Accessories can be a challenging piece of the decorating puzzle for some people. They might be completely confident when it comes to selecting furniture and wall color, but finding the 'perfect' accessories can stop them dead in their tracks. It's not that they're not capable, the real culprit is a decorating style for the room wasn't clearly defined at the beginning, so the perfect finishing touches were never part of the plan to begin with.
If you've already purchased the main pieces for the room, take a moment to figure out what basic style they are. Take a look at the Decorating Styles sheet for additional help if you need to. If most of the items you've selected are on the casual side, then you can look to simple textural items or nature for inspiration, or a sport (boating for example), or a theme (a favorite vacation spot for instance) to choose accessories from. They will create a comfortable sense of balance and focus for the room. Use that same concept for the wall decor as well.
Accessories should reflect the colors, mood, and style of the room in addition to your personality. Don't ever select an accessory just because someone else likes it, select it because you love it. For visual interest, vary the texture of items – mix rattan with ceramic, highly polished and matte finishes, and so on. Keep in mind that accessories look much better when grouped in odd numbers; and collections have greater impact when displayed together. One larger piece may be better than a few smaller ones, so keep that in mind when browsing. And always try layering or stacking where possible for added interest.
Think 'outside the box' with this accessory list and have fun creating your own style.
Animal figurines
Candlesticks of varying heights and styles
Canvas
totes, gardening hats & gloves
Carpet balls - wood, porcelain, feathered
Ceramic
pieces
Clocks
Coasters
Containers
of shells, seaside finds, nautical accents, old fishing poles & tackle
boxes
Copper,
iron, silver, bronze, or brass accent pieces
Corbels
with plants or other accents on top -
or nothing on top
Crystal
décor
Decanters
& glasses
Decorative
bowls, plates, cups, teakettles, platters
Distressed,
hand-painted signs
Earthenware
Empty
frames layered on walls or behind other accents on bookshelves
Floor pots and containers for blankets, firewood, toys,
newspapers
Game boards placed on tables or mounted on walls
Hatboxes, cake boxes, cigar boxes
Large blocks – with or without lettering
Leather carriers or suitcases
Obelisks – mirrored, leather, wooden, metal
Old clear or colored glass bottles
Planters or urns
Pots & pot racks
Serving or tea trays
Stacks of books
Vases
Vintage toys and tools
Wicker baskets, rattan accents, wooden objects