Accessories: Stop It!
Okay, I am half kidding. But seriously, accessorizing is a make-or-break, so let’s have some parameters, if not rules.
Rule #1: Do NOT overdo it
A long time ago, I told you to take everything out, then get rid of or store everything you don’t love, and only put back half of what you love. Why? Because too much “stuff” makes your home look unstyled and cluttered. Accessories are like jewelry or makeup. Pretty when done right, but kind of “Jersey Shore” overdone too much. Seriously, removing pictures, prints, and knick-knacks will make your home look more professionally designed. Home Goods is not your friend. Instead, choose one solid, gorgeous piece (max 3, see below), and remove the rest.
Rule #2: Size matters
A huge mistake I see is lots of small, undersized accessories. You can go bigger than you think. A good rule of thumb is one foot on a tabletop (so a piece that is 12 to 15 inches high), thirty inches or more on a floor. Floor accessories should be tall enough that they look dramatic and purposeful. You can even go within a foot or two of your ceiling if it’s a gorgeous piece.
When using multiples, aim for odd numbers: One or three of something. Arrange items in some form of a triangle, and yes, they can touch (or not), but no straight lines. So if you put three objects on a table, you can vary the heights, but at least one should be a foot or so high, and they should be arranged in some type of triangle, not in a straight line. For a cleaner, more contemporary look, they should all be somehow related. Think three plants, not a plant, a photo and a statue. Unless you have a huge room, one piece on the floor is enough.
Rule #3: Don’t clutter your walls
Aim for a focal point. A focal point is one place in your room where the eye rests, and hopefully, likes what it sees. A picture on every wall is not desirable, especially if they are of different sizes and have varying frames. This is not an art museum. Pick one. Make it a great picture or piece of art, and then leave it alone. If you still have a long blank wall you don’t like, then try adding a grouping of items that play off your picture frame. The flamingo in the gold frame on wall A will look great across from a gallery wall of smaller gold mirrors on wall B.
Rule #4: Family photos
These are important. I have a family, and I like seeing them at all ages in their Halloween costumes, and I hope you do too. It’s challenging to keep these displayed while avoiding a cluttered feel, so consider keeping them all in one location, rather than scattering them around the entire house. Grouped together in a single spot, they appear purposeful, organized, and uncluttered. If you can streamline their frames, do. I picked some inexpensive acrylic ones in various sizes and reframed every family photo I had. They are all on the shelves in my bedroom, where I can wake up every morning and see them, and I love it. Travel photos are fantastic and meaningful. If you want to hang them on a wall, first lay them out on the floor. Then you can use large sheets of brown paper underneath them, draw out your layout, and recreate your gallery wall in earnest. Good luck and send me some pictures!!
