, in an entryway, or in a home office, many designers use elegant catchall trays to organize miscellaneous items. “We wear many different hats and are constantly on the go, and our catchall trays reflect that. They’re often filled with keys (ours and our clients' keys for homes or storage), a lighter or matchbox from our favorite lunch spot, a stylish measuring tape, a designer deck of cards, a few 'borrowed' pens, and, of course, a crystal and palo santo,” says David Samuel Ko of Maison Ko. “As frequent hosts, it also comes in handy when guests visit, as it serves as a curated junk drawer, and you never know what you might need.”
Coffee Table Books
Vy Truong, co-founder and principal designer at Very Handsome Studio, shares that interior designers always keep large coffee table books on architecture or design in their homes. “They’re perfect for decor and flipping through for inspiration. I personally find comfort in seeing the bursts of color, harmonious pattern variations, and unique designs of other homes.”
Artistic Vases
Designers are drawn to bold, sculptural vases, especially those in different sizes. “These fun and unexpected vases, when matched to the theme, tone, or design of your home, are a perfect way to introduce visual intrigue into any room,” Truong says.
