Spring Refresh | New Accessories For Your Refresh

I have had a lot of requests for staging and styling lately. Unfortunately, I don’t take styling-only jobs so I figured a post about some of my favorite products and tips would be a great place to get you started!

My accessories change with the season and time, in general. I usually keep a few large scale, key pieces and move smaller items in and out. I usually work with a combination of items when styling shelves and tables. My basic styling “go-to’s” are books (which I will have to do another time), boxes, baskets, bowls, trays, art and/or framed pictures, vases, florals and greenery, candles, and decorative objects.

BOXES, BASKETS, AND TRAYS

I love to use these when I have an area that tends to have items being placed all the time. I like to “corral” anything I can and give it a purposeful place to rest. I also use boxes to add height by stacking then and typically placing an object on top.

FLORALS AND CANDLES

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know I LOVE nature and anything that brings the outdoors, inside. If you don’t have a green thumb, there are plenty of realistic looking plants these days. There is no excuse to keep them out of your space; you need florals to soften the room. Candles are great for scent and ambience. I love finding large hurricanes and holders to really make a statement with my candles. I actually don’t burn them much these days, unless I need to set a mood with a particular smell, so I use the battery operated ones to set the mood. It never fails, I always get compliments on the ambience they give off anytime I turn them on for guests.

VASES AND BOWLS

Both of these could be used for a live floral display, but there are tons of beautiful options that can also stand alone. Some of the vases and bowls around my house are practically sculpture, and because they can come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, they are perfect when you need to fill a specific void.

DECORATIVE OBJECTS

The final piece to the styling puzzle are the decorative objects. These will come in any shape, size, materials, color or look so the options are endless. I use these on top of books, boxes, trays, in voids, centered on a shelf, etc.

DESIGN TIPS

1——— When purchasing items to style, always buy more than you think you need. It takes a lot more to fill than you originally think. Check the return policy to verify you can return if not used.

2——— Lay out all of your items; I usually do this on a nearby table or floor. When you can see everything you have, it’s easier to visualize and grab-go/move when needed.

3——— Start with the back and bottom. What I mean is that if you are placing art on the back, for sure, place it (no worries if you need to shift for voids, just know you are using it). If you have a lot of books or books you love the look of for a table, place that stack or row first. If you have a tray for a coffee table, place that tray in position first. This will all create a foundation to layer upon.

4——— Use boxes and books, stacked, to add height to an area. Place an object on top to add interest.

5——— Mix metals and item materials. Don’t place too many like items together. Combine marble, woven baskets, matte black, and color together.

6——— Give your eye areas to rest. It doesn’t matter how good your items are, if you cram them together without a place for your eye to rest, you won’t see them. I like to layer items slightly over each other to create a line of sight, usually in uneven numbers, and then give myself some areas of nothing. If you’re styling shelves, I love to have a busier shelf adjacent to a shelf with one large item in the center. It helps to break up the “chaos”.

7——— Add items that make you happy, make you laugh, and tell your story. Family photos are always beautiful in black and white. I also have items I’ve collected from traveling that make me happy; they may not be the most beautiful item but they tell our story and are usually good conversation starters.

Tomorrow if the final day and we’re moving outside!

April 16- Outdoor Update

Enjoy,

Nikki