Accessorise your home on a budget Part 3

05Mar08

Home furnishings are perhaps not accessories in themselves, but using decorative pillows, a throw or an interesting set of serviettes and napkins is a great way to accessorise. A new rug is often enough to change the look of a space. It will bring with it new possibilities of colour and theme and next time you go shopping, it will allow you to bring in some added elements into the room

Paintings are the best way to bring in colour and substance. You could make a large painting the stage for the rest of the setting and the colours and theme would dictate the décor style to some extent. It is important to decide on the theme in a particular room and then find the right furnishings to complement it. Framing is an important aspect and how you frame even an old piece of artwork and the manner in which you place it, can change the setting dramatically. To create a formal look, work with sets of paintings placed together in a symmetrical way. To achieve informality break the symmetry in a space. The kind of frame would also determine how casual trendy or old world a setting is. Appropriate lighting for paintings is important. Placed properly it will give the paintings in a room a defined role and they play their part accordingly. Small pictures, photos and prints may also be placed in groups in corridors hallways and niches and create points of interest in otherwise neglected areas of the home.<

Colour is not really an accessory on its own, but keeping colour in mind while picking up accessories would allow you to be a little more experimental and indulgent when looking at artefacts and accessories for the home. An interesting vase, a vibrant lampshade, a sequinned cushion or a hand-woven rug in unusual colours would completely redefine a space. Colour lets you bring in change and drama, and removing aspects of colour allows you to create more minimalist settings. If you keep it in mind it opens the doors of your imagination in many ways

Mirrors can be used effectively in corridors, above consoles and in areas with insufficient light to add some interest. They work best when they reflect something interesting like a textured wall or an interesting artefact

Filed under: Articles   |  Leave a Comment