From the type of flooring you use to how the furniture is arranged in each room, home décor encompasses a wide variety of design elements. Color, structure, and furnishings can be combined in different ways to create comfortable, functional and welcoming homes, no matter what your tastes are.
If you want to design a space that you’ll love, consider what kind of look and feeling you’d like to have. Opt for light furniture, like wicker or woods that will bring in an aura of tranquility. For a regal air, dark and robust wood is the way to go. Meanwhile hardwood flooring will give the home a cozy ambience. Set up lighting orchestrate the perfect atmosphere or for an uplifting setting. Finish your design by incorporating hues that match the environment you wish to create.
A beautiful house is simply that: a house. To make that house into a home, we turn to home accessories. Furniture and design can only take you so far.
Your home’s personality and character are created by home accessories, including art collections, teapots and everything in between. Whether you proudly display your grandmother’s china in your dining room or hang your favorite family photo above the fireplace, these accessories reflect who you are and what’s important to your family. Your accessories make your house stand out from your neighbor’s and make it feel like you live there.
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9. The teapot
The teapot is often the first thing people reach for when they want to celebrate or feel comfortable. In times of heartbreak, illness, or special occasions, families gather around the stovetop to enjoy the rich aroma and taste that is both comforting and familiar.
Even though tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years, the first teapots weren’t invented until the 1500s. The first teapots were made of purple clay found only in Jiangsu province. They are called Yixing teapots. The zisha is unique because it absorbs the aroma and flavor of the tea it is used to brew. Many Chinese citizens owned their own teapots during this time and drank directly from the spout.
Teapots quickly spread from Asia to Europe, where afternoon tea has been a tradition for centuries.
Various types of teapots are available today, from traditional porcelain models to newer insulated models. Some teapots are passed down from one generation to another, bringing a touch of family history to the home’s décor. They can be admired for their beauty and design, or used as a centerpiece.
8. Vases,
The earliest known vases were made in ancient Greece, where they were made mainly for practical purposes such as storing food, medicine, oils, and water. Vases have a long history of being in homes. The pictures and carvings they depict give us a great deal of information about ancient Greek life, and they date back around 5000 B.C. We have discovered vases dating from around 5000 B.C.
Ancient Chinese vases have also survived to this day, including the exquisitely crafted Ming vase. This porcelain vase was made during the Ming Dynasty (14th-16th centuries A.D.) and elaborately painted, making it a highly coveted collector’s item today.
Our home décor includes vases made from ceramics, crystals, and glass. They serve as vessels for displaying fresh and synthetic flowers, but are also valued for their beauty and decorative aspects. Crystal vases also make great wedding or anniversary gifts.
7. Storage designed by designers
People always find ways to store their belongings as they accumulate more and more belongings in their homes. The need for storage has led to the development of the concept of storage as design element, where the systems not only keep our belongings organized, but also do so in a beautiful manner. Using furniture and containers that maximize form and function, this is accomplished.
A closet organizer is one of the most widely used systems, and there are countless options available, including shelving, drawers, and units that can accommodate everything from scarves to snow boots. Typically, homeowners can expand and modify these storage systems as their needs change, or to accommodate the 25th pair of shoes that they purchase.
There are also modular garage units available for those seeking total organization of their tools. These units are comprised of wall-hung panels with hooks and shelving that can be arranged to suit the homeowner’s needs.
6. There is nothing!
Some believe that the best home accessories are nothing at all. This approach is popular for those with minimalist décor, who put importance on color and structure over busyness and complex themes. A house designed in this fashion would embrace the fundamentals, containing only necessary furniture for everyday living, while everything else should be stored away neatly. Clear floors and other surfaces with no distractions, and simple solid colors rather than intricate patterns complete this look.
When it comes to décor, this does not mean that you should go accessory-free. Instead, it means you choose quality over quantity. A single piece of artwork, a family photograph, or a vase of flowers would all be great choices.
What makes this style so appealing? First, it’s easy to keep neat. There are no trinkets to dust or much to move when cleaning. Second, clutter-free homes are calming and help to decrease stress levels. Our focus and decompression are improved when we don’t have so many distractions to distract our eyes and minds.
Its roots lie in Japanese architecture, which is heavily influenced by Buddhism and Zen. These principles are based on mindfulness, concentration and self-awareness, which are more easily achieved when we’re not distracted by the mountain of stuff in our homes.
5. Art
No matter what your tastes are or what your decorating scheme is, you can find or create a piece of art to fit your home’s decor.
For a modern décor, consider a metal sculpture or a bold colorful painting. For a traditional décor, choose a porcelain or ceramic sculpture or a classic landscape. Classical reprints are always popular, as well as religious items such as a Christian cross, a Star of David, and a Buddha figurine.
