How to Look For the Right Home Accessories

If you have just moved out to get a place of your own for the very first time or are decorating your home for the umpteenth time, one obvious difficulty that almost everyone faces is how to look for the right home accessories. We all are pretty aware of what exactly are the basic needs of a home, like the couch and the bed, but where else do you go from there? The base is ready, but the direction in which one needs to build on, that is a topic that leaves people in plenty of confusion.


With modern markets offering everything that you need and plenty that you don’t, what is the right and easy way to accessorize your home? Well, here is a simple guide that will get you started and will help you finish your interior decoration.

Keep in mind the available space and shop accordingly

There might be enough stuff in the store to fill up Michael Jackson’s Neverland, but the point is that you are not trying to fill up a mansion. Most often you will be tempted to buy something that is large and grand, but if it does not fit the scale of your home, then it looks ungainly. Be it a sofa set or a dining table, a big bed or even a large flower vase; things look attractive only when in right proportion. The room must never look too congested or too empty. Make sure that you strike the balance right.


Chalk out a very basic budget plan

The problem with accessories is that many of them look very attractive and most often salesmen have a funny way of making you buy what they wish to sell rather than what you need. Before you go out to shop, it would be wise to make a budget statement and then stick to it. Most of us run on a limited budget and hence this will avoid buying both the unnecessary and the stuff that is too expensive. Decorating your home comes at a price and that must be affordable!


Pick colors and patterns that mix and match with existing furniture

Always pick colors and patterns that are in-sync with what you already own as you do not want to change around your basic furniture for the sake of accessories! Pick shades and textures that run with the theme that you already have going at your place. Do not be tempted buy something that would sit ungainly- like a retro lamp for a modern living room- just because it looked good in the store.


Make comfort a priority

When you do but an accessory, make sure that does not actually disturb the existing comfort and ambient feel of your home. Anything that adds in terms of beauty, but takes away in terms of comfort is a complete no-no. Also make sure that what you buy does not demand too much of attention, care and constant attention. You wish to accessorize your home, not take care of a pet!

Bring home stuff that merges with local culture and topography

While picking stuff for decoration you can always chose a theme and most often it serves you well if the theme is in touch with local culture and topography. This has more advantages than those that meet the eye. The obvious reason being, it will sit well when guests come for a visit. It also makes your home an extension of your natural surroundings. If you live by a beach, go for plenty of shells and sand. If you live in a green and hilly region then bring in some plants and stuff in shades of green. Apart from the already mentioned reasons, this also costs you less as you can buy the stuff locally. This way it not just looks good but goes easy on your purse.


Remember that your home is reflects your thoughts and designing it in the way you wish to see it is an important part of both your personal and social life. You need not always spend extravagantly to look good and the above simple suggestions more or less are the basics for shopping for accessories. While you can always improvise on them, it will help you a great deal if you keep them in mind the next time you hit stores!

DIY Accessories Projects 2013 Decorating Ideas

Looking for inexpensive ways to spruce up your home? These simple, do it yourself accessories projects   for lamps, pillows, vases, and more - are sure to add style and character to any room.

Chain Reaction 

Various chain necklaces in silver and gold help give new meaning to recycled glass. Use jewelry or glass glue to secure the chains to plain glass bottles, outlining shapes, positioning as letters and numbers, or creating other simple designs. You can also remove the pin from the back of a plastic flower to create a truly three dimensional design. When the glue is dry, prime the bottles and paint with high-gloss paint. White creates a simple look, but other colors like cobalt or yellow are stunning and trendy.

Chevron Vase 

Customize a plain vase by taping off a chevron pattern with painter's tape (it need not be perfect). Spray paint the exposed area with a lighter shade of the vase color. Remove the tape when the paint is dry.

Quick & Easy Memo Board 

This magnetic memo board is as functional as it is stylish. Simply cut decorative paper to fit inside a cookie sheet and glue it to the pan. Add magnets and important papers, notes, or letters, and you?re ready for business. Place it on a desk or hang it in the kitchen to ensure your family always stays on task.

Reading Light 

Use damaged or discarded books and a lamp kit to build this literary light. Drill a hole slightly bigger than the rod in your lamp kit through the center of each book until you get to the height you desire. Thread the rod through the hole and follow instructions in the kit to wire the lamp. Cover a self adhesive lampshade with decorative paper or book pages to complete the look.

To Dye for Colors 

Hot from the runway, ombr� dyeing is a variation on basic tub dyeing. We put the trendy technique to work on these ordinary, store-bought throw pillows. For maximum results, always make sure you take the process slowly and follow through with each step.

Rosette Lampshade 

Embellish a plain lampshade with paper roses. Use a compass to draw an 8 inch diameter circle onto drawing weight paper. Cut the circle into a swirl to create a paper coil about 1/2 inch wide. Roll the paper tightly starting at the outside end of the coil. Release the coil slightly and manipulate it until you have created a flower shape, then hot glue it at the base to retain the shape. Use hot glue to adhere roses to the lampshade.

