The Little Things

After moving into a new house recently, it’s become apparent to me more so than ever that filling a house with just the ‘big stuff’, like sofas, chairs and tables, can only get your so far, and even though your house might be full there’s still something missing. For me, in order for a house to truly feel like a home, smaller items, the accessories, must play a prominent part to turning a blank space into one filled with life, soul and character. I’ve pulled together some thoughts to give you (and me!) an idea of how best to give your home that stamp of personality.

Small decorative items and ornaments are great way to show of your style, as well as your memories and souvenirs, and although some people may start to get that hoarder’s grimace on their face, the idea of small items equalling clutter can be avoided as long as you find a good place to store and display them.

Old Printers Tray from Flickr via Pinterest

I love this way of displaying small trinkets and treasures collected over the years. We have a lovely one in my family home, full of pebbles, stones, feathers, things we collected as children which my mother kept. Left to their own devices they might look rather like a mess, but placed together in this museum display case sort of way, they begin to tell a story, making them all rather sweet.

Though the actual objects are something you’ll need to find on your own, there are plenty of printer trays available from places like Etsy, ready to house your collection.

‘French Printers Tray’ from Vintage Foggy on Etsy

I love the idea of displaying items in irregular places, especially if something can be hung on the wall instead of occupying that ever valuable surface space; this is also a great way to not only create a feature in a room, but to avoid a sense of clutter! This decorative weave baskets and plates are a lovely bohemian style, whether you’ve picked them up in a foreign land, or seen one you loved in a store, they’re beautiful and handy!

Decorative Weave Baskets and Plates from Simply Chi on Etsy via Pinterest

I love this simple design from Porcupine Rocks, it’ll look great with some smaller more colourful ones surrounding it.

Block Weave Large Platter in Black from Porcupine Rocks

Both real and artificial flowers and plants are a must-have in a home for me. A bunch of brightly coloured sunflowers will instantly give a room a bit of life, and some elegant hydrangeas can be the perfect accessory for a sideboard or end table. Adding plants or flowers to a room will make the room feel bright, and can create an interesting feature, or an accent of colour in the room.

Floral Arrangement from Cate Burren’s book ‘Secrets of a Stylish Home’

For some of the best faux flowers around, Funky Bunch has a beautiful selection of florals so that you can make your own beautiful arrangement.

Delphiniums in Blue from Funky Bunch

Cushions are one of the easiest way to add some detailing to a room. Whether you want to insert colour or texture, or both, cushions can instantly add some fun to a room. These brightly coloured cushion dress up a formal sofa, drawing attention to the space, and at the same time picking up on the surrounding area’s colours.

A Vibrant Sitting Room from Pinterest

For an interesting addition to a sofa or armchair this quirky design from Graham & Green will really spice things up.

Angel Pom Pom Cushion from Graham & Green

An interesting and stylish lampshade will help bring some intrigue to a room, as with all lighting, you can use lampshades to get creative and think outside the box. I really like how these wire lampshades take a traditional shade and turn it into something rather contemporary; a fun way to create a feature in a bedroom.

Wire Lampshades from La Maison d’Anna G. via Pinterest

You can change a room’s whole theme with a quick swap of the pendant shade. This wire number from Trouva is full of colour and fun; a lovely way to spruce up a playroom or kitchen.

Multi-coloured Wire Lampshade from Trouva

Coasters aren’t just a useful way to protect a beloved table, but they’re also a nice way to add accents of colour or a hint of pattern to a room without going over the top. These wooden coasters give off a lovely rustic feeling, and with each one sporting a different flower they have their own personalities.

Rustic Coasters with Flower Detailing from Country Living via Pinterest

If you like the idea of a wooden coaster but want to add a hint of glamour into the mix, these petrified wood coasters from Curiosity Home are stunning.

Polished Petrified Wood Coaster from Curiosity Home

While large mirrors are obviously useful to have in the home, and can be oh so pretty too, smaller mirrors are great for grouping together and making a beautiful feature wall. Compiling a whole range of styles and shapes are really create an enchanted feeling. I love how this bathroom has a sweet ornate large mirror in the centre, which is then decorated by an array of smaller, intricate mirrors as well.

Collection of Antique Mirrors in Bathroom from Design Sponge via Pinterest

There are really so many styles you can opt for when it comes to collecting a range of small mirrors for a display, I love the idea of using a convex mirror as well, like this little one from Rockett St George.