It is possible to find art pieces that are truly one-of-a-kind, and these will make your home décor stand out.
As far back as prehistoric times, ancient man created cave paintings that served both as decoration and communication. Many of these cave paintings still exist today, and serve as popular tourist attractions, especially in France and Spain.
The careful selection of colors, paints, fabrics, flooring, and furniture is itself art, and it takes an expert eye to match these materials and decorate a home successfully.
4. Rugs
Rugs offer a level of warmth and comfort unmatched by any other floor covering. They have been used to accessorize homes for thousands of years. They come in an infinite number of patterns, colors, and styles. Family heirlooms are often passed down through the generations of antique rugs.
A burial mound in Siberian Russia near the Mongolian border has been found with the oldest known rug dating back to the 5th century B.C., known as the Pazyryk rug. The rug’s design is similar to the art of the people of this region, leading historians to believe that the rug was manufactured locally.
Music is one of the most popular collections found in many homes, whether it’s CDs or vinyl records. Movie collections are also popular. Often, visitors will browse these collections to see how your taste in music or movies reflects the person they know or are getting to know better, as well as how it compares to what they own.
Additionally, these collections can complement your home décor in a variety of ways. As teens, we hung posters of celebrities on our walls, and we continue to decorate our homes with our current favorites. People who collect art, rugs or other decorative items often display them in plain sight in their homes.
3. Plants in the house
Houseplants not only make for beautiful home décor, but they also provide health benefits as well. Studies have demonstrated that plants do not only enrich the air with oxygen while removing carbon dioxide, but they are also capable of eliminating harmful chemicals such as polyethylenes and formaldehydes which are often found in furniture, flooring and paints used to decorate the home. These toxins can be dangerous to humans and cause multiple respiratory diseases. To maximize its beneficial effects, some of the best houseplant species include English ivy, bamboo, snake plants and spider plants.
Researchers have shown that plants can improve mood, reduce stress, and make us feel more creative. A recent study found that people who had plants in their offices had four points lower blood pressure than those without plants. According to another study, people are more likely to come up with new ideas when they work in plants-decorated areas.
Why waste money on synthetic air fresheners when plants can do the job naturally for you? Plants are attractive both visually and for their scents.
Choose plants that complement your décor. Ferns and vines look great with Victorian and classic themes, bold colored flowers look great with modern décor, and cactuses fit well with Southwest and earthy themes.
Keeping houseplants doesn’t require much light, frequent repotting or a great memory when it comes to watering. Try jade, rubber plants or spider plants.
2. Candles
Most homes have a selection of candles in case of power outages because candles provide light, warmth, and ambiance in the home. They’re often associated with romance and create a mood of relaxation or calm.
The earliest candles were created by the ancient Romans and Chinese, respectively utilizing sheets of papyrus and rice paper which were dipped in melted tallow. Over time, this greasy tallow has been replaced due to its unfavorable odor and sooty residue. Popular alternatives today include beeswax, whale oil and paraffin before more recently soybean wax came onto the scene; it is softer, slow burning and doesn’t emit an odor while burning.
Throughout time, candles have had a significant presence in many religions. The Jewish holiday Hanukkah, which began around 165 B.C., has been known for its candlelight since its inception. Christianity likewise has a long-standing tradition of utilizing candles in Easter ceremonies, dating back centuries to when Emperor Constantine held such an event in the 4th century A.D.. Similarly, there are references to candles within the Bible. Buddhists light candles at their shrines as a representation of the enlightenment they strive towards. Finally, Wicca religion incorporates candles during religious rituals to symbolize gods and goddesses.
You can incorporate candles into your home in many forms, from small candle collection to large pillar candles in decorative holders. Even if they’re never lit, today’s candles are designed to complement your home’s décor simply through their color and design.
1. Mirrors
Mirrors can be used to add the ultimate touch to your home’s décor. From helping us perfect our look to entertaining a child, these devices are incredibly versatile. What’s more, they provide an affordable option for making a home appear larger. Mirrors on closet doors, opposite windows, and even in dark corners are all ways that you can use mirrors to generate the illusion of size and brightness.
Beyond these practical uses, mirrors are simply beautiful decorating items and come in many shapes and sizes. Large framed mirrors can be hung like paintings, creating a focal point in the room. Silver hand mirrors, however, can be complementary accessories as well.
Hand mirrors go back as far as the 1st century A.D., and were originally crafted from bronze or silver, highly polished for a reflective surface. During the Middle Ages they rose in popularity; however, it was with the dawn of the Renaissance that Venetians stepped in to revolutionize optics by adding glass for a sharper image. This advancement soon spread throughout Europe and was praised for its superior quality by those like Blackburn.
Mirrors became cheaper to produce as making techniques improved. By the 19th century, they were found in most households throughout the western world.
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