Adding Interest and Variety to Your Decor
Decor Accents to Add Interest and Variety
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As we’ve mentioned already this week — we are so thrilled to be working with the amazing Jackie Hernandez from The School of Decorating (or check out her blog at Teal and Lime) to offer all of you an exclusive FREE home decor workshop: Seven Simple Styling Secrets To Make Your Decor Look Better. The tips in the free video workshop are so amazing, and they’re already changing how I am decorating in my home (which I’ll be sharing soon) — so be sure to register now so you’re ready for the workshop when it opens on December 6th! The course registration is now closed.
If you’re familiar with Jackie’s decorating philosophies or her book, Free Decorating, then you know that having great home decor isn’t necessarily about running out to the store and buying a whole mantelscape in one cart-load of items (even though that can be really fun, I admit!) The homes that really represent their owners have a comfortable style that has evolved with time, filled with things you love, not just things that were displayed together in a shop window.
BUUUT… every loved-and-lived home decor arrangement has to start somewhere, and the best arrangements feature a variety of decor. Jackie discusses her must-have categories for any arrangement in the Seven Styling Secrets course (seriously, go sign up because you’ll regret missing it!), as well as tips for using each one well in a variety of arrangements. In my opinion, some of the most important variations you can have is variations in shape, and variations in texture, so today we are sharing our favorites! These interesting pieces are classic decor elements that you should consider adding to your repertoire to add variety and interest to mantels, bookshelves, console tables, and other vignettes.
Beautiful Globes
Not only does a globe look downright classy on a shelf or mantel, but it’s a shape outside the norm and more organic, especially when paired with more square objects like frames and boxes. A larger globe in traditional colors is at home in any colorful space, especially an office, play room, or child’s room. A smaller mini globe brings the same style just (obviously) on a smaller scale, making it a better fit for narrower shelves and mantels vs. full-depth bookshelves. And since globes are so popular right now, you can find so many different color and design schemes!
A: World Market, Blue Globe with Bronze Stand
B: AllModern, Wood Globe
C: Pier 1, Marble Base Globe
D: Domino, Cartier Globe with Geometric Stand
E: Wayfair, Bamboo Globe
F: One Kings Lane, Canvas Globe
G: West Elm, Silver Globe
H: Target, Black and Gold Globe
I: Overstock, Wood Metal Globe
J: Walmart, Full Swivel and Tilt Globe
K: World Market Armillary Non-Traditional Globe
A nice globe alternative is a round terrarium, with either traditional plants like succulents or air plants. Put it on a hanging stand or wood pedestal for added height and variety.
or you can also try a decorative ball or orb to add texture:
Mercury globes
Wood spheres
Rope sphere
Glass globe orbs
Think Vertical
Wreath + Hanger
Wreaths are about as traditional as decor gets, but using a smaller wreath on a stand on your mantel gives it a whole new twist! A really great way to add some organic vertical elements to your mantel or shelf display.
While you’re at it… put just about anything on a stand for a little vertical oomph!
Take your beloved decor to a new level 😉 by pairing it with a cake pedestal!
Pottery Barn, Wood Cake Pedestal
Overstock, Set of 3 White Tall Cake Pedestals
Wayfair, Blue Pedestal Cake Stand
Target Wire Cloche + Pedestal
World Market Marble and Wood Stand
One Kings Lane, Marble Stand
Interesting Bookends
Combine the functional with the beautiful with sculptural, interesting bookends. This is also a great place to use a fun texture: think concrete, galvanized metal, reclaimed wood.
A: One Kings Lane, vintage light bookend
B: West Elm, striped marble
C: Dot & Bo, faux wood trunk
D: Dot & Bo, skyline bookend
E: Overstock, bridge bookends
F: Joss & Main, hands bookend
G: One Kings Lane, agate/geode bookends
H: Pottery Barn, leather orb
I: Pottery Barn, oversized jacks
J: Pier 1, time and temperature bookends
K: Wayfair, fleur de lis
Other things that caught my eye:
A nice combination of the height of a candlestick with the “put a bird on it” popularity 🙂
Galilean Thermometer
The science geek and the color geek in me both rejoice to see something like this included in a decorating layout! A Galilean thermometer is filled with tiny glass globes of different colors, which rise and fall depending on the air temperature, making it a beautiful rainbow! Available in various sizes starting at 12 inches, it’s a great unique piece to add to your decor. Also available at Pier 1.
A nice way to add some rough texture and style!
Just too cute to pass up!
Just because it says doorstop, doesn’t mean it has to be on the floor!
Such a fun piece for a shelf or mantel!
Oversized Hourglass (magnetic!)
A fun shape and you can play with it, too 😉
So, I hope you found some great pieces to liven things up a bit! Don’t forget to sign up for the free workshop here:
Lorene has been behind the scenes here at Remodelaholic for more than a decade! She believes that planning projects and actually completing them are two different hobbies, but that doesn't stop her from planning at least a dozen projects at any given time. She spends her free time creating memories with her husband and 5 kids, traveling as far as she can afford, and partaking of books in any form available.
