Contemporary Accessories to add to a Contemporary Home
A newly built or renovated home can often seem surprisingly empty, but as leading Auckland architects, you can trust us when we say that this isn’t cause for alarm. Sometimes, people see their new space and don’t find it as warm and comfortable as they imagined. This is common for brand new spaces, because they haven’t had time to take on a character of their own yet! But don’t worry, this is why interior design exists—to help make brand new spaces as stylish and inviting as they can be!
Contemporary accessories are an interior designer’s secret weapon. A few well-placed pieces can completely transform a given room, and there’s no reason you can’t achieve this too! Accessories are the perfect way to make your house into a home and express yourself in the process. Read on to find out more about our tips for styling with contemporary accessories.
What are home accessories?
The truth is, it depends who you ask. For instance, some designers might choose to decorate a room with a chair, but you may draw the line between accessory and furniture! There are, however, some home decorating staples that are generally agreed upon, each of which has a whole range of options within it.
Art
Artwork is a classic home decorating accessory, and the right piece can make elevate the modernity of a contemporary space. Modern and abstract pieces that match your palette can be a great way to add interest to a blank wall, but others prefer to use classic pieces from famous artists. You can even frame and hang pieces of art that are one-of-kind and personal to you, whether you’ve received them as gifts or made them yourself.
Sculptures also fall into this category, and there’s a huge range of possibilities here. Sculptures can quite literally be of any shape, size, or colour. From small pieces that you place on your shelves, to large, freestanding pieces that greet you at the door, there’s a whole world of accessories to be discovered.
Vases
Again, you can see how subject these categories are. To some, vases are a type of art, while to others, they’re more practical—a way to display floral arrangements or cut branches.
Vases also come in an enormous range of styles and shapes, so you’ll be able to find something to fit the design sense of the room, no matter what it might be.
Plants
Next up, we have plants, which we have separated from vases, as these are usually potted in soil rather than placed in water. Potted plants are a fantastic way to add more life to room, and they can mesh with a wider range of aesthetics than you might think, depending on the plant you choose.
Plants also come in a range of sizes, from towering monsteras to the modest succulent. The right plant should suit the empty space it will live in, and get the right amount of light for it to thrive.
Rugs
Rugs are an often-overlooked way to add character to a space and tie the room together. Some of them can be very subtle, while others might be the feature attraction of a room.
Choosing the right accessories
When choosing accessories, particularly if you’re aiming for a contemporary style, focus on quality over quantity. Don’t get carried away decorating every room as much as you can—contemporary style is all about restraint, and doing the most you can with as few pieces as possible. If you have a lot of sentimental items from travelling or given to you as gifts, try to display only the ones that mean the most to you.
Ultimately, choosing pieces to display in your home comes down to what kind of feeling you want to evoke. Pictures of loved ones will make a space feel more intimate and homey. Modern art pieces can make a space feel less personal, but more fashionable.
Each and every accessory you use will also either harmonise or clash with the colours in a room—your best bet is to place it where you want it and stand back to honestly assess if it looks good or not. Remember, sometimes clashing is good! You may want a piece to really pop and stand out—the point is to know what you want, and then decide if the piece is achieving it or not.
Lastly, always