The Art of Accessorizing Your Home
How to Choose the Perfect Accessories and Style Them Like a Pro
Have you ever wondered what someone means when they say to hang a picture at eye level? Whose eye level are they referring to anyway? It seems like there are many such misconceptions when it comes to decorating your home. As a result, paying attention to the small details can make your home even more fabulous. But, it is often hard to know how to combine accessories together or how to arrange them. Below are some of our designers’ top tips for accessorizing your home like a pro.
Layer Your Accessories
First of all, you should layer groups of your accessories in order to achieve a fuller, more finished look. This means that they shouldn’t be lined up or spaced apart as separate elements. They should all be pulled together to form a cohesive look even if they appear to be touching each other. You can connect your accessories by hanging a mirror or artwork behind them or by placing the leaves of a floral arrangement next to them on a table.
Decorate With Books
The visual warmth of books in a setting is undeniable…and they aren’t just for bookcases! Books can be a great way to bring a little extra color into a setting. They can be stacked and used as anchors for accessory groupings. Use books as a base for a lamp to give it extra height. They are great fillers when placed on odd shelves. And, using interesting books can certainly be a conversation starter at parties.
Use Interesting Shapes, Patterns, Colors, and Textures
While your accessories should reflect your personality, they should also be visually stimulating. Select lamps with unusual and unexpected bases, accent pieces that are surprising, and colors that are energizing. Consider incorporating one of our favorite classical motifs – the elegant Greek key – or some of the latest design trends for this year. Above all, use a blend of contemporary, natural, and classic items for maximum effect.
Hang Art Close to Its Visual Anchor
While you may have been told to hang art at “eye level” in reality it means nothing. Just like groupings of accessories add interest, artwork and mirrors must stay similarly connected with other elements in a room. Keep art close to a tabletop, mantel, top edge of a sofa, or a chair rail. Don’t forget to layer in front of it whenever possible, even if that means resting it on or placing it slightly behind a piece of furniture. When using art to flank an architectural feature or a piece of furniture, hang it close to the main subject, not equal distances apart from it.
Use Fresh Flowers and Plants
Fresh flowers and plants not only add visual beauty and interest with wonderful textures and colors, but they are also welcoming. Flowers and plants can give the most sterile room a positive lift. Therefore, you should use them on cocktail tables, nightstands, and mantles or inside bookcases to enhance the atmosphere of your space.
