More Tips on Accessorizing

I've said it before and it bears repeating: area rugs are an important asset to the decor of almost any room.

Area rugs will anchor the seating arrangement when done properly. Never float a rug alone in the middle of the room. It should always relate in placement and size to the grouping it is attached to. The addition of the rug anchors the conversation area. Rugs come in an assortment of sizes that are pretty standard. The most commonly used sizes are 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10.

Recently I bought a new book written by one of my competitors in the redesign industry. Sad to say, she shows area rugs placed at an angle with the furniture nearby, partly under a sofa, partly under a chair, and so forth. I'm dismayed that this concept of furniture and area rug placement is being promoted by such a well known decorating author. It is just not good design. Don't buy into it. There are many, many other problems in the book as well, but that's a different topic.

Dining room rugs should be large enough to accommodate the table and all seating when pulled away from the table.

When decorating a formal room, it is commonly arranged in a symmetrical style. Less formal rooms are usually arranged in an asymmetrical arrangement which is more informal and contemporary.

Tablescapes (or the art of arranging tables) are great places to group collectibles or various accessories that "feel" good sitting side by side. Just don't go overboard. For instance, combine a lamp, a plant and a framed photograph together. Group a series of candles together. How about a grouping of crystal vases. Stack books and lay them on their side. Use a small stack of books (minus their jackets) as a base for a smaller accessory that needs more height. Leave a portion of every table bare for a utilitarian purpose.

• Remember that in a grouping, odd numbers usually form a grouping that is more pleasing to the eye. Be sure to vary the heights but not to any extreme.
• Don't put small items all around a table in a scattered arrangement. Anchor them with a tray. This will help protect them and set them off as well.
• If you are decorating bookshelves, alternate the heights from one shelf to the next in a kind of zig-zag effect. In other words, place the tallest piece on one shelf toward the left side. Do the opposite on the shelf below it by placing it's tallest item toward the right side. Midway down the group of shelves, place the tallest item squarely in the middle of that shelf.
• Vary the distance between shelves to add more variety. If you have two matching shelf units, mix up the shelves, varying the heights by adding an extra shelf to one side while taking one away from the other side. Remember to fill the verticle space on the shelf as well as the horizontal space.
• Take dust jackets off your hardbound books, especially if they are dog-earred or torn.

Look for accessories of quality and a style that suits your personality and taste. Don't put junk on the walls and tables. Your personality is reflected through your choice of accessories. This is why they are so important. If you put junk around the room, the entire effect will drop to the quality level of the accessories, not the other way around.