How to Accessorize Your Living Room

Add decorative items to give your living room personality

By Shelly McRae

Photo by iStockphoto.com

Accessories add color and texture to your living room design scheme. They accent the style and promote a unified look within the space. Whether it's candles, books, travel photos or glass figurines, grouping your accessories makes for a polished and professional-looking design, but with your personal touch. Accessories may reflect your personal interests, allow you to display items you cherish and complement a focal point within your living room.

• What You Need to Know
• Larger living rooms might have severa accessory focal points.
• Accessories should be chosen to fit all of the other design elements in the room, including flooring, wall color, electronics, and furniture.

Step 1:

Select one large piece of artwork to hang as a focal point. The subject of the work should reflect the design style. For example, for a mid-century modern style, select an abstract acrylic painting. For a country style, choose a cottage or farm landscape. The frame should match the style as well.

Step 2:

Pick out one color in the artwork. Use this color as an accent color in accessory fabrics. For example, the countryside landscape may have a deep green that you find appealing. The fabric for your throw pillows should have this color in the pattern.

Step 3:

Arrange bowls, vases, candles or other accessory items in a group of three or five on a side table or console table. The items you select should vary in size and height. Place them close together, as if they were huddled. The arrangement may include the color you chose from your artwork, but should include one or two more colors from your design scheme.

Step 4:

Include two more such groupings within the room. Each grouping should have the same number of items, but may be of different items. For example, in the mid-century modern scheme, one grouping may be of three small abstract clay sculptures. The second grouping may be of three silver bowls. The third grouping may be of three glass prisms. Stagger the groupings so they are well-spaced within your living room. The spacing allows each grouping to get attention, but the repetition in number and size creates cohesion within your accessory layout.

Step 5:

Select an accessory to balance against the larger canvas on your wall. This piece is placed at floor level. Area rugs, large ceramic floor vases or umbrella stands shaped like an elephant's foot are examples of these types of accessories. Choose an accessory that's in keeping with the style of the room and has within it either the color you selected from the artwork or a contrasting color. The piece should also have the same textural effect as the artwork. For example, if the piece is an acrylic painting with a rougher texture, select a piece with an uneven or carved surface. The color and texture will tie this piece to the focal piece of artwork.

• Tips & Warnings
• Maintain unity through shape, color or texture if you mix items within the groupings.
• Think of fixtures, curtain rods, and other hardware as opportunities to accessorize and decorate your living room. Look for interesting hardware that reflects your personal taste.
• For larger living rooms, consider a big accessory, like an aquarium, birdcage, or piano.