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I don't know how to accessorise my house :(

4 years ago

We moved into our newly renovated house 2 years ago which is fairly contemporary in it's decor and although we are very happy with the decor, fixtures, fittings etc, it still feels really sparse. We have quite a few bare walls and empty horizontal surfaces but I really struggle with finding the right type of accessories/art for it. I've scoured lots of home accessory websites but very little seems to inpsire!

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance

Featured Answer

Ribena Drinker

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I think your problem is trying to "match" things, if you try to match too much, the space can look very flat and one dimensional.

Try to find a colour wheel on the internet, as it will give you lots of ideas for finding complimentary and contrasting colours. It will make you feel more confident with choosing colours that won't clash and give you ideas about what colours to look for and which you prefer.

You'd be surprised about how well certain colours work with others, that you may never have considered before.

Comments (20)

PRO
FITZROVIA INTERIORS
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hi Leesha, it would be nice to see some photos please. It’s alwasy nice to hang mirrors or wall art, ...maybe paint a feature w all with a dark colour to contrast with the rest .I enclose some photos to inspire you... you can buy prints online or print family photos in black and white.

a couple of great websites to buy prints are Etsy or Wijck.
Juliet Docherty
4 years ago
My suggestion would be to buy things that have character or are handmade in some way. Handmade rugs can look fabulous on a wall, studio ceramics, baskets, original art, there are lots of options. Another thing to think about is painting the odd wall a dark colour, not necessarily a 'look at me' colour but a dark moody colour. It can add drama to a space and help paintings and accessories look more interesting. Buying original art, studio ceramics and vintage rugs can be a really good investment, they are unlikely to go down in value and you may keep them forever.
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Carolina
4 years ago
Photos of your room(s) will help us give you to the point ideas.

I like large pieces of abstract art and Loaf, for example, have some nice Ben Lowe prints https://loaf.com/products/ben-lowe?ref=nav

Or a small piece, strategically placed on a large wall can be exciting too.

Also, as mentioned above, Etsy is a good source. For example (but it might not be to your taste at all) https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/596132159/large-canvas-art-original-large-abstract?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=&ref=sc_gallery-1-1&plkey=78f8444cb91eb95366045b84d29b7925cc22a89a%3A596132159&pro=1&frs=1

Maybe some ideas for you here: https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/10-ways-to-style-with-abstract-art-stsetivw-vs~77177402

A plant or two (or more) and fresh flowers bring life and colour. Always a good thing.
PRO
OnePlan
4 years ago
Some people are lucky and have the eye for pieces don’t they ! ( there’s three on this thread already !) On the Houzz app you can ‘try’ some pieces in situ via a smart phone ... so if you look in the shop part - you might see some pieces that you can try - to see if they look pleasing in your space .
rinked
4 years ago
I'm in a funny mood, so the first thing that came to mind was: Have a kid. My house is too cluttered to even notice there isn't any artwork.
Leesha N
Original Author
4 years ago
Lol rinq ... yeah we have one of those already! Thanks for suggestions, I find I look at stuff and think "that's nice"

but when it comes to having it in my house I'm like "that won't go"

I have attached examples of pictures of bare walls and surfaces as requested.
Leesha N
Original Author
4 years ago

one more ... bare sideboard
rinked
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Is that you hallway? It's massive! If you don't know what to put up, perhaps a pretty wallpaper would help? Something geometric/floral with silver and grey? You could even paper a panel (add a slath frame around it) to hang up and change whenever you feel like it.

https://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/wallpaper-patterns/floral-wallpaper/3271/namika?c=111

Some examples:
Upper East Side · More Info

Court Project · More Info

The W Residence · More Info
Leesha N thanked rinked
T Gray
4 years ago
You have a fabulous space there. Those ferns need to be more prominent though, they are a bit lost on the floor. Perhaps pop them on the table in the hall? A massive bit of contemporary art would look glorious on that stair wall too :) If you have family photos you could get them all in black and white, frame them all in the same type of frame and do a gallery wall.
Carolina
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
So, here's an example of a large piece of art on your staircase wall. Just to help you visualise how it would look to have something on the wall.
Carolina
4 years ago
And here's an example for your entry hall
Leesha N thanked Carolina
Ribena Drinker
4 years ago
I would just advise, go for things that you like or love, not just things that you see in magazines and in lifestyle pictures.

