Soft furnishings and accessories bring texture, colour, light and interest and can make all the difference to the style and feel of your home.
Credit: Hayneedle, Pinterest
If you have a fairly neutral or simple palette for your walls, flooring, window dressing and larger pieces of furniture, you can then go to town with your accessories.
That's cushions, throws, lamps, mirrors, pictures and other lovely objects. You can add contrasting, complementary colours to your room scheme, include things like velvet and silk for a rich touch of glamour, even make one of the pieces a focal point.
And don't be afraid of mixing them up - just make sure there's an overall sense of cohesion and the accessories don't overwhelm the space.
Soft furnishings
​
Because cushions, throws and rugs come in such a wide range of colours and fabrics, you can easily update the look of a room by changing them - either in line with the current trends or just because you fancy something different. And the good news is, they don't have to cost a lot.
​
Adding larger and more comfortable soft furnishings can give a room a cozy feel, whereas more structured cushions tend to create a smarter image, particularly if they're in more luxurious fabrics.
​
You may like a very mismatched look, and this can work as long as there aren't too many competing colours. But you can't go wrong by picking just one or two complementary 'accent' hues and then you can have a range of shades, tones and fabrics within that colour band.
​
See more on colour schemes.
​
Credit: Houzz
My own sitting room
Houzz
Lamps
​
The light in your home is such an important part of how spacious it feels and the ambiance of each room.
​
Lamps create a soft light that is much more flattering than an overhead pendant - believe it or not, rooms actually look tidier in lamplight!
​
They look great in pairs framing a sofa - at either end or on a console table behind - and work very well together with plants and flowers. Also, aim to have them at different heights around the room.
​
And do remember that lamps are lovely objects in their own right and not just functional, so if you're looking for a key design piece in your main living room, why not choose a large lamp? I tend to go for drum shades in a neutral colour with an ornate base.
Mirrors
​
Mirrors are wonderful accessories that bounce light and give the illusion of extra depth.
They can transform narrow hallways and darker areas of your home, and a decent-sized one can almost act as another window in reception rooms. So, just as with plants, aim to have a mirror in every room.
Centre mirrors above furniture, and you can't go wrong putting a large one above a fireplace - as ornate as you like! While I think in the rest of the house they should generally be hung, a tall floor-standing or dressing table-top mirror leaning against the wall in a bedroom can create a stylish focal point.
​
(On a side-note, I'm always surprised at the number of homes that don't have mirrors in guest bedrooms. Remember that it's important to make the most of every room in your home, not just the ones you use yourself every day.)
Houzz
Houzz
Houzz
Art
​
Pictures, paintings and posters can be highly individual, or you can deliberately choose pieces that harmonise and coordinate with the room's colour scheme - just be careful it doesn't start to look too generic and 'corporate'.
The more neutral and simple the rest of the room, the more your art will stand out, and don't be afraid to go big. For a really unique piece, why not choose one of your favourite landscape photographs and have it blown up on to a canvas frame?
Credit: Houzz
Finishing touches
​
Along with the art you have on the walls, the candles, vases, boxes, trays and other decorative items you choose to display all help create the particular look and feel you want.
​
I love candles, particularly simple scented ones, and pillar candles in glass storm lanterns. They really soften a room and can make it feel very stylish, but they tend to work best placed with just a few other accessories and when the room isn't too 'busy'.
And with all accessories, be selective and mindful of not overcrowding the space.
The one finishing touch not included here is plants and flowers. That's because they're so wonderful I gave them their own page :)
Credit: Pinterest