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When you are in a store looking at a beautiful new sectional or sofa, you might be in awe of how amazing that furniture looks on the showroom floor. You might also wonder why it doesn’t have that same appeal when placed in your empty living room.
Perhaps the throw pillows look great on the sofa, and the accent chairs compliment your walls, but something seems to be missing. Maybe the dining space features the perfect dining room chairs, and the dining table is gorgeous, but the whole room feels too dim.
Often, a sectional, sofa, or recliner looks so good on the showroom floor because furniture is framed by matching or complimentary accessories, providing an aesthetic addition to the practical nature of your seating.
Accessories can often make or break your room design. If you are looking at your new furniture and wondering what is missing between your home and that elegant showroom display, you might require a few functional and stylish accessories.
This article will cover some of the best accessories to complete your room and make it feel more at home. After reading this article, you will understand which accessories you may need in your home and why they are necessary to make your space feel more comfortable and stylish.
Furniture Fair has helped satisfied customers throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana complete their rooms, and we want to help you too. Read on to find the top furniture accessories that will take your room from functional to beautiful.
Before we look at the best accessories for your room, let’s take a few seconds to learn what you should consider before buying accessories. A little time now could save you from buying too many accessories or not enough to fill your space properly.
A general rule for room planning is to divide your room by percentages. The floor, ceiling, and walls should occupy about 60% of your living space. You need room to allow your paint or wallpaper choices to shine through while also leaving room for you and your guests to navigate the area.
Furniture should comprise about 30% of your space and provide functional elements to the room. You want your guests to feel comfortable in your area without feeling cramped by the furniture and lack of spaces in between. You also don’t want the room to feel vast and empty.
30% use of space with your furniture will combine well with the 60% use of space for your surroundings to create a room that feels inviting rather than cramped or barren.
The final 10% of the room is where the accessories belong. Think of accessories like the glue that holds a beautiful space together. Accessories can bridge awkward gaps between flooring and furniture or remove those bare spots between walls and the top of a sectional or bed.
Following these simple percentages can create a well-balanced room that will appeal to guests and yourself. Following the rules of percentages will keep your room looking intentional.
Of course, rules were made to be broken, and you should design your room layout in a way that makes you and your family feel at home, but keeping these percentages in mind when buying furniture and accessories can help you better understand what you need to add to complete your room.
Think about what you want the purpose of your room to be. Are you looking to create a cozy library for reading with a nice cup of tea? Or will this space be the ultimate home movie theater, complete with power recliners and surround sound?
When developing a design plan for your room, think about what you and others will be doing and what accessories could contribute (or distract) from those activities. Harsh bright lights are impractical for a home movie theater, but they are perfect for a home gym.
Now that we’ve talked purpose let’s talk mood. Setting the mood for your room can be a significant factor in determining how comfortable your room is. Do you want your room to feel warm and cozy, or are you looking for a more clean and bright-feeling space?
The colors you choose for your walls, furniture, and accent pieces can drastically impact the room's mood, so keep in mind what mood you are trying to create and match your design and layout. The amount of light and light temperature can also impact the mood in the room layout.
Lighting is one of the most necessary but often underappreciated parts of room design. Well-designed room lighting can help create the mood you want in a particular room, whether in the bedroom, the living room, or even the bathroom.
Most rooms require three light sources to create an appropriate level of light, especially in the evening or if the room has no windows. If your overhead light is not providing the light you are looking for, an accent lamp is a great way to make your space feel cozy.
Accent lamps come in many sizes and styles, with some even featuring additional features such as USB or wireless charging ports. Floor lamps are meant to stand on the floor and are great for behind couches and sectionals or placed strategically in corners.
Table lamps are meant to go on accent tables, side tables, credenzas, or desks and create additional light sources while also doubling as accent pieces that can fill empty spaces within your room layout. The most common lamp arrangement is two table lamps and one-floor lamp, but your needs will be based on your room’s dimensions and existing furniture.
Lamps are great functional accessories that are also perfect for people who like to change the layout of rooms when the mood strikes. As long as you have access to an outlet, you can arrange your accent lamps in whichever layout works best for your design.
You can even change the mood by adjusting the dimness and color of your lighting. Warmer, more yellow lighting usually creates a more cozy effect, while whiter lights are preferred for bathrooms or office environments. You can even find responsive lighting that can be adjusted depending on the situation.
Lamps work well as living room, bedroom, and dining room accessories, and a good light fixture can take a dim room and cast a more positive light on the space. If your living room design doesn’t have lamps, consider adding lighting to brighten up the space.
