Skip to main content

What Are Décor Pieces? The Smallest Design Elements That Make the Biggest Difference

décor pieces

Décor pieces are the small, finishing touches that wrap up your design. Image: Studio McGee

If you’re a regular reader of Freshome, you know we often talk about how great interior design is a sum of its parts. Each element of a room — whether we’re talking about flooring, furniture or paint color — plays its own role and simultaneously helps contribute to the success of the project. Today, we’re talking about décor pieces, the final step in the process.

Read below to find out what these accessories are, the role they play in building a room, and how to incorporate them into your own home. If you’ve ever felt like your design just isn’t coming together or maybe it’s missing some of the wow-factor you were hoping for, you won’t want to miss this post.

aesthetic value

Décor is purely meant to add aesthetic value. Image: Just Perfect!

What are décor pieces?

Typically, when we think about how an item will work in a room, we consider its value in terms of both function and aesthetics. Décor pieces are the exception to that rule. In this case, we’re really only concerned about the latter.

Décor pieces are accessories put in place purely to add stylistic value. That said, they play an incredibly important role in the design. They are what keep the space from being purely functional and, as a result, feeling one-dimensional. They’re also the things that help tie together all the individual design elements into a singular, unified vision.

Keep in mind that since these trinkets exist solely for the purpose of bringing more visual interest to the space, they are often some of the boldest. As you think of how to add décor pieces into your own interiors, remember one rule: Each accessory should be eye-catching in its own right and have just enough of a common thread to make clear it belongs with the rest.

types of décor

There are many different types of décor items to choose from. Image: Issie-Mae Interior Design

Mix and match different types

Now that you have an idea of how these elements are used in interior design, it’s important to discuss what your options entail. Again, it could be anything that adds visual interest to the room, so don’t limit yourself. Here is an overview of some of the most common:

  • Textiles: Throw pillows, blankets, area rugs
  • Containers: Vases, decorative bowls, table trays, baskets
  • Knickknacks: Figurines, memorabilia, collections
  • Wall hangings: Artwork, decorative mirrors, tapestries
  • Misc: Candles, coffee table books, plants

Take the picture above as an example. Between the walls, dining table, seating and shelves, there are more than enough décor pieces to round out the room. Notice how they all vary in size, color and texture. These variances are what keep your eyes engaged. Aim to create this same sense of harmonious contrast in your own interiors.

placement matters

Your perception is key to placing décor pieces. Image: JMA Interior Design

Consider placement carefully

With décor items, purchasing is only half the battle. Not only is it important to consider what items you use in the design, but you also need to think about which of them will go together best, as well as how they should be displayed. This is another area where your sense of proportion, or innate feel for design, will need to come into play. We do have a few tips that might help.

Always start by gathering your wall art and textiles. Then, move on to styled surfaces. (Places like built-ins, coffee tables, mantles and buffet tops are ready-made for the addition of a few accessories.) In each case, look up some design inspiration online to get a sense of what look you’re after and then try to re-create similar arrangements on your own. Contrast works best, so don’t be afraid to vary group items in varying numbers, shapes and sizes.

Once you have all your accessories in place, don’t be afraid to make edits. Step back and look at the room as a whole. Does it feel like anything you’ve arranged is too much or somehow out of place? If so, make adjustments until you’re satisfied.

décor pieces

Every room needs a few décor pieces. Image: Benjamin Moore

Décor pieces have a tendency to get brushed to the side in interior design. Many people think they’re optional or an unnecessary extra step. However, these small accessories are a key component of successful styles. They’re the items that pull the room together. Use this post as a crash-course on how you can use décor pieces to bring the rooms in your home to the next level. It’s one small step that will pay off big time.

Do you love décor items or are you more of a minimalist? Do you think these accessories should play a key role in every design? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

The post What Are Décor Pieces? The Smallest Design Elements That Make the Biggest Difference appeared first on Freshome.com.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hackers Help: How to attach headboard to ESPEVÄR mattress base?

I’m trying to figure out if a headboard can be attached to an Espevar Mattress Base , and how to accomplish that. I’m looking at a standard metal headboard (because I just prefer the look of curved metal to what IKEA offers) and am not interested in a slat base with just a mattress on top, and a wall mounted headboard is not an option due to renting. Thanks for any help! ~ Amy *** Hi Amy I’ve not seen the ESPEVÄR in person but I believe it is possible to attach a headboard to it. From the website, the ESPEVÄR looks like a regular wooden slatted mattress base under a bed base slipover. As to how to attach it, that will depend on the fittings on the metal headboard. So you will just need to get the right hardware to secure the metal headboard to the wooden frame. And make some small openings on the slipcover to let the fixtures to go through. Jules Photo: IKEA.com Try these free-standing headboards for size A lime green and white headboard that takes centerstage in the r

Should You Decorate for the Holidays If Your Home is on the Market?

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but should your home reflect the joy of the season if you’re also trying to sell it? If you love to decorate for the holidays, missing out on this once-a-year opportunity might sound like torture. On the other hand, you don’t want to miss the chance to sell your home because of your decorations. So, should you decorate for the holidays if your home is on the market? We’ve got some “nays,” “yeas,” and “other considerations.” No, Don’t Decorate An elaborately-decorated home in Houston. Image: Regina Gust Designs Our first two realtors are against decorating for the holidays if you’re trying to sell your home. According to Anita Springate-Renaud, licensed partner and broker at Engel & Völkers Toronto Central , your festive decor can distract buyers from looking at the home’s raw design. “Elaborate decorations can distract and shift a prospective buyer’s focus away from what they should be looking at when shopping for a property.” So what should they

Kitchen renovation reveal: Rhombus wall steals the show

It’s been a while since I did a home tour. If you’ve missed the previous reveals, you can catch up with my Master Bathroom remodel and Guest Bathroom reveal . Today, let’s focus on my kitchen renovation. Hands down, this is the most used room in my home. I spend crazy amounts of time in here, even when I’m not cooking. Just off to the side of the kitchen I converted an awkward space into a reading nook . In the mornings, I sit and read or pray and meditate, before it gets too warm. And on the other side, there’s a work-in-progress plant wall / indoor garden which also takes up a lot of my time. So, all in all, lots of traffic in here, and that’s not even counting cooking and eating time. The kitchen is definitely my favourite room, because the transformation is huge and I love how it turned out. Kitchen renovation: The before House 17 when I first got it, actually had 2 kitchens, which is a very common “Asian” home concept. First, the “dry kitchen”, which is where you make simp