Redecorating is something that some people really look forward to whereas others dread the thought of having to pick out new colour schemes and furnishings for each room in their house. Whichever group you identify with, you can make the most out of the opportunity to transform your home into a really beautiful place to live by following the example of the professionals and using design accents to add a touch of style and ensure that the themes you choose are expressed in a cohesive manner.
What are they?
If you have no idea what a design accent is, the following list should help you to understand both what they are and how they can be used around your home.
Decorative throws – Instead of buying a new three-piece suite that fits in with the new décor you have chosen, you can save money by buying throws to cover your armchairs and sofa. Available in a wide variety of patterns and colours, they can make a real difference to the appearance of your living room. If you were going for a jungle theme, you could choose throws that feature prints of animals such as tigers and leopards, or interwoven vines creating the image of dense undergrowth. Paired with light green walls and a mid-brown carpet, they would accent the theme and help to pull everything together.
Rugs – Another cost effective way to transform a room, a large rug on top of a neutral carpet or wooden flooring can add a splash of colour to your home and help to create a unified theme when matched with the colours you have chosen for the walls. If you don’t fancy wandering around shops full of Rugs for sale, you can check out what online stores have to offer instead and, if you like what you see, place an order and have your selection delivered straight to your door. Rugs are also available in a wide variety of patterns and fabrics so if you are creating a beach theme for example, you could choose one that features seashells or marine life instead of a solid colour or abstract design.
Lampshades – these are also useful as design accents and are much cheaper to buy than completely new lighting units. Together with throws and rugs, you can use shades to create a variety of moods in your living room, dining room or bedrooms. They are also easy to find online so there is no need to worry about hunting for a parking space at your local shopping mall just to purchase a couple of new shades.
Cushions – small scatter cushions are ideal as design accents and, in common with the above suggestions, are relatively inexpensive. Are you beginning to see a theme here?! In addition to placing them on sofas and armchairs in your living room, you can also use small cushions on beds to create an inviting look to greet you when you retire at night. Larger cushions can be used on the floor in children’s bedrooms or casual rooms such as dens.
Hopefully, the above list has given you a few ideas as to how you can use design accents to create a theme in your home that is as good as anything that an interior decorator could come up with. There are many other items that can be used as accents, such as wall hangings and posters; the only limit is your imagination and, of course, your budget! Spend some time looking at what is available online and you are sure to come up with lots of new ideas as to how you can transform your house into the ideal home.
Photo credits: Salvatore Vuono – freedigitalphotos.net
