Accessories

Accessories can change a bland room into a showpiece and can make the space appear more comfortable and homey.

When choosing accessories to use, first consider the style of the room, whether contemporary, traditional, country or ethnic. Accessories emphasize the theme of the space. There are many types of accessories, picture frames, rugs, pictures, sculpture, vases, clocks, plants, fabrics, furniture, sculpture, books, architectural elements etc.

Basic design principles Pay attention to the size of the piece you are accessorizing with, in relation to the scale of the room.

If you place a large lamp on a small table it would look out of place and similarly a small lamp on a large table would be lost.

Placement There are several ways to arrange the items that you have acquired. Here are some guidelines: Find the focal point and arrange the accessories around one major grouping to ground it.

Create groupings by arranging objects together in odd numbers eg in groups of three or five.

Place similar objects together. To achieve greater emphasis for the grouping arrange objects by shape, colour and design. A collection of blue vases has more impact when grouped together than scattered about the room.

Use different height objects in a grouping. Utilize different qualities of height and width throughout the room. When these work together they form a harmonious rhythm and visual interest.

If you are trying to create depth avoid placing objects in a straight line. Instead zig zag the placement of objects.

Using different textures of accessories adds visual interest to the space. Use shiny finishes against matt finishes, textured surfaces against smooth surfaces and hard against soft surfaces.

Avoid clutter as this causes confusion and it would be difficult to relax in the space.

Accessorizing with flowers Flowers create the feel of freshness. One great thing about flowers is that they come in all the colours of the rainbow and in a variety of textures and shapes. So, finding an arrangement to fit your scheme and mood would not be difficult.

Accessorizing with art Some of us have a collection of art or would purchase art to display on the wall or easel. Which ever display method you choose, the object of displaying the art is to capture people’s attention.

The picture frame can make or break your work of art. Be very careful when choosing the colour, style and material for the artwork.

Accessorizing with textiles The colours and textures of fabric and rugs create interest and help to liven the space. When using these accessories, the intensity and combination of colours that are used should coordinate to the colour scheme of the room.

Rugs can be used to accentuate and define a furniture grouping. They can also pull a room together and revive the space. The colours in the rug can enhance the hues of other colours that exist in the space. They can compliment and create colour harmony with the room’s d?cor. Also, the patterns in the rug should not overwhelm the space there should be balance and scale.

Tips • Large accessories can create drama in a space.

• Books make a brilliant decorative statement about the owner.

• Use decorative screens in corners, behind sofas or as a decorative divider in the room. They make a bold statement.

• Candles of all types and sizes are a great addition to any room.

• Use greenery throughout the home.

They add texture and soften the space.