Contributed Post
Home improvements can get pretty expensive but they need to be done from time to time. The costs can easily spiral out of control if you start making large scale changes and replacing furniture etc. If you’re short on cash, that’s not really an option but that doesn’t mean you can’t give the house a bit of a makeover. Accessorising is a great way to keep the decor in your house fresh and exciting without having to spend loads of money on decorating entire rooms. Here are some simple tips to help you style your home on a budget by making good use of accessories.
Quality Over Quantity
If you think that you can just cover the house in lamps and wall hangings and you’ll be done, you’re not going to get the results you’re after. When you’re accessorising in the home, you need to choose quality over quantity, especially in smaller rooms. For example, you can get some great bathroom accessories at Drench but in a small room like that, you have to make sure that you’re not going overboard because it’ll make the room feel cramped. Just pick a few select accessories and place them well and you’ll get a much better result.
Get The Proportions Right
When you’re choosing accessories, always get the tape measure out first. If you just jump in and start picking things out without measuring, you’ll end up getting proportions wrong. For example, if you’ve got a large open living room and you put a tiny square rug in there, it won’t look right. Equally, if you try to cram a large painting on the wall in a small room, you’re just going to draw attention to the lack of space. Always make sure that the accessories that you’re using are suitable for the space.
Play With Colours
Neutral colours are a safe option when you’re decorating and it’s often sensible to try to avoid going over the top with patterns and colours on larger fixtures like sofas etc. However, when it comes to accessories, you’ve got an opportunity to inject a bit of colour in there. Play around with it and see what works, you can afford to be a bit more creative with smaller accessories that won’t be too overpowering if they’re brightly coloured or heavily patterned.
Avoid Symmetry
Symmetrical patterns are common in interior design and they can work well, but they can also be a little dull. A mantlepiece with a central mirror and a vase on either side is a pretty classic look that doesn’t exactly inspire excitement. When you’re accessorising in your own home, you should play around with asymmetrical patterns and see how they look. Grouping items in odd numbers and dotting them around the room can make the space feel more dynamic and interesting. When you’re hanging wall art you’ve got a great chance to mess around with asymmetry.
Build Them Up In Layers
When you start adding accessories, you’ve got to start building it up in layers and adding over the top until you’re satisfied. It’ll help you to plan it out better and create a well thought out look rather than just sticking stuff around the house and hoping that it works. Always start with the largest items first and work down in size to the smallest. A group of small items can still give the same feel as a large item so be careful with spacing. It’s important that you still leave some breathing room somewhere and don’t pack every single room full of accessories.
Accessorise With A Theme
Creativity and experimentation is the key to accessorising in the home and you should play around as much as possible, however, you should still have some kind of general theme running through it. You can use contrast and blend styles but it only works sometimes and if it’s done well so don’t go overboard. For example, if the rest of the house is decorating in a very minimalist style, traditional ornate accessories will look very out of place. The first thing you should do is consider the decor in the room, look at the basic materials, textures and colours used and let that serve as a general guide when you’re choosing accessories. When you’re going to use contrasting styles, always use it sparingly and don’t try to force it if it doesn’t look right.
Accessorising the home is just like accessorize an outfit. It’s a great way to take fairly boring decor and elevate it to another level Just remember to be conservative with it and don’t just pack the house full of anything you can find.