Many people purchase a new home, throw in a bed and sofa, and then call it decorated.
Beyond the basic furniture pieces most homes have, appropriate accessories are required for a well decorated home.
Keep in mind that not every home needs to be filled with accessories to be well decorated, however there are some basic items that most well decorated homes have.
Here are a few interior designer approved items you should consider having in your home to complete the decorating process.
photo courtesy of Brent Eckley flickr.com/photos/96831183@N08/22331870495
Rug
If you have hard flooring, such as wood floors or tile, you should have a rug to soften the look of the room.
Even if you have carpet, decorating with a rug can add color and define a furniture grouping.
Don't forget to purchase a rug pad for your rug.
Pillows
Decorate your home with pillows to add softness to a room.
Pillows can also add color and personality to a generic space.
Since pillows are quite affordable accessories, you can change them out every few years to change the look of your home.
Don't add too many pillows to where there is no room to sit on the furniture.
If you have an abundance of decorative bed pillows, make sure you have a place to put them when sleeping (not on the floor).
Decorative pillows look best with a pillow insert that is 2 inches larger than the pillow cover so the pillow is extra full and fluffy. Down and feather inserts work best.
Photo by M. Elle Design - More bedroom photos
Lamps
One light bulb in the center of your room does not typically put off enough light and is not very interesting.
Adding a lamp will allow you to modify the lighting in your home per the activity you are doing - reading, cleaning, watching TV, etc.
Since lamps are beautiful as well as funtional, they are one of the best accessories for your home.
Most well decorated rooms have several lamps in different locations.
Decorative Accessories
Don't junk up your home with mass produced store bought accessories.
Select a few special items that are unique for your home to place throughout your room.
Avoid smaller decorative accents that can seem junky.
Try to incorporate vintage items with a little history to them.
You can use hard back books, statues, items from your travels, a unique rock, or whatever you find interesting.
Try to decorate with items that are functional, such as a decorative box that holds your TV remote.
Not all horizontal surfaces need to be covered, so feel free to keep some surfaces free of accessories.
Plants
Live plants are a great accessory for your room because they make a room feel less sterile.
Avoid fake plastic plants, but fill your home with real plants, trees, and flowers.
Consider planting a cutting garden in your backyard so you can bring fresh flowers inside.
Art & Mirrors
A room without artwork looks very sterile.
Add a few large pieces of artwork to your walls to create a focal point in the room.
The artwork you choose can be a jumping off point for the color scheme of your room.
Also, consider using decorative mirrors.
You can remove the plain sheet mirrors over your bathroom sink and replace them with framed mirrors for a more personalized and well decorated home.
Decorative Lighting
Most homes these days come with the cheapest and most boring light fixtures available for sale.
Light fixtures should not be viewed as purely utilitarian - they should be decorative!
Get some light fixtures with pizzazz and style.
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