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It's Time To Come Home ~ Accessories

By
Home Stager with Creative Home Expressions

clockPhoto courtesy of Ballard Designs

Home décor accessories run the gamut from mirrors in an entry to those cute little knick-knacks on side tables.  The problem with accessories comes in when it seems more is more, rather than less is more, and you can't enjoy the pieces for themselves because there is just too much stuff. 

As a tip, when adding an accessory to a room that is already accessorized, remove one other item.  You don't have to get rid of it, but store it and bring it out in six months or a year for a fresh look, or find a new home for it in another room (but remember, if you do that, you should remove one item from that room).

topiaryPhoto courtesy of Ballard Designs

Some items that fall into the accessory category are: 

  • Florals/Greenery
  • Mirrors
  • Art
  • Pillows
  • Throws
  • Vases
  • Statues/figurines
  • Picture frames
  • Books
  • Decorative bowls
  • Decorative plates
  • Small footstools
  • Candy dishes
  • Clocks
  • Trays
  • Plaques

Accessories should work with the décor that you already have going on in the room.  They also allow us to express our personality in a room that is basically a box with furniture in it. 

Accessories tend to look better visually when grouped in odd numbers; usually threes.  However, if you decorate in a traditional sense, and prefer things to be symmetrical, you will be more apt to prefer, for example, a pair of candlesticks at each end of a mantel rather than three grouped together at one end.

vasesPhoto courtesy of World Market 

Accessories can also be used to tie in the colors or patterns used in other rooms in your home.  For instance, if you use red towels in your kitchen you can transfer that red to pillows in your living room, a throw in the family room and cushions in your dining room. 

pillowsPhoto courtesy of Ballard Designs 

Ultimately, the accessories you choose to use in your home should reflect you and your family.  Items that have meaning to you, that you love, that bring back a memory are some of the things that make your home a home

 

Copyright 2009 Kathy Passarette, Creative Home Expressions 

Kathy Passarette and Creative Home Expressions are based on Long Island, New York, and offer interior decorating, home staging, interior redesign and more.  Please visit our website at www.creativehomeexpressions.com for more information on our services and fees.

Comments(12)

Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Nice simple primer for the do it yourself decorator which includes us all. 

Remove one item when you add an item???  Where would I put it????   Store them???  Then no one would see them.

That's the difference between a decorator and a home owner.  The decorator can be objective.  The home owner can't.

 

Mar 12, 2009 01:49 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Morning Kathy, This reminds me I haven't gotten my Ballard catalog for some time now, funny considering they are here in GA. I love the clocks, they have a great selection.

That 'Queen Bee' pillow is very cute. Nice post, I always rotate my accessories to give the place a fresh new look! I'm in the middle of doing that right now.

Mar 12, 2009 01:51 AM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Lenn ~ Thank you!  Yes, exactly - store it.  Put it away for a little while.  I've done this and when I take the item out again, I appreciate it more.  Certain items you wouldn't do that for - personal photos, florals might not be a good idea, a family heirloom.

Cynthia ~ I love Ballard Designs!  It is one of my favorite catalogs to get.  I'm getting that itch myself and recently moved some pictures around to different rooms. 

Mar 12, 2009 02:41 AM
Sandi Gerrard
Toronto, ON

Hi Kathy,

I always look forward to the next post in your series.  Keep up the great work.  Love that "Queen Bee" pillow too !

Mar 12, 2009 07:04 AM
Bo Hussung
Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

2 words, Kathy.....REAL FLOWERS!

Thanks

Bo

Mar 12, 2009 08:59 AM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Sandi ~ Thank you for being such a supporter of this series! I like all those pillows!

Bo ~ I'm with you - whenever I can have real flowers in a room I do.  I've been looking at the pussy willows and forsythia branches lately.

Mar 12, 2009 10:20 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Kathy, Accessories do reflect who you are, what an excellent point.  Mine don't always go with the general decor but they are me :)  And I love real flowers as well...usually have them on my kitchen table.

Mar 12, 2009 01:06 PM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Thanks Carole!

Vivian ~ The milk glass pieces must be lovely.  I like the simplicity of the vases I pictured.

Mar 13, 2009 04:43 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Kathy...I've been on AR with little lately so am hoping to catch up (even though I know that is impossible) and I can't think of a better way to get started than by reading your series.

We have so many personal, framed photos that we have received from our children that we end up with too many packed up and that makes me feel bad.  I have a habit of giving them as gifts also so our whole family has the same overload.

Kate

Mar 16, 2009 04:06 PM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Kate ~ Thank you for starting your catch-up with me!  I had the same problem, especially with the pictures of my kids, nieces and nephews, etc.  I started to put the updated pictures in the frames rather than keeping a picture for every age (unless, of course, it was an absolute favorite!).  Those then went into albums, but now with digital cameras, I keep most of them on my computer "albums".

Mar 17, 2009 12:02 AM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Your posts are always filled with inspiring ideas Kathy!  Many could benefit from following your direction to remove one item if they are adding an accessory to a room.  Easy to just keep adding.

May 23, 2009 01:05 AM
Kathy Passarette
Creative Home Expressions - Mount Sinai, NY
L.I. Staging/Decorating

Michele ~ Thank you! My own accessories are at the bare minimum at the moment! I hope to keep a simplistic view toward accessorizing when we move, too. 

May 24, 2009 12:29 AM