Wall-to-wall floor coverings make any room feel instantly cozy and plush. “How great is a room or a bedroom floor covered in a sumptuous wall-to-wall carpet,” says Will Cooper, partner at ASH NYC. “There is something that will always be inherently comfortable about it.”

Built-in Bookshelves

A classic in-wall library has an Old World charm, even when done in a New World way. “Built-in bookshelves are timeless and always elevate the sophistication of a room if done with well-chosen materials and finishes,” says designer Elizabeth Muraro Hague, who likes both a lacquered finish and painting them to match the walls. They can help define a space, too. “The books recede into the wall and add some and possibility to a space,” she adds.

Asian Screens

Whether in large, carved, and colored coromandel lacquer or a more delicate textile, Asian screens add contrast and class to a traditional living space, tending to work best in more classically designed rooms. “They add gravitas,” says designer Leta Austin Foster, “and a great splash of a different color.” They’re also quite useful in dividing up a room. “I think you’ll see them even more and more as people move into homes with fewer rooms and bigger open spaces,” says Austin Foster.

Hanging Pots & Pans

Designers have learned that hanging pots and pans over a kitchen island is an easy, chic way to save cabinet space, keep everyday items close at hand, and lend a multidimensional feel to a kitchen. One caveat, says designer Leta Austin Foster: “Hanging pots and pans should be nickel or pewter,” she says, “so they don’t have to be polished all the time.”