Ask The Pro:: How To Accessorize

Today, I have Autumn from Design Dump to help answer our fourth and final design question.

Autumn is an interior designer based out of Salt Lake City, UT. She has experience in office design and luxury home design. She's currently working on growing her client base both online and in the greater Salt Lake City area.

She moved from Knoxville, TN (where I'm originally from) so I feel like we have a common bond :)

Autumn's question was about accessorizing::

Do you have any tips for accessorizing/accenting rooms? Should you start with an inspiration piece or main accessory and find things that will work around that? I know for me I tend to just find things I like and try and make them all work together....but by doing so everything doesn't necessarily look cohesive. 

Without further adieu, here's Autumn!

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accessories can add a lot of personal charm and warmth to a room, as well as tell a story about the people that live there. using objects that you truly love, whether they have been found at a thrift store, collected on travels, created by or inherited from a family member, or snagged straight from mother nature, is a guaranteed way to end up with objects worthy of a striking display. 

here are a few simple ideas that you can rely on to assure a polished and interesting look:

1. add some "life". i think every room needs to have something alive in it. plants, or fresh flowers are a great way to do this. orchids are a favorite of mine because they last for months and are relatively low maintenance. another  low maintenance way to add some life to a room is with a succulent arrangement, these draught tolerant plants need very little water and add interesting texture and color to a room. consider pairing your greenery with mismatched frames, and other small objects to round out 

any vignette.

low-maintenance succulents look amazing in these diy planters.

a lavender orchid adds some color to this muted, sophisticated foyer.

2. stack some books. i am continually amazed at the impact that a small stack of books can add to a room. limit the stack to no more than 5 or six books, but even two large books is adequate. you can either leave the books by themselves or top the stack with a sculpture, decorative bowl, a piece of coral or driftwood, a frame, or some fresh flowers in a vase.

in this dramatic bookcase, featured in lonny, stacked books are topped with decorative objects

resulting in a glamorous, eclectic look.

books are paired with candlesticks, and fresh hydrangeas to complete the blue and 

white theme in this room.

3. using two matching lamps adds balance and symmetry to a side table. add in other items like frames, or small sculptural objects, taking care to vary the heights of the different objects to create more interest. mixing in candles, mirrors and reflective surfaces like mercury glass can add a romantic glow. 

matching lamps and a large mirror create drama in this foyer.

this dark and dramatic study gets a boost of contrast from matching brass lamps.

4. corral a grouping of unrelated items in a tray. a tray will keep the items looking orderly. this look is especially useful when accessorizing an upholstered ottoman. the tray can be moved out of the way when you want to relax and put your feet up.

 flowers, a decorative box, magazines, and other objects look orderly in this wooden tray

 placed on an ottoman.

this shallow bowl/tray holds votives, stacked boxes and a few small objects that together create

a cohesive and interesting vignette.


as you shop, keep an eye out for objects that really speak to you, and only purchase
items that you feel have a timeless appeal to YOU. trends will come and go, and your tastes will
evolve and change. but objects that you love or hold a memory will never change...
and will always look great telling the story of YOU.
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Great tips Autumn! If you don't live in the Salt Lake City Area and need some design consultation, you can contact her for a phone consultation.

Here are a few rooms that she has helped transform::

{Dining Room Before}

{Dining Room Turned Library After}


{Formal Dining Room Before}


{Formal Dining Room After}

Autumn,  I may be contacting you for a phone consultation when I move :)

Hope everybody had a fabulous Labor Day Weekend. I had a great time at the beach and am sad to be back in the real world!