There are many ways to express yourself in your home. Paint color, furniture and how you use your space are a few ways, but the best way to truly personalize your home is with accessories. These pieces tell a bit about who lives in the home, what they like and what their interests are. They add color and texture, while they can also soften a space and make you feel more at home.
Start with the accessories you already have. Most everyone has a few items they’ve collected or been given over time. Framed photos. Art work. Flower vases. These pieces will convey your personality to anyone visiting your home and they should also provide you a peek into knowing their story and how they came to be in your possession.
If you need to add to what you already have, visit antique stores and home décor boutiques. Think about using natural elements like a bowl of fruit, fresh cut flowers, plants or even a beautiful branch that can be a simple, yet interesting piece to give a room some earthiness and a lived-in quality. You can also consider function. For example, using interesting boxes that add to your décor, but also serve as a place to keep remote controls and clutter.
As you place your décor, think about how you use your space. If you have pets or kids, you will want to stay away from certain types of accessories or at least, make sure you are placing them out of reach of paws and little hands. Also, consider staging some accessories as if they were a museum piece. Not everything needs to be clustered together or completely filling a space. One figurine from a collection next to a mirrored vase with an orchid could create the perfect story and have more impact than a grouping of 14 figurines.
Lastly, don’t look at accessorizing as permanent. Try different things, move them around and work with your pieces to fit within your lifestyle. Some pieces may be seasonal or just need to be moved to a new spot in your home. You can also build in flexibility with your space. For example, use an accent tray on a coffee table with a few favorite things. When company comes over and you need that space, you can easily move the tray with its accessories and put it back later once company has left.
Be sure to try different vignettes or still lifes with your accessories, using them to tell a story about your life in the past, your current life and your future. In the end, your space will look, and feel, like your home!
Sean Hughes
Mandil Inc.