Cozy Felt Pillows 

Felt pillows are easy to make and boost the comfort quotient of any area. Use scraps of felt to embellish an ordinary store bought pillow, or sew the scraps together to create a multicolor masterpiece.These soft woodland-themed, felt pillows make this sofa a homey relaxation haven.

No-Sew Pillow 

Stoke your wanderlust with a pillow outfitted with a map. Find an image from an old atlas, or score a map of your favorite city or dream travel destination. Scan your image and use image-editing software to create a mirror image of your map, then print it using an ink-jet printer onto iron on transfer paper. Iron the image onto light color linen fabric, following package directions. Peel away the transfer backing to reveal the image. Use heat-set tape to adhere the linen piece to the pillow.

Felted Lamp Base 

This shapely lamp base enjoys a cozy cover. To cover a sphere shape lamp, measure the height and the circumference, then cut a rectangular piece of felted wool to size. Wrap it around the base with the right side in, and pin evenly spaced darts at the top and bottom. Remove, sew the darts, then sew the piece into a tube shape. Turn right side out and slip over the object. Using heavy duty thread, hand stitch a running stitch at the top and bottom and pull to cinch tight, then tie off at the back. Embellish the lamp with fun felt flowers for extra pizzazz.

Twine Light Shades 

Bring blissful color to a blah dining room with handmade light shades. These trendy light shades add a dash of texture and subtle color overhead and are created using twine and small beach balls.

Freehand Floral Vase 

A vase adorned with a hand drawn, floral-inspired design complements the bold orange flowers it holds. Use a white oil based Sharpie marker on ceramic surfaces.

Rosette Throw Pillow 

Bring dimension to a throw pillow with fabric rosettes. To create rosettes on a pillow cover, fold 4 inch wide strips of fabric in half, lengthwise and sew a basting stitch along the edge opposite the fold. Pull the thread tight, allowing the fabric to wrap around itself, and wind to desired sizes. Finish by stitching onto a pillow.

Give 'Em the Slip 

Boost the style of plain glass vessels by slipping them into something more cozy. Stretch a piece of felted sweater around the vessel, right side in. Pin for a snug fit, then remove and sew it where it was pinned. Cut the excess and turn it inside out. Make use of sweater accents such as button plackets, pockets, sleeves, and ribbing. Or add your own embellishments fashioned from scraps of old wool sweaters.

Wrap It Up 

Wood grain radiates warmth and character in any space. Using veneer ? thin, flexible sheets of wood available at home centers and woodworking shops ? is an easy way to incorporate wood grains into your home. Cherry and maple veneer wrapped around apothecary jars and stitched with silver embroidery floss make a sweet centerpiece or mantel display. Cut leaf shapes from veneer and stitch onto jar wraps for a nature-inspired look.

Grass-Motif Pillow 

A few fabric scraps are all you need to create this three dimensional effect. The grassy design is a fanciful layering of felt and cotton scraps cut into grass blade shapes. The first two layers are secured with fabric glue, but a single line of stitching down the middle of the top layer of blades gives them a breezy texture.

2014 Kitchen Decorating Accessories Ideas : Easy Update

Add color and personality to the cooking zone with inexpensive artwork, displays, and linens.

By  : Renee Freemon Mulvihill

The kitchen is a hardworking, functional room, but you can have fun with its design, too. Once you've selected the cabinets, appliances, and fixtures, don't forget to add the accessories that will truly make the room feel like your own. Decorative items, such as artwork, collectibles, and linens add welcome color and personality to finish off the space.

Artistic Elements 

You'll likely spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so brighten up the space with wall art. Although you may not want to place your most cherished artwork near the sink or range, due to possible steam and splatters, inexpensive poster art can brighten a wall, says Richard Landon, a certified master kitchen and bath designer in Bellevue, Washington. Keep in mind that artwork isn't limited to paintings and pictures. Consider hanging decorative platters, distinctive cookie cutters, or vintage cooking tools as decoration.

Creative Displays 

If your kitchen includes glass-front cabinets or open shelves, use them to create attractive and colorful display areas. Design an eye-catching focal point by grouping similar items and hiding not-so-pretty items in decorative canisters or baskets. Limit color choice for a more sophisticated look. All-white dinnerware on open shelves can form a simple and attractive display, for example, while collections of enameled cast iron pots in complementary hues can add a burst of color to a neutral kitchen. No open shelves? "Take a simple element and repeat it on a windowsill," Landon says. "I've taken empty Perrier bottles and lined them up. Something about repeating an element makes it special."

Other Accessories 

Even everyday items can make a big impact in a kitchen work zone. Choose rugs or dishtowels with bold pattern to add a burst of cheerful color, choose a light fixture with a colorful shade, or paint chairs or barstools in bright, unexpected hues. Copper pots and pans hung from a pot rack or set on a shelf attract the eye and add old-fashioned charm to a traditional kitchen. Sculptural salt and pepper shakers, stand mixers, or other functional kitchen tools can double as art when displayed on the countertop. Or place red and green apples (real or fake) in a ceramic bowl for an inexpensive display that can break up an expanse of countertop.