How to Arrange Decorations? Interior Design Tricks for Everyone

Carefully chosen home accessories are the foundation of any interior design. Decorations are what create the style and character of a home. We always say that when furnishing a home, it's worth focusing on practicality when choosing furniture and imagination when selecting accessories. Accessories can be easily and quickly changed, rearranged, and styled, so they can be extravagant and original. Don't be afraid of unusual shapes and patterns; everything can be pulled off! You just need to know how. And that's where we come in, armed with expert knowledge, extensive reading, and most importantly – conclusions drawn from observing thousands of fantastic home accessory arrangements.

We won't tell you exactly which home accessories to choose – you know best what style suits you and what products you like. However, we will suggest that to make your home interior look like it's from the cover of a glossy magazine, you need to ensure proper arrangement of accessories. Creating compositions is what gives an interior a +100 boost in presentation. Our knowledge and experience tell us that for a composition to look spectacular, it should include at least three items from the following categories:

• A elongated item that creates straight lines, e.g., a stack of books, a photo album hidden in a box, a jewellery box, or a decorative tray on which you can place other items;
• A slender, vertical item, e.g., a tall vase, a candlestick for long candles;
• Something round and weighty, e.g., a spherical vase or a table lamp with a rounded base and a large shade;
• The star of the composition, which is a product of original form, e.g., a sculpture or a decorative multi-arm candelabra;
• Small items to fill empty spaces, e.g., decorative paperweights, a tealight holder.

See suggestions for items from each of these groups below!

You already know what elements you'll need, so now it's time for the next step: arranging them to look like they're straight out of a magazine. Just follow a few tried-and-tested rules!

1. Choose an odd number of items. It's like with people and compositions: if you want to grab attention, simply throw the audience off balance, and they'll surely notice you. The human eye tends to group elements in pairs, so choosing an odd number of items in a composition is the simplest way to make it eye-catching.
2. Don't arrange decorations in a single row! Vases placed at equal intervals and in a straight line will look boring and lack character.
3. Instead, arrange the decorations to create a foreground and background. Remember to place them close together, ideally overlapping slightly. This will create a sense of depth, and all elements will visually form a cohesive whole.
4. Aim for a triangular shape. Its apex can be formed by, for example, leaves in a vase or a candlestick for long candles.
5. Apply the rule of the golden ratio. The ancient Greeks already knew the rule of the golden ratio, and you can trust us: it always works! To stick to it when arranging, simply imagine your composition looks like a spiral from above and strive to make it so in reality.
6. Combine different shapes, materials, and textures. Your composition will be more interesting if it includes both a simple glass vase and a decorative plant pot.
7. Go for contrasts. Combine matte and gloss, a spherical vase and a rectangular serving tray, a shiny metal plant pot and a carved wooden box.

Analyse the pictures below and see how they illustrate the rules presented above.

You know what, you know how, now only one question remains: where? The short answer is: everywhere. The longer, more precise answer: you can place accessories wherever you like, but there are certain places where they will be particularly useful.

Coffee Table

Coffee tables and side tables are just crying out for a few accessories! If you leave them bare, they'll create a gloomy impression, as if they're not used. Meanwhile, well-chosen coffee table decorations will not only adorn the living room but can also have practical applications. A vase, a fruit bowl or a snack bowl, and a photo album enclosed in a box will work particularly well on a table – this way, it will always be at hand to show guests or reminisce about travels with close ones.

Chest of Drawers or Cabinet in the Living Room

The top of a chest of drawers or cabinet placed against a wall is a fantastic spot to display decorations important to us. You can lean a poster suitable for the living room against the wall, and place a plant pot of interesting shape or a candlestick next to it. It's also a good idea to place photo frames on the chest of drawers.

Console Table in the Hallway

Though rarely thought of, the hallway is the best place to showcase accessories you particularly care about – after all, it's the room every guest must pass through! Therefore, it's worth using it to display your most interesting treasures. Console tables are usually narrow and can't accommodate many items, so focus on quality. A framed poster leaning against the wall will look great on a console table, as will an impressive sculpture or figurine that you particularly love. You can also use this space practically by placing a dish for small items, such as keys or a phone.

Bedside Table

Essential items for a bedside table composition include a bedside lamp and an alarm clock. You might also find a phone stand or a notepad for jotting down thoughts before sleep useful. If you like to have water close at hand, a filled carafe and a glass for water will certainly be a pleasant touch.

Bookshelves

Of course, you can fill the entire shelf space with books, and we guarantee it will look beautiful (all avid readers know there's no more beautiful sight than shelves full of books). However, if you want to break the monotony, it's worth adding a few decorative trinkets that will make the contents look more interesting. Opt for original bookends and figurines that hang from the shelf, and the look of your home library will be completely transformed!

Now that you know everything you need to create an eye-catching display, it's high time to get down to business! Remember that when creating compositions, you are limited only by your imagination! Every spot in the house will benefit from the right ornaments; besides those listed above, you can also place decorations on the kitchen counter, on a wide windowsill, on a desk, in the bathroom... wherever you like. Just give it a try, and you'll find that decorating your home can be a fantastic and creative pastime. Good luck!