Level up your decor this spring with these easy accessories every home should have.
Throw pillows
Throw pillows are the magic ingredient in any room. Adding throw pillows to a sofa, chair or bed will totally transform your space to a more finished look.
And while most rooms can handle quite a few, you don’t need a lot. They are a way to add color and pattern to tie together the color scheme or inject an unexpected jolt of fun or fancy finery depending on the mood of the room.
A bed can get by with as little as one auxiliary throw pillow as long as there is a stack of pillowcases and shams already.
A sofa can get away with two good sized throw pillows, though they can take 4 or 5 layered together, and sectionals generally need around 7.
This chart shows images with ideal numbers of pillows for each size piece.
Flowers
Whenever I gather items to photograph a room, flowers are ALWAYS at the top of the list.
Real or great quality faux flowers, branches, and/or plants are essential additions to make any room come to life.
You can source real ones from your yard or the grocery store or garden center, OR select faux ones that are real enough that you are tempted to add water…
These little luxuries add that essential organic element that make a space sing.
Books
Is any room complete without books? I think not.
Coffee table books are a peek at your personality - they reveal the interests and hobbies of the homeowner and are functional entertainment as well.
They can be used to add height to a tablescape arrangement.
Bookcases can house a mixture of books, plants, art pieces, family photos, and display space for collections.
Lamps
The famed decorator James Farmer once said “no good lamp ever started life as a lamp”…pointing out that nearly any interesting statuary, urn, vase, or other object can be turned into a lamp.
The key to a successful lamp is getting the proportions of the shade to base right. The shade shape should be dictated by the style of the base, and should be at least long enough to cover the socket.
There are endless varieties of combinations and SO MANY bad pairings in discount stores that I swear the stockers just randomly plop shades on bases willy-nilly. But get it right and it an instant way to add an accessory that is both decorative ned functional.
Lamp light is ALWAYS more friendly than overhead light. Warm color lightbulbs only please! The wrong lightbulb can kill the mood faster than any other element. For a helpful and humorous look at which light bulb to buy see the chart HERE
Mirrors
Nearly every room can use a decorative mirror. They bounce light around, offer a respite from walls of artwork and are decorative in their own right by virtue of the frame options available.
Foyers, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, and dining rooms can all have decorative mirrors. I even have mirror in my kitchen in place of glass in some of the cabinet doors.
Be sure to take advantage of the decorative usefulness of a mirror by choosing one with a frame that matches your style. With choices from antique to modern, the possibilities are endless!
Thoughtfully chosen accessories personalize and polish any space.
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