Our top tips to help you accessorise your living spaces

Our top tips to help you accessorise your living spaces

Finishing off your room with the perfect accessories can make all the difference in making your house a home.

Whether it's a sumptuous rug, some eye-catching cushions or a quirky lamp, it all adds to a feeling of home. Read on to find inspiration and the perfect tips to help you add that final flourish to your home.

Rugs

Simple yet impactful, rugs can really transform any room, but with so many options available it can often be confusing to make the perfect choice for your home. Below are our top three tips to help you make the perfect choice.

Every room

Every room

Consider how the room is used, especially how many feet pass through it every day, as this will help you choose something both stylish and practical. Hallways and kitchens require easy to clean and more hard-wearing rugs, as these rooms tend to have a higher chance of dirty shoes and spillages during the day. Short pile rugs that are easy-to-clean and don't trip up your dining chairs are a great option for dining spaces, and bedrooms and living rooms are where you can choose those more delicate colours in luxurious fabrics and deep piles.

Size is everything

Size is everything

Choose the largest area rug that makes sense in your room, as one of the main purposes is to bring all of your furniture together. A too-small rug can throw off your space, and it's always cosier to have more softness for your feet to sink into. We recommend choosing a size that means that, at a minimum, the front legs of your furniture sit on the rug and always allow for at least a foot of bare space around the outer edges of the room.

Style it out

Style it out

The style you choose should tie your space together, a pop of colour or a pattern can make a statement with neutral furniture, or if you prefer to have your furniture making the statement, opt for something neutral that complements your existing colour pallet.

Cushions

Scattering cushions on your couches and chairs can add real personality to your room and bring it to life. They should tie all of your room's colours together and create a sense of overall cohesion, whether it's a formal space, a peaceful retreat or a casual living area. We have three top tips.

Mix it up

Mix it up

Mixing and matching colours, sizes, and shapes adds more life to your rooms. If your home has more neutral tones, use bold colours and oversized cushions to create your own mini works of art throughout each room. However, if your room is already full of colour, neutral shades can add comfort and depth. Cushions are also a great cost-effective way to refresh a room, especially as the seasons' change, or when you fancy trying out different fabrics such as velvet or bouclé.

Balance it out

Balance it out

The trick with bold colours and patterns is to pair them with other items in your room, be it a rug or your favourite piece of art. Find a colour that is a common theme across these pieces, and introduce your cushions in the same shade to help pull your look together. If it's a patterned cushion you have fallen for, remember it's best not to mix more than three patterns in any one space, or you risk your room feeling a bit too busy. Finally, odd numbers often look more balanced and impactful, especially on beds and sofas, and we recommend being generous with the number on these pieces of furniture to create something both stylish and inviting.

Take it outdoors

Take it outdoors

Why not add a pop of colour to your garden sofa, outdoor dining chairs or simply throwing some oversized cushions onto the lawn to spend a lazy afternoon relaxing? You can really add some personality, colour and comfort all at the same time, but remember to store them with care. Rain and long periods of extreme sunshine can damage even the best-designed cushions, so it is always best to store them somewhere dry, preferably in a breathable container.

Table lamps

The perfect lamp can play many roles in your home, from creating a relaxed cosy feeling, an eye-catching statement or simply cast light. Gone are the days of thinking we need matching lamps, there is a new trend to mix up lamps in certain rooms to create focal points and your own mini works of art. Below are our three top tips.

Location location location

Location location location

Table lamps are hugely versatile and can be used in just about every room, but the top three locations where they can really make a difference are your hallway, bedside table and side table. The addition of a table lamp on your console table in the hallway is both practical and stylish. Never fumble for those keys in the dark again while adding a point of interest to your hall. The bedside table is one of the most well-known locations for a table lamp and provides the perfect ambience for reading before bed. Bedside table lamps should be smaller in size so that they don't feel overwhelming, and make sure you are not looking up at the bulb.

Light it up

Light it up

Lampshades can be both beautiful and practical. If you want your lamp to be the focus of the room, bold colours can stand out more, lighter tones can mean more light is diffused into your room, whilst darker shades can create more of a cosy feeling. Consider the space and how it is used. Do you need a more powerful source of light for reading or a more subtle one for relaxing? It is also a good check to ensure your shade doesn't overwhelm the base of your lamp, and the shades on table lamps should always be at eye level when you are seated.

Mix and match

Mix and match

Feel free to mix up your lamps, particularly if your home is more eclectic. Statement lamps are a great way to create a focal point in a room and are guaranteed to start a conversation whilst making you smile every time you enter the room or turn them on. For a more formal look, matching lamps on either side of a bed or sofa can add a more balanced and structured look.

Thinking about the changes you could make?