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How To Accessorize Your Home
Accessorizing your
home is a very important aspect in the decorating process.
When you buy a new outfit it is greatly enhanced with
jewelery, scarves and purses for women and ties or watches
for men. A home is no different! You can add character
and beauty to a home in many ways just by following
a few inexpensive changes.
First look at your home and decide what
theme you want to accomplish. Is it a contemporary,
country, southwest, traditional or ethic style that
would suit your personality? Look in magazines, books
or the internet to get a flavor of the accessories you
would like to see in your home. Have at least one piece
you treasure in every room! Purchase accessories that
go with the theme and color of your room. Color choices
should compliment the main color in the room.
Occasionally it is simply a matter of
rearranging some of your accessories on a shelf. It
is recommended to group your accessories in odd numbers
rather than even numbers. Different heights and textures
are also attractive. For example, a night side table
can have a lamp, picture frame and small pot of flowers
as a grouping.
Entry ways should be uncluttered. This
area of the home is the first hint at what the rest
of your home is like. A side table with your most dramatic
or unusual accessories will set the tone in this important
area of your home!
Pictures or art work are often hung
too high. The rule of thumb is the picture should be
hung so that the middle of the picture is at eye level.
Art work should be placed no more than five to eight
inches above the sofa or seven to ten inches above a
table. Try to align pictures in different geometric
shapes (vertical, circular, triangular or rectangular
groupings) in various sizes for a different effect.
Bookcases are often found to be too
cluttered and full of small knickknacks. Try to vary
the size of the shelves vertically for interest. Vary
the heights of books with the tallest in the middle.
Don't put small books next to tall books. Take off dust
covers from books to show their often rich colors. The
upper shelves can be used for candles, family pictures,
fancy bowls or larger ornaments in odd number groupings
of 1, 3 or 5 pieces. You can also mix and match books
with ornaments, but make the books the focal point.
Don't leave a gap between the ceiling and the top of
the bookcase. Place a plant on the top shelf for balance.
Lighting is an important element in
accessorizing your home. Accent a large picture with
a spot light to enhance a focal point in a room. Lighting
creates ambiance and should coordinate with the theme
you want to create. Get creative with an old lamp by
adding tassels, beads or decorative finials. Use faux
paint or wrap funky fabric around the base to give it
a new lift.
Area rugs can define a space and pull
a room together. Place furniture completely on the rug
for a warmer effect. Area rugs used under a dining room
table should be large enough to also accommodate the
chairs when fully pulled out.
Use many pillows on the bed as this
can add a splash of color in a bedroom. Vary the colors
and patterns of the pillows and graduate the sizes from
large to small. Pillows are also great on a sofa and
will add tremendous character to a dull living room.
Mirrors are great to expand a smaller
space. Try a large mirror that stands on the floor attached
to the wall behind a small dining room table. Try leaning
a tall mirror behind a bed as a head board for a dramatic
look! These mirrors can be five to six feet tall. It
has an amazing effect!
Bathrooms can have a spa appeal by placing
clear glass bowls filled with colored soaps, bath salts
or bubble bath beads on the bathroom counter. Candles
are also nice on a bathtub. Low lighting with lit candles
will sooth all your troubles away!
Kitchens also can be accessorized to
create a gourmet feel. Hang copper pots and pans from
a wire rack above to add color. Don't be afraid to hang
plants from any bare ceiling corner to give a lived
in feeling to a plain kitchen. Grow a few herb plants
on a kitchen window sill to use in your cooking and
add wonderful aromas. Accessorize your counter tops
with small attractive appliances or cooking utensils.
A large bowl of fruit on the kitchen table can be fresh
or artificial. Prints are also a welcome addition on
kitchen walls.
Have fun trying out new things. Shop
around for different accessories for your home. Try
antique stores, consignment shops or flea markets for
ideas. There are many craft books available that you
can also explore. First impressions are lasting. Do
not mix beautiful furniture with cheap accessories.
Accessories can make or break the ambiance of your home.
Be creative and trust your instincts!
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