The Complete Guide to Stylish and Functional Home Accessories

Introduction Shein Home Decor

Home accessories are items that add style, convenience, and function to any living space. From throw pillows to coat racks to Shein Home Decor desk organizers and everything in between, the right accessories pull a room together, reflect your personal style, and make day-to-day tasks easier. With the endless options available, choosing home accessories may feel overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be! This complete guide covers everything you need to know to pick home accessories that suit your tastes and serve a purpose in your home.

What Defines a Home Accessory?

Home accessories encompass small decorative or functional items used to personalize, organize, accent, and upgrade home spaces. Unlike furniture, home accessories are smaller embellishments and decor that add to fully furnished rooms. Accessories come in every color, material, shape, and size to display in any area of your home.

Common rooms decked out with home accessories include bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, home offices, entryways, patios, and more. No area is off limits for accessorizing with purpose and style.

Here are some examples of popular home accessory categories:

● Throw pillows and blankets ● Area rugs and doormats
● Wall art and décor ● Desk organizers and office tools ● Bathroom décor and organizers ● Kitchen utensils and containers
● Lighting fixtures like table lamps or string lights ● Storage baskets, bins, and boxes ● Coffee table books and vases ● Candles and home fragrances

Benefits of Using Home Accessories

Home accessories benefit residential spaces in many ways. Thoughtfully chosen accessories allow you to redecorate on a budget, display your interests, enjoy added functionality, and create an inviting environment guests will appreciate as much as you do.

Specific benefits include:

● Inexpensive way to redecorate – You can give rooms a fresh new look just by swapping out accent pieces like throw blankets, area rugs, and artwork instead of buying new large furniture pieces which cost more.
● Makes spaces warm and inviting - The right accessories like soft textured pillows, scented candles, and cozy throws allow you to create a comfortable space for relaxing and welcoming guests.
● Reflects your personality and style – Carefully selected pieces let you put your individual stamp on every room.
● Adds convenience and efficiency – Accessories like storage boxes, drawer organizers, coat racks by the entryway, and desk solutions allow for neatness and enable you to work more efficiently.
● Finishes an unfinished look – Empty boring spaces feel complete and polished with vibrant art, beautiful vases, eye-catching lamps, and plush area rugs.

The Interior Design Tricks to Styling Home Accessories Like a Pro

Once you understand the varied selection and benefits of building your home with accessories, how do you pull it together like an expert? Follow these fundamental design guidelines to avoid clashing colors, sizes, and textures as you personalize every room with the perfect accents that enhance the existing furnishings and architecture.

Color Scheme

The number one rule designers stick to when styling home accessories is maintaining a cohesive color palette throughout the space. If your walls and larger furniture feature neutral grays, taupes, and touches of wood, choose accessories in coordinating metallic sheens, muted tones, and natural wood finishes. Then inject personality with occasional bright pops of color in manageable sizes like throw blankets or floral arrangements.

For a more vibrant interior with cooler hues like blues, greens, and violets, select home accessories in the same color family with matching intensities to prevent certain pieces from sticking out uncomfortably. Yet don’t be afraid to break the matching colors rule now and then to make a statement, like placing a vibrant orange throw pillow on a green sofa for visual interest. Just stick to one eye-catching accessory per room.

Material Texture Mixing

When selecting multiple home accessories for one space, combining even three textures together often looks more dynamic than sticking to one basket weave pillow after another. Just adhere to the principles of proportion and color scheme. If heavier leather and wood furnishings dominate a living room, then glass, ceramic, and woven cotton accessories will blend nicely without competing.

Scale & Size

Home accessories run the gamut from dainty trinkets to oversized floor vases and sculptural paintings. When placing accessories around existing furniture and architecture, always consider size and scale. A colossal painting hanging above a petite sofa will throw proportions off. Instead, choose substantial art and mirrors for expansive walls and select smaller accessories for intimate seating nooks.

Function Over Fashion

While aesthetically pleasing accessories matter for beauty and positive impressions, they also need to work for your lifestyle, interests, and daily needs. Before buying cute office tools or fruit bowls, think about how often you would use the items and in what exact space based on room size, layout, and existing storage. Search for products suited to your functional needs that coordinate with your room designs first.

Best Places to Shop Home Accessories

From big box stores to specialty boutiques, retailers offer endless inspiration for upgrading home spaces affordably. Here are the top outlets for unique and on-trend home accessories to match any style.

Target – Excellent for affordable and trendy home accessories spanning all categories, especially textiles like decorative pillows and cozy throws.
West Elm – A mid-range source for contemporary décor and modern pieces like mirrors, ceramics, storage solutions, and small furniture.
Anthropologie – Shop an eclectic selection of vases, art prints, apothecary jars, textiles, and more with bohemian and vintage appeal.
World Market – Find imported home décor and global kitchen accessories reflecting European and Asian influences.
Ikea - Mix and match organizational items, artistic prints, textiles, and kitchenware for inspiration on a budget.
Home Goods – Trendy home furnishings and décor constantly rolled out at surprisingly low price points.
Crate & Barrel – Invest in quality kitchen tools, sleek office organizers, contemporary lighting, and furniture with clean lines.
Etsy – Unique handcrafted accessories like wall hangings, ceramics, woven goods, and art prints made by independent creative sellers.