I see absolutely no point in having "stuff" if you have no connection to it. It's just clutter if you have no attachment to or interest in it. If you like or love stuff in magazines, fine but don't slavishly follow things you see, just because they're the in thing or some interiors person has put it in a photo shoot.

Ultimately, your home will feel more harmonised, because it will naturally reflect your style - whatever that is, on trend or not.
Anthony (Beano)
4 years ago
Tbh, RD has hit the nail on the head, some people find it hard to get stuff because they are trying to replicate a magazine feature etc, sometimes the stuff can be one offs, very expensive or hard come by so not easily accessed.

I’ve a gold skull coming, I’ve a cigar waiting to be stuck in ‘his’ mouth and take pride of place somewhere about the house! Is said, it’s what you like:-)

Accessories and art you can’t get wrong because it’s what you have personally picked out and not what others like.

As a few have pointed out the house is crying out for some art on the walls, some big plants and good call on the chair in the hall!
Leesha N
Original Author
4 years ago
Carolina that's so cool - thank you for taking the time to illustrate. Love what you have done although may question the turquoise on our canvas vs green chair clash ....! But I get where you are coming from ... food for thought. Where can I get canvasses like that for the stair wall?
Carolina
4 years ago
I found that one in the Etsy link I gave you earlier. Agreeing with Ribena Drinker that you have to have a connection with the pieces you have in your home. But sometimes it's hard to visualise how it would look to have something on a wall, if you've been looking at that blank wall for some time.

I've also photoshopped your dining room. I think it will look better without the tall white cabinet on that wall. It just breaks up the red too much, I think. I've also hung some art in warm colours on the wall next to the red wall, to give them a connection, so to speak. If you like to have family photos around you, putting them in larger frames, will give them more presence. I'd remove everything from the window sill, apart from some plants maybe. You could also put a larger plant on the sideboard.

The white curly thing is a lamp. Not sure how child friendly it is, but I kinda liked it in that corner :-)

https://www.dusklights.co.uk/eglo-harmonie-led-floor-lamp-finished-in-white-p7982
PRO
Dual Designs
4 years ago
Fantastic space you have Leesha. I think the staircase could work well with quite a few pictures, all with the same frame. It looks quite a contemporary area so a nice square frame in black maybe. Pictures could be black & white photography or coloured images/paintings, but maybe keep to a similar look throughout.

Above the table I would go for a larger painting, hung in a portrait position. On the table some kind of long dish that can be filled with something like glass pebbles. I like the idea someone else put a chair next to the table. There are so many nice chairs around.

An easier wall to change colour I'm guessing would be the table wall which would look great in a darker grey, making it more of a feature wall, which will give more depth.

There's plenty more ideas, but hopefully there's a little help to start things rolling.

God luck and all the best
PRO
FITZROVIA INTERIORS
4 years ago
Hi again enclosing ideas for your side board, any books or magazines, plant pots, vases, candles... your staircase would look amazing with some prints and Carolina’ s idea for the glass table looks great, you could add a colourful rug instead of the one you have.
Leesha N
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you to everyone for your suggestions, from not knowing where to start I've got lots of good ideas ... and would still welcome more.

Just so you know the canvas above the glass table in the hallway is actually wired with LED to light up - it's an Arabic scripture reading "God bless this house and those who enter" which was an important feature for us to have ... so I'm afraid it's staying lol!

I love the idea of black and white prints going up the staircase ... but it's all starting to look a bit too grey toned in the hallway and would like to inject some colour but at the same time it needs to complement the flash of turquoise in our canvas without clashing .... herein lies the problem for me whereas someone else I'm sure can effortless throw complimenting and colourful accessories in! I tried putting a plant on the glass table and it looked a bit odd to me ... maybe an orchid in a colour that will go with the turquoise ... which will then also have to complement the artwork on the stairs ....!! Dilemmas!!! lol
Leesha N
Original Author
4 years ago
Also the rug on the floor is a "tiled rug" - so I'm afraid it's staying too!!!

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