3 Tips for Accessorizing Your Home
3 Tips for Accessorizing Your Home
As I always say, “Your home is your sanctuary,” so when designing and creating spaces within your home, I always consider the functionality of each space and what it is used for daily and incorporate what you are most passionate about. I believe that beautiful serene surroundings are an important part of living every day with intention. It is more important now more than ever to create a sense of calm and peacefulness throughout your home. One of my favorite ways to do that is by accessorizing.
Accessories are essentially the icing on the cake when designing. Simple additions to your coffee table or bookshelf can help create a well-rounded space, offering character and charm. I have found that most of my clients struggle with making the right selections when it comes to accessories. Here are my top five trade design secrets on how to accessorize your home like a pro!
TIP NO. 1 – COMPLEMENT PIECES WITH SCALE AND SIZE
"The details are not the details. They make the design." – Charles Eames.
Scale is the proportion between your furnishings, lighting, and decor and how they fit in with the rest of the room. If you have a large sofa and hang a small piece of artwork above it, the artwork will feel lost. When selecting accessories for your space, make sure that they are complementary in proportion and scale with the object you are pairing it with. Personally, I love doing a larger scale for artwork and lighting. As for décor, I try to pick one or two larger pieces and pair them down with some smaller items. When choosing the size of your accessories, keep your room and the overall balance in mind.
TIP NO. 2 – ALWAYS REMEMBER THE RULE OF THREE
A room should coordinate, but shouldn't match piece for piece." - Kendra Contreras.
When grouping accessories, always remember they are often placed in odd numbers. If you prefer, the rule, or guideline, simply states that things arranged in odd numbers are more visually appealing to the human eye. Groupings of items in odd numbers tend to look dynamic and more natural to us. Whereas things grouped in even numbers tend to look stale, “staged,” and cold. Three seems to be the magic number for interior design, but the rule also applies nicely for groupings of five or seven. And, not only does the “odd” number rule apply to interior design, but the principle shows up in many other areas of life, from architecture to photography.
TIP NO. 3 – ADD CHARACTER BY LAYERING
"The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them." – David Hicks.
It is important to think about how each accessory coordinates with the other. However, it is key to remember that they should not match piece for piece. By layering similar elements with contrasting elements, you can create visual interest and character. Layering involves placing items in front of or behind, stacked or grouped to create a collected look. Whether you are accessorizing a small coffee table or an entire room, layering helps create dimension and texture in an otherwise simple room.
If you are interested in learning more or wish to discuss ways to incorporate some of these elements into your home, contact me at kelly@kellymarieinteriordesign.com and be sure you follow us on Instagram!