Accessories add the finishing touch
Accessories and decorative items can have a huge impact on a space.
Rugs, lighting, window treatments, knick-knacks, throws, cushions, artwork and plants are all items that can pull a room together.
Choosing and combining those accessories wisely will result in a space that has both character and cohesiveness, says interior design guru Vanessa Webb.
However, the owner of Wellington interior design business Dress My Nest says there are some common mistakes that trip homeowners up.
Thankfully, Vanessa has a number of tricks of the trade and basic design principles that will help homeowners style a room successfully.
One of the biggest mistakes people make, she says, is buying rugs that are too small.
Rugs are hugely popular at present, says Vanessa, and are ideal for timber floors, concrete floors and even carpet.
They add texture, warmth and ground a room, pulling everything together.
Yet a common complaint is that the room doesn’t look right and the homeowner isn’t sure why.
A lot of the time, Vanessa says it’s because the rug is too small for the space.
‘‘You don’t want your rug to look like it’s floating in the middle of the room, like an island.
‘‘Ideally you want your furniture legs to rest on it so it grounds the room, a rug helps give it that well polished, well put together look.’’
If anything, Vanessa says always go bigger with rugs, and choose something that you really love.
There’s everything from textural woollen rugs to thick, textured bobble rugs, rugs with frayed edges, Mongolian rugs, vintage Turkish rugs, all in an array of colours.
‘‘Don’t get too caught up with trends, if you love it, that is what’s most important.’’
Lighting makes a difference to a space as well.
Opt for mixing pendants with down lights.
‘‘Often in a new build people will go for down lights everywhere, but pendant and wall lights are another way you can really define different areas within a space,’’ says Vanessa.
Pendants are popular over kitchen benches, and having a big statement pendant over a dining table or in a living area is a great way to finish off a space.
Window treatments are equally as important, not just from a practical point of view, but also as an accessory.
‘‘Adding texture especially in a new build where there are so many hard surfaces, and everything can be quite square, also adds that much-needed softness.
‘‘A lot of people are adding beautiful floor to ceiling linen sheers, which just brings another element to a room.’’
Furniture is best accessorised with throws and cushions.
However, cushions often confuse homeowners, says Vanessa, they struggle to know what to go for.
Firstly, think about colour, pattern and texture and try to achieve a balance.
‘‘Think about the patterns, you don’t want five cushions that all have really big patterns, whereas you could go for a large-scale pattern that’s quite graphic, then go for something that’s got a smaller pattern in it, so they’re not competing with each other.
‘‘Then add a plain cushion, which might be a linen or velvet texture,’’ advises Vanessa.
Ideally, a minimum of three to five cushions on a couch works well.
Avoid putting one lonely pillow in each corner of the couch, instead arrange an assortment of varying shapes and sizes.
Colour-wise, use a piece of art, wallpaper, or even a sculpture or vase in the room as a starting point.
‘‘Use something you really love as your inspiration, just draw those colours into the rest of the room through your accessories.’’
Throws confuse people too, says Vanessa.
‘‘They tend to get scared, questioning themselves on how to even put a throw on their couch.’’
It’s an easy fix – simply hold the throw in the corner so that it drapes down in a triangular shape and throw it over the couch.
‘‘Don’t fold it into a rectangle, that is too formal, a throw should be quite casual, so just throw the throw,’’ says Vanessa.
Like cushions, throws can add texture. ‘‘You can get linen throws with frayed edges, a beautiful lambswool or possum throw is really nice, you can use hide, or faux fur… there are lots of ways to add texture and another element to the room.
‘‘In winter I like having a really cosy throw so it actually serves a purpose as well!’’
The very final touches of accessorising come in the form of plants, candles and knick-knacks.
And you can easily overdo it with knick-knacks, says Vanessa.
To avoid that, she suggests pooling all knick-knacks on a table, taking a good look at each and every one of them and asking yourself if it brings you joy.
‘‘If you don’t really love it, then feel free to give it away or repurpose it.’’
Rather than buying new items regularly, Vanessa has an entire shelf in her laundry where she keeps all the knickknacks she loves, and every so often she’ll change them around.
That way, it’s not an expensive exercise either.
Plants and their pots don’t need to be a big ticket items either, yet they will bring a room to life.
‘‘A room without a plant feels so sad to me – you don’t just have to have flowers in a vase, but you can pick up some beautiful greenery quite cheap and it lasts for weeks.
‘‘There are also so many faux plants around now, you don’t need to be scared they’re going to look plastic because the options now are so beautiful and realisticlooking.’’
Real-life snake plants are ideal – they are indestructible and their architectural leaves are striking.
Rubber trees with their large leaves make a statement and are easycare too, as are succulents.
‘‘Plants are great in any room of the house, bathrooms, kids’ rooms… both my girls have a plant in their room.
‘‘You can find quirky little containers – I’ve got a cactus in a little ceramic swan, for example.’’
When it comes to actual placement of accessories, Vanessa urges consistency throughout the entire house to ensure a cohesive look.
By that she means repetition, not ‘‘matchy-matchy’’.
‘‘If you’ve got a black tap in the kitchen, for example, you might have a black metal pot that refers to that, and a black pendant light.
‘‘Or if you have a brass-framed mirror, you might have a brass tray with a white pot plant on it, and a brass candleholder.
‘‘Having an element repeated a few times is a nice way for a space to feel cohesive.’’
Choose wisely when buying accessories, and decide where to spend money and where not to.
Vanessa recommends homeowners invest in good quality cushion inners because they need to look plump to look good, rugs and window treatments, even throws and cushions.
Knick-knacks don’t have to cost a lot to lift a room.
Vanessa speaks of one recent project where cushions, sofas and the rug were all high ticket items she didn’t scrimp on.
She then accessorised with inexpensive candles, coasters and a vase which can be changed easily.
As well as adding cheap and cheerful accessories, items collected while travelling can add the final touches to a home, says Vanessa.
‘‘It’s such a nice way to remember a holiday and these can end up being much more meaningful than something throwaway.’’
A well-styled bookcase is a great way to add numerous interesting accessories, like mementoes.
‘‘In one house I accessorised, there were open bookshelves full of family treasures, well-loved books and family photos.
‘‘Open shelves like that really can be a great way to store things at home but also display them for everyday and give your home that lived in, well-loved feeling.’’
DEB TAPP