“Accessories, art, plants and flowers bring “life” to any room. Always keep a little in the budget reserved for these finishing touches. Otherwise, even a space with the most beautiful furnishings will look like a showroom, not a living room.” ~ Linda Merrill
Last week, interior designer Vivian Benjamin kindly posted my quote on the importance of accessories in interiors on her Instagram. I thought it made for an interesting topic for a blog post.
I can’t stress how much I truly believe this. Not only do accessories really make the space but you can move them around to keep the rooms fresh – an inexpensive refresh of the space.
Accessories tell the story
The simple space above is a good example. We first focus on the image as a whole – the stone wall, the washed out palette – it’s romantic and evocative. But it’s the details – the flowers, the bunnies, the pillow and books – which pull it together to give it “place”. The accessories actually tell the story.
My clients for this Duxbury Garden Home project were retirees who are well-traveled and avid collectors. When we did their new home, I was like a kid in a candy shop with her collection of accessories. What happened was that they had sold a large family home in Truro, MA a couple of years before and had put everything into storage. They then bought this attached home and my job was to turn a basic space into something special, comfortable and stylish. I’ll tell you, going through their boxes of art and accessories was like being a kid in a candy store. Not everything was precious or valuable, but everything did have meaning or purpose. Family heirlooms, children’s books once owned by grandparents, fine art and a sculpture from their travels in Mexico. It all tells a story and fleshes out the space. Without the accessories, we’d have a pretty chair and rug, and a fireplace, maybe the painting. Everything is lovely, but would certainly be a bit sterile.
Fleshing out the space with Accessories
Here is a little sneak peek of my finished Modern Coastal project that I’ve been working on in The Pinehills for the last year. I am going to be taking better photos but here are some semi-styled images that I think really show the value of accessories. The rendering above is just the main furnishing elements in the foyer. All very pretty but I do think it feels much more welcoming with a little more personality as you see below.
This sideboard was specifically chosen to offer storage as well as a bar top for entertaining. It’s in the main sitting area of the space and needed to be slim to keep the walkway open. For parties this might be filled with a bar set up and glasses or an appetizer station. But for everyday some well-chosen accessories keeps it from feeling sterile.
I hope you can see how big a difference the right accessories can make.
And this below is a photo I took (and a bad one, at that) of my Boston South End townhouse project. This is probably the best example I have of a “before and after”. We filled the room with beautiful furnishings from Baker Furniture, Maitland-Smith, Theodore Alexander, Restoration Hardware, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and more. The lighting included a gorgeous antique crystal and bronze chandelier and pair of sconces and the carpet was handmade. The window treatments were custom. And you know what? It still looks bare, doesn’t it?
Et voila. The finishing touches included the addition of the sheer window shades, flowers and vases. The clients opted not to have a cocktail table right away as they had a toddler, so for the photoshoot, I borrowed this vintage brass Maison Bagues-style table. I also borrowed the art on the walls, which was added with photoshop magic. I think it’s super-obvious the difference those finishing touches can make.
Of course, how many accessories is the right amount is subjective. Some people like a lot of “stuff”, others prefer a more streamlined approach. For me, it needs to be personal, possibly functional, always beautiful. Also, remember, you can, and should, move your accessories around the house just to shake things up.
Some of my favorite go-to’s for accessories are Chairish, Etsy, antiques and vintage shops, Homegoods, Curated Kravet.
I’d love to hear your go-to’s for great accessories!
Pin for future reference
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Your quote is perfect! I can’t afford a renovation right now, but with paintings, books, sculpture, minerals, seashells, etc., my home looks fabulous while it’s waiting for the renovation.
Hi Squeak! That’s a great point – like great jewelry on a plain dress, the right accessories will make a place look finished even if there’s a lot of work still to be done!
Great post. Accessories really make the difference.
Karen
Thanks so much Karen!
Linda
If your clients are anything like me, they may well have two additional diseases to contend with:
(i) decision paralysis; and
(ii) decision overload.
Overload happened to me on my recent apartment renovation. I had to make so many decisions, that I hit the equivalent of the long-distance runner’s “wall”. I reached the stage where I simply had too many inputs, and genuinely couldn’t cope. I was working full time at a demanding job, I’m single and had no one with whom to share the burden of identifying options, making choices and then sourcing stuff.
Decision paralysis has hit me as a final surprise. I’m so scared of making the wrong choices, that I’m too paralysed to make any choices at all, and so everything is unfinished to varying degrees. If I spend what little money is left badly, then I’m really jiggered (at least that’s what my fear whispers to me!).
Or a final problem: I see the perfect fabric/piece of furniture/whatever and either it’s gazillions of pounds (I’m in England), or it just won’t fit for whatever reason.
Sadly I didn’t have the benefit of your advice- only just found your great site!
But – where do I begin? And how do I (ahem)…get off the pot?
These questions are making me want to eat cake!!
Hi Denise – thank you so much for your comment! And you’re so right, decision paralysis is a real thing – especially if you’re doing a major renovation because you had to make decisions on everything from the pretty parts to the mundane like placement of outlets and switches. I’ll add this topic to my list of future blog posts to discuss.
As for how to begin, I always find that separating the “needs” from the “wants” to be a good place to start. The needs come first, and then the wants become a list of priorities. Some things we may want but the price gets in the way – in which case, is it something you want to wait and save for, or is it something you can take inspiration from and find an alternative? The big thing is – don’t let the perfect get in the way of the done. There will always be something better that comes along -it’s just the way it is. You just have to make the small decisions that add up to help you get off the pot.
Finally, get at least one space completely done. Being able to walk into a room and saying “ahh…” is both a relief from what you still need to do and is also motivating to tackle the unfinished parts because it’s so nice to walk into a finished space.
Good luck!
Accessories are the lifeblood of a room! That South End condo tells the story so well – gorgeous job on that!
Thanks Janet – I loved that project.
“Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the done” – another fabulous quote! Several years ago, at the age of 62, I finally woke up and realized that if I kept waiting for perfect, I would never have the home I dreamed of. Or any sort of home for that matter. So I started embracing the imperfect, the “good enough”. If it ticked 80% of my wish list boxes, it was good enough. It was the best decision I ever made! I now have the home of my dreams (well almost – I still need to renovate the kitchen and bathrooms). Every room makes me sigh with happiness when I walk into it.
“Every room makes me sigh with happiness when I walk into it.” – that is the dream! Good for you!
Hi LInda, I enjoy reading your blog and especially the before and after photos! Thought I’d check out Curated Kravet. I loved their accent pillows! When I went to find a price, it appears I must have an account number. Please share how to proceed with them. Thanks!
The before and after styling photos really tell a great story about how important styling is!
Hi Jillian – it doesn’t take much but it sure makes a huge impact!
I love your use of clients collected items. Accessories do tell the story – and when they’re accessories that have meaning, it’s a true story of home.
Your before and afters tell a dramatic visual story!
Thanks Jeri!
Love this post and you are so right, the accessories are so important and not to be overlooked. I love your examples too. I am inspired to revisit where I have chosen to add accessories in my own home!
Hi Amy – I’ve been busy re-evaluating all my art and accessories – moving things around and getting rid of things. It’s refreshing!
Linda, I love how personal these space feel with the accessories you were able to uncover and use. Love the unique story these tell.
Thanks Lisa!
The coastal sideboards and the styling are stunning! Your clients were lucky to have you. I love all your coastal room designs, right down to the what I believe are called bulkhead boat sconces (?) in the navy bedroom. Plants, maps and lamps – I love all your chosen accessories Linda.
Thank you Mary Beth!