Accent rugs are a tried-and-true way to tie the room together and keep your space looking intentional. Accent rugs come in many sizes and styles and are perfect for connecting the room. Accent rugs also double as a way to reduce echo in the room.
A well-placed accent rug adds warmth and texture to the room and can even be an excellent place for people to hang out if the couches are full or if you want to play a board game with the kids. Large rooms can even use multiple rugs, especially if you want a more bohemian look.
Rugs work well in living rooms, hallways, dining areas, and even bedrooms. If your space feels too open or your room has too much echo, you may want to add an area rug to fill out your space and complete your living room, bedroom, or dining room decor.
If you are worried about the rug sliding around on your hardwood or laminate flooring, you can purchase a rug pad to keep your carpet from slipping. Keep patterns in mind when matching your rug to the furniture, walls, or flooring.
Bare walls may be fine for a busy bachelor’s apartment or a racquetball court, but most rooms need pictures, mirrors, and wall decor to tie the furniture and surrounding walls together. The type of wall art you choose should depend on your desired aesthetic and the room's colors.
Most wall art should be hung 57 inches from the ground to match the average eye level for optimal viewing experience. Larger wall art may need to be hung higher to fit the area. If you are hanging multiple-size frames in a collage style, you will also need to hang each piece at a different height.
Consider creating matching or complimentary color schemes with your wall art and furniture. A well-thought-out space will stand out as intentional and make your home feel planned and lived-in. The last thing you want is to feel like a guest in your own home.
If decorating isn’t your thing, or you need a second person to share ideas with, consider getting an in-home design consultation. At Furniture Fair, our room designers are ready to help you find the perfect complimentary art for your furniture.
Accent tables or end tables are a great way to add extra space and hide necessary but unsightly objects like remotes, magazines, furniture polish, or charging cables. Accent furniture pieces like end tables are useful living room accessories due to their storage areas and surfaces, which can hold personal photos, lamps, and other accessories.
End tables should be a part of that 30% use of space taken up by furniture and provide a bridge between furniture and accessories. Matching end tables can help keep your room looking intentional, while complimentary colors or wood stains can add depth and texture to your room.
Try to match or compliment the design style of your furniture, whether that style is classic, elegant, bohemian, or farmhouse. Keeping your furniture, end tables, and other accessories on theme will ensure that your space looks planned.
Coffee tables are a great way to create functional space and eliminate awkward bare areas in a living room. Like end tables, coffee tables can function as extra storage space and a space for accessories, books, and other items.
If you like to host movie nights, the coffee table is a great space to keep all the snacks like popcorn and candy. Make sure your couch, sectional, or recliner is made from a performance fabric or easier-to-clean material like leather in case of spills.
Coffee tables come in many shapes and sizes, such as oval, rectangle, square, triangular, fun organic shapes, and more. The best-shaped coffee table for you will depend on your needs. The best way to make sure that your coffee table will work in your space is to measure and account for the furniture that will be nearby.
If you have stationary furniture instead of a reclining sofa or sectional, an ottoman could be the perfect furniture accessory to complete your room design. Ottomans are a great way to let your guests kick up their feet without needing a reclining footrest.
Ottomans come in many shapes and sizes, and you can find various colors, fabric patterns, or upholstery textures to complement your furniture and room colors. Large ottomans can also take the place of a coffee table if you are more inclined to kick back and relax on your couch.
An ottoman may be the perfect solution for that awkward space in your room that needs something functional and beautiful to fill in the gap. An ottoman can be another way to connect your room design or provide a complementary element to your interior design.
Now that you have a better idea of how to complete your room, you will be better prepared to find the best accessories for your bedroom, living room, dining room, or any room that needs to feel more complete.
Remember the percentage rule when designing your room. Keep 60% dedicated to walls, ceiling, and floor, 30% to furniture, and 10% to accessories. Remember to think about the purpose of the room and the mood you are trying to set within the space.
Finally, make sure to use lamps, area rugs, wall art, end tables, coffee tables, or ottomans to create an intentional and lived-in space. Following these steps and finding the right accessories can take your room from good to great in no time.
Furniture Fair has an extensive collection of lamps, rugs, wall art, accent tables, coffee tables, and ottomans, and we have the perfect accessories for your home. Drop by one of our locations throughout Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and Louisville. One of our furniture experts will be happy to help you find the right furniture and accessories for your home.
