A question that is often thrown to me as I style spaces for Architects, Designers or Independent home builders - How should I chose decor accessories for my personal space? Should it define my personality or should it be more like a formal traditionalist or it can be an off-beat eclectic?
Decor & Accessories are the spice of a space. Those extra pieces which enhance your furniture arrangements and fill those large or small gaps or fill that empty space where you feel that something is missing. Often they are functional, but more often than not, they are just there to be enjoyed and that is when it adds a dash of your personality. One has to find out where the personality and the decor fit together or you discover new totally with the help of an interior stylist.
A favorite style of late is the curated coffee table. A good example of a smart coffee table requires an understanding of proportion, texture and above all - levels. Key features are mixing something natural (flowers or coral) along with something tall (candle stands or obelisks) and something low profile (a box or a coffee table book). The picture below shows a great mix of pretty and edgy. When carefully contemplated, these individual pieces act as components of a greater whole, creating a harmonious effect. I feel that your coffee table is the center of your living room - make it a pop with a unique display.
Who says accessorising or styling cannot be functional as well as beautiful. Use of small boxes or trinket boxes, display bows, jars with lids and trays is a win-win solution for those who do. These handy cavities keep essentials at hand without disrupting the aesthetic of a refined display. Better still, it can only make it look more polished if the chosen items are particularly beautiful like the glass jars in the picture below. A styling tip - Opt for a set of trinket boxes in different sizes to vary the look.
Stacking items has connotations of disorganisation and clutter but when the subject in question is a set of coordinating coffee table books, the situation is a whole lot different. Plan your color scheme with the books in mind and this time, judging a book by its cover is allowed. Use various sizes of a similar shape for a well presented look and top it with a unique object. By the way, add your touch of personality by choosing a book which you love to read as well as look at.
Are you an eclectic mixer? This is perfect for channeling an effortless aesthetic using unique motif lamps and mismatching photo frames. This a fun style for fun loving people, where various styles are combined. Like metal with porcelain or contemporary with rococo, old with new - everything and anything goes with this style. It is often a playful way of accessorising and works best if things are not too considered. Do not be scared to mix time periods and textures - that is what makes an eclectic display interesting.
Hope this helps you discover your design personality and get those creative gears going.