Accessorizing: Think of it as Jewelry for Your Home

The final touch to any great outfit is the addition of jewelry and it is the same with decorating a room in your home. Once the furniture is all in place, the artwork and the accessories finish the room and add character.

Begin with the walls and choose artwork that relates in size and shape to the area and the surrounding furniture. When hanging pictures, the art should not be wider than the furniture below it or narrower than one half its length. Take a cue from the architecture by following the angle of a staircase and placing artwork in proportion to the space: large on large walls and small on small spaces.

Artwork should be grouped with a common theme in color or content with frames of similar material. Pictures hung in groups should be about a palm width apart and hang no more than 6-8 inches above a piece of furniture. Remember that most artwork is viewed while seated and should be hung low enough to relate to the furniture and be easily seen. A good rule of thumb is to have the center of a picture or grouping about 60 inches from the floor.

However, in a hallway it could be higher since it will be viewed most often from a standing position.

To avoid making multiple nail holes, cut templates from newsprint and arrange on the wall using masking tape. This allows you to move around your artwork and check the positioning before pounding in the nails but leave at least one wall in each room without artwork so the eye can rest.

Now it’s time for the accessories. Take a quick look around and think outside the box to yield great finds. If you have three of some particular object – you have a collection! Accessories can be anything that is meaningful to you so start your search by considering your talents and interests. A music lover might use sheet music, metronomes and old instruments. A person who loves to cook might frame her grandmother’s favorite recipe, display cookbooks and have a collection of ladles.

Look for a common thread to unite your collection, whether it is a theme, color or similar materials.

You wouldn’t wear all of your jewelry at once and the same is true of all of your collections. Know when to stop. If you have many collections, then rotate your items for seasonal changes or just when the mood strikes to keep your room fresh and interesting. Having too many objects displayed at once begins to feel cluttered while a pared down collection will allow each piece to be noticed.

Instead of spreading items throughout a room, group them together for greater impact. Begin by finding a display surface. Mantles, side tables and bookcases are natural places to start. Place your largest piece in the center and work down in height and outward to create balance.

Avoid lining each piece in rigid formation but rather stagger from front to back. It is much more pleasing to the eye to display in odd numbers. Stay away from symmetry by placing two matching objects at different heights. Books or boxes make great props and can be used as pedestals to elevate an item to art-like status.

When accessorizing a bookcase, stagger the books from shelf to shelf in a zigzag pattern, leaving empty areas for decorative objects. Place the heavier, thicker books on the lower shelves or use as a base to display items. Try to create a focal point on each shelf and replace smaller items with fewer, larger accessories. Remove the dust jackets from hardcover books to reveal the elegant binding and create a library feel.

Look at your room as a chance to tell your story, make a statement, and showcase your personality. Surround yourself with only the things that you love and your rooms will always be dressed to impress!

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