Adding personality with accessories

Where to find home accessories
Kitting out your home with beautiful objects is easy – high street stores such as Habitat, Heals, Next and Debenhams have a plethora of vases, candles, rugs, cushions, artwork and ornaments. If you want something a bit different, it pays to be resourceful. Try markets, antique shops and auctions, design shows or even art and craft fairs. Architectural salvage yards such as Lassco are treasure troves of the strange and unusual, from ships’ compasses to fossils, church fittings and stained glass to reclaimed cast iron radiators, mirrors and light fittings.

Less is more
To get the full effect of your accessorising, don’t go overboard. Too many ornaments and oddments and your living space will turn into an Aladdin’s cave or, worse, a grandmother’s attic, with everything vying for attention. Whilst that can be fascinating for visitors, it’s not a relaxing environment to live in, it can be a nightmare to keep clean and the individual appeal of each item gets lost. Accessories work best with a little space round them so they stand out. If you own a lot, rotate them, putting some in storage so they can be appreciated afresh when you reinstate them.

Theming your home
Accessories can encapsulate your favourite era or design style. In a subtle room scheme the presence of a few iconic or signature pieces can have amazing impact. For some, this means adding a touch of nostalgia with 1950s-style kitsch; for others it’s the latest in sleek, modern light fittings. Alternatively, you may prefer a country style, the antique look or even the futuristic. If you love travel, souvenirs from your holidays can create unusual talking points – think wooden carvings, masks, wall hangings or hand-woven rugs, each with an intriguing story to tell.

Your life in pictures
Most homes have at least one photograph of family or friends on display, but the way you display them can transform average and predictable into art. Try using only black and white or colour-tinted images, or have a favourite pic put onto a large canvas – a simple way to give a room a striking focal point. You can even get your photos printed onto roller blinds for a really personal design touch. For digital photographs, buy a digital picture frame to play out your best shots in an ever-changing montage.

Bring the outside in
For those with a passion for the great outdoors or who take a more sensual approach to interior design, plants, fresh cut flowers and even dried grasses can add a touch of year-round colour, fragrance and texture to a room. An orchid is a work of art in itself and a broad-leafed palm adds a lush, exotic touch to an otherwise plain and simple interior. Water features are another way of bringing in a touch of Zen-like tranquillity or how about an aquarium? They’re available in many different sizes, from round bowls to floor-to-ceiling cylinders – you can even get one that comes inside a coffee table.