KAREN WIGHT -- No Place Like Home

Just like the right pair of shoes or the perfect purse to complement an

outfit, accessories help pull your home together, give it the right

flavor and express your personality.

Every room needs a few accessories to give it a look of completion: a

picture on the wall, a grouping of candles on a table or a plant in the

corner.

Accessories reflect your personal style. They mirror your interests and

tell stories about where you came from, what you like and how you live

your life.

Accessories are easy to find. Your mailbox is full of ideas. Catalog

companies love accessories. Companies such as Pottery Barn, Crate &

Barrel, Anthropologie and Z Gallery are accessory havens.

As consumers, we are far more likely to purchase a home accessory than

invest in a larger piece of furniture or artwork. In picking up some

smaller items, we get a sense of immediate gratification.

We can afford to be a little trendy with certain accessories because we

don’t have to refinance the house to buy a candle grouping, a new vase or

a funky picture frame. And, accessories make great gifts.

The tough balancing act comes in choosing accessories, deciding on

amounts and picking out the styles of accessories. Too much is too much.

Not enough is a little boring. It’s all a matter of personal taste, but

there are some general guidelines to follow to help put the finishing

touches on your home and make the job a little less difficult.

First, what’s your mood? Do you have a theme? If you are decorating a

child’s room, this can be an easy task. Does your son consider himself

the kahuna of his castle? Get some surfing prints and bamboo frames. Put

some grass cloth on the walls, get a colorful old surfboard for a prop,

use some beach towels to make pillows or a slipcover for a chair and you

have a great room. Accessory mission accomplished.

Let’s take on a harder job: the living room. First, take a look at what

you have. If you don’t love it, leave it. Just because it was grandma’s

favorite ceramic cat doesn’t mean you have to use it on your coffee

table. And, another thought to contemplate that might make your decision

less painful: You can change your accessories if you get tired of them.

Yes, you can actually rotate your accessories with the seasons, with your

moods and with your budget.

Take a look at what you have. Now, edit, edit, edit. You’ve heard this

from me before. It’s a theme: If it’s not something you love right now,

put it away. You can pull it out another time, place or house. But for

now, put it away.

Now we’re left with the things that we want to live with. Let’s get

started.

Variety is very important. Let’s take a specific example--the mantle in

your living room. The space above a mantle is a great place to hang

artwork. Pick your pleasure. One large piece, three prints framed to

match; it doesn’t matter, just make sure it suits your personal style.

Now we’re ready for the mantle top. Choose colors that complement your

artwork. You’ll need a pair of candlesticks and candles. Be consistent

with the mood of the room: silver, crystal, ceramic, wood. Pick one. Does

the mantle need a little color? Use some colorful candles.

We’re not done yet. Do you have china and beautiful accessory pieces? Get

a bowl out and try it on the mantle. Fill it with bright green apples and

place it next to or between your candles. What about small pictures,

portraits or landscapes?

Small items take on new importance when you place them on a plate stand

and give them a special berth. Do you need more? A pair of ceramic birds?

A couple of Herend animals? Arrange your menagerie, then step back and

take a look.

Use the same principals when you accessorize your coffee table, your

dining room buffet and your bedside table. Two rules: variety and you

need to love it.

Consider your home the cake and the accessories the icing. Accessories

give your home that special flavor and your personal signature.