Little Aged Black Convex Mirror from Rockett St George

From little projects, to treasured memories and adorable buys, finding the small things that make your house feel complete are the items that you’ll end up loving the most, as though they may be little, they’ll have the biggest impact.

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Greener Pastures

For 2017, Pantone’s colour of the year is Greenery, and although we don’t always like to revert to the on-trends thing when it comes to designing interiors, it’s always fun to see how you can make colours work within your home. Since this years ‘It’ colour is kind of a tricky one, we thought we’d show you some great ways to include it into your home through some lovely accessories.

The key to incorporating on-trend colours within your home is to make sure that the products you buy still have a timeless element to them, whether it’s in their style, shape or function, so that they can go on being used and looking good when their colour is less fashionable.

‘Green and Beige Herringbone Throw’ from Not on the High Street

This throw from Not on the High Street has a classic herringbone pattern, which will always be a staple style, and the blend of beige against the green gives the throw a slightly muted, rustic tone, allowing the throw to work with a whole range of interior styles and colour schemes.

If you have a beautiful dark wood dining table and you’re looking to add a pop of colour, some green upholstered chairs might just do the trick. These velvet and studded chairs from Oka are a wonderful, timeless mossy green which will continue to look elegant throughout the years, and paired with a long wooden table and a dramatic colour on the walls, your dining room will look fit for a feast.

‘Stafford Velvet Dining Chair in Putting Green’ from Oka

Using saucer style pendants for kitchen lighting has been a key look since the return of the industrial style a few years ago, and mixing in a bit of colour is a great way to reinvent your kitchen without having to remodel. These ceramic shades from Graham & Green are the perfect way to add a little life to a tired looking light fixture.

‘Green Saucer Pendant Lampshade’ from Graham & Green

To complement your green lightshade, add an extra dash of the colour with this retro sixties style pea pod tea towel from Thornback & Peel. It’s always important to add a little fun into your interiors to keep everything flowing and light-hearted and though this print might be a little much on a sofa, it’s a fantastic print to give your kitchen a sense of playfulness.

‘Pea Pod Tea Towel’ from Thornback & Peel

When we think of smart contemporary style, we might be tempted to think monotone shades, but throwing in a colourful shade or two can really give your interiors an innovative look. This lacquered green side table from Houseology paired with a moody grey velvet sofa and a crisp white wall would create a fantastic, complete look.

‘Normann Copenhagen Stay Table’ from Houseology

Made by craftsmen in Morocco, these recycled glass tumblers from Rockett St George would make a great addition to any existing collection of glassware. Their overall style makes them smart enough for a formal dinner party, but the individual imperfections to each tumbler gives them a flair that will cut out the matchy-matchy nature of glassware. Not only will they look lovely laid out on a table, but they’ll just as nice as they glistening in the sunlight displayed in a cabinet or dresser.

‘Recycled Glass Tumbler in Green Small’ from Rockett St George

Stick to a natural aesthetic when choosing your green accessories with this interesting artificial moss spray from Graham & Green. A contemporary alternative to a bouquet of flowers, or an unusual addition to an arrangement using some moss in your interior can create a bold look. Adding some to a vase placed on the window sill in a pale coloured bathroom will add an exciting touch.

‘Faux Moss Spray’ from Graham & Green

Adding a few small touches is an easy way to get started on introducing a colour to your interior, especially if bright interiors are a little out of your comfort zone. Changing something small, like the doorknobs on your cabinet, drawer or dresser, can give a piece of furniture and the room it’s in a new look. This floral knob from Anthropologie is a sweet little touch and if you don’t want to overload on the green, you can always use a few of the pink design as well, creating a wonderful horticultural effect.

‘Floraculture Knobs’ from Anthropologie

Another small change you can make is with these exciting coasters, by their very nature each one of them is different, meaning you’re guaranteed originality with your set. You can use them by themselves for a bedside table for an interesting effect or grouped together on a coffee table to really create an impact.

‘Celestial Coasters’ from Anthropologie

Using a bold colour like green in your home can be a little daunting but there are a great deal of ways to not only have fun with the colour but invest in some wonderful pieces that will look amazing in your home for a long time to come. So choose rightly and you’ll have everyone green with envy.

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