Sometimes, even professionals miss the deeper understanding of architecture. Sure, they can identify walls, ceilings, arches—sometimes even name architectural styles—but when you ask them why some buildings resonate while others feel flat, you might get blank stares.
That’s where they’re missing the magic. Understanding how form, function, culture, and emotion intertwine is what takes a space from ordinary to extraordinary.
The ceilings, the windows, the doors… these may not be the first things you notice when you enter a room. But such architectural design elements are actually the backbone of interior design. They shape the aesthetic of the home, and they also affect how the home feels and functions.
Keep reading to learn all about these!
Ceilings
Who really looks up at the ceiling? No one, right?
You’re mistaken there. While often overlooked, ceilings play a huge role in setting the ambiance of your home. They can make the room feel larger, cozier, or more refined. You can also add a luxurious touch with decorative elements. Like concealed lighting or intricate moldings.
Some ceiling designs to consider are:
- Coffered ceilings. These feature recessed panels which are framed by beams. The end result is a beautiful classic elegance added to the room.
- Vaulted ceilings. These are high and sloping ceilings. They add a sense of openness to the room while making it feel grand.
- Tray ceilings. Such ceilings have a recessed section in the center. This is often accented with other elements. For example, LED lighting or a different color of paint.
- Exposed beams. These ceilings can add a rustic charm or elements of the industrial design, depending on the material you choose for them.
Walls
Walls aren’t just used to divide your space. They help you express your architectural taste. With the walls, you can create depth, texture, and character—all at once!
A common way you’ll see homeowners utilizing the walls is with an accent color. Here, you pick one wall, give it a bold color of your choice, and there you have it, an attention-grabbing feature in the room. Adding wall panels is another one of the ways to add color and texture to interior design.
Beyond that, walls are often used for storage. This is especially useful in small homes, where wall-mounted shelving helps free up floor space. Yet, it provides a suitable spot to keep items that can double as decor.
If you’re looking to add warmth through the walls, we love the ideas of wainscoting and shiplap. Wainscoting is wooden paneling on the lower part of the walls. Shiplap is horizontal wood planks added to the walls, great for a rustic vibe as well as coastal interiors.
Windows
Windows are both functional and decorative. They decide how light enters your space—a very important part of interior design—and how the indoors interacts with the outdoors. With strategically placed windows, you can maximize the natural light that enters your interior and emphasize the outdoor views. This completely changes the mood of the room.
Some famous types of windows are:
- Bay windows. These protrude outwards, and give you the opportunity to create a cozy nook on their inner side.
- Arched windows. These add a soft curve to the space, which works well with both modern and vintage interiors.
- Floor-to-ceiling windows. These are our go-to for luxury homes in Arizona. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer beautiful and soaring outdoor views. They also blur the connection between the indoors and outdoors—an important part of seamless indoor-outdoor living.
- Transom windows. These are smaller windows that you’ll often see above doors. Transom windows are usually used to add light in small rooms, like the bathroom. They’re also a stunning architectural feature.
Doors
In terms of architecture, doors are more than just the entryway to your home. They can be a statement piece in any room—that’s how much style they can add! By choosing the right aesthetic for your door (see below for some different types), you can tie the decor of your home together.
- French doors. These are elegant glass-paneled doors that can create openness between spaces.
- Pocket doors. These doors can slide into the wall (so they won’t swing open into the room, saving floor space). For such reasons, pocket doors are suitable for small spaces.
- Arched doorways. If you feel your rectangular room is a bit too rigid—we don’t blame you, those corners and straight lines can cause that—you can add on the soft curves of arched doorways.
- Paneled doors. Such doors add texture to the room.
Flooring
The flooring is the foundation of all design in your home. It sets the stage for the rest of the design elements. The flooring anchors a room’s design while adding to the durability of the space. Some designs in flooring include:
- Herringbone patterns. These add movement to hardwood and tile floors.
- Natural stone. These floors are elegant and durable. Think: marble, travertine, slate.
- Wide plank wood. This creates a modern and spacious feel.
- Inlays. With these, you can create custom designs.
Fireplaces
This is an architectural feature you may have expected. Fireplaces are a cozy focal point in the home. They can add warmth and charm to the interior. They also incorporate a sense of comfort.
The most important part of a fireplace is the mantel. This can be made from so many different materials, like ornate wood or sleek stone. You can use mantel decorating ideas to further spruce this section up.
The surrounds of the fireplace can be tile, stone, or metal. These add texture to the interior as well as visual interest. In luxury homes, we often see two-sided fireplaces, too. These double as partitions in open-floor plans, but in a very subtle and stylish way.
Staircases
This is one of the circulation elements in architecture. It combines functionality with artistic expression—serving more purposes than one. If done the right way, a staircase can be a statement feature in the space. It adds movement and flow between levels.
Some staircase styles are:
- Floating stairs. These have open risers which appear to “float”. The overall style of floating stairs is minimalist.
- Spiral staircase. These are compact but sculptural. Spiral stairs are great for small spaces.
- Traditional wood staircase. These are timeless and sturdy. With this style, you can add on decorative railings and balusters.
Speaking of railings, we love glass ones in luxury homes. These focus on openness and light. Glass railings are incredibly modern and sleek.
Niches and Alcoves
These are subtle architectural details, but can make a big impact in your interior. They add depth to the walls; break up flat surfaces; and provide opportunities to creatively style them.
Display niches are perfect for showcasing your favorite elements. Like plants, art, decor, etc. Built-in alcoves, on the other hand, can create cozy seating areas. Finally, recessed shelving is space-saving. It’s great for keeping books.
Columns and Pillars
These add grandeur to a space. They have a sculptural as well as decorative purpose in the interior. In addition to bringing architectural interest, columns and pillars help define zones in open-plan spaces.
Fluted columns are classic and ornate. We often see them in traditional or formal spaces. Square columns, on the other hand, are modern and minimalist. They blend well into contemporary homes. There are also stone or brick columns, which add rustic charm.
Archways
Archways are timeless architectural features. They help soften transitions between rooms. They also add this sense of flow, which makes transitions feel more “deliberate” and elegant.
Simple arches are unadorned. They look great in modern interiors. Ornate arches have a more traditional presence. Multiple arches consist of repeated curves which create a rhythmic flow.
Let’s Add Architectural Design Elements to Your Home
We’re an interior design firm based in Arizona; we’d love to add architectural elements to your luxury home! Let’s chat 🤍