10 accessories that enhance a home

With beautiful and unique forms of art, every home owner can turn a simple place into a stylish and trendy one. Accessories draw attention to areas you want to emphasise in your home.

According to Ms Jassy Mugisha, an interior designer at Entebbe Luxury Apartments and Hotels, accessories are attractive non essentials in homes, which are meant to have various effects, but more importantly the beautification of where they are placed.

“An accessory could be anything that is inspired by nature, ideas, and beliefs provided it adds a sense of comfort, luxury and truly reflects your status and lifestyle,” she explains.

Accessorising your home is the one way in which someone else can characterise who you are because accessories reflect your personality.

What looks attractive to one person may not necessarily be attractive to another person but something beautiful usually gives a pleasant experience to your senses. When selecting accessories, keep in mind that what your home turns out to be should be based on your own opinion of what is beautiful.

The accessories

But before you engage in this process, you should consider your interior décor theme and colours, the location of the accessory and the surrounding activities. The accessories should be proportionate to the room size, and not obtrusive to your daily activities. Ask yourself, what is unique about each accessory?

Art pieces

Available in form of paintings, sculptures and wall hangings, art pieces can be made from different materials like clay, bark cloth and manilla paper. Framed pictures, photos, graphic images and paintings cover up empty wall spaces, enliven them, and are a good way to express the homeowner’s personality and lifestyle.
Ms Cathy Nakanjako, a second year student at Kyambogo University believes in adding an artistic touch to everything in her home. Her hostel room has unique frames arranged in a systematic pattern. To her, these frames with pictures from her childhood tell a story of where she has been to where she hopes to be in future.

Candles

Lighting fixtures in the home can be replaced with appropriate chandeliers, customised lamps and lampshades. Decorative scented candles create a more luxurious feel personalise the space other than merely giving light.

Tea pots

They are from different materials and available in different colours, there is a lot more you can experience if you dared to explore the world of art. Ms Mugisha points out that apart from beautifying the the dining table, tea pots create a unique aroma in the tea that makes someone feel relaxed and comfortable.

Furniture

Furniture like tables, chairs and stools can be selected depending on your design which can be traditional, contemporary or modern.

Ms Mugisha points out that traditionally designed accessories can be antiques, especially if they are part of one’s culture. This is so because they portray the home owner as one who is in touch with history, culture and will personalise your home, giving it a unique identity.

House plants

Usually placed in pots, house plants bring out the natural beauty of the outdoors, especially when suitably positioned in an airy and light filled room. Ms Mugisha says that the mood created is dependent on the way you accentuate them in the flower vases or pots.

Flower vases

Michelle wonders why her mother is obsessed with buying flowers at least twice a week and arranging them neatly in a flower vase. To her mother, flowers like the roses, daisies and lilies put a smile on her face after a long day, especially when they are placed in flower vases made of clay or glass.

Personal collections

Using simple items like awards, shells, stones, beads and portable water fountains can personalise your room. When strategically placed, they also emphasise your outdoor décor theme, something that shows what you cherish. This combines the interior home design with the surrounding areas.

Mirrors

Normally placed on walls, entrances of living rooms and corridors, mirrors make smaller rooms appear bigger than they actually are. When a mirror is placed on a wall opposite a window, it reflects the light rays. These reflections are what psychologically make you think that the room is much bigger than it is. However, they must have an interesting frame to exude your style.

Area rugs

Floors can be beautified with appropriately coloured and designed floor rugs and carpets to further enhance a relaxed mood.

Designer storage

You have all you think you need but how do you store it? Designer storage is simply a creative way of arranging your things. You could get someone to fix you a shelf for your books, a closet for your clothes and a shoe rack. Shoe racks come in an assortment of designs and shapes. Some are portable and can be put next to the wardrobe to display your favourite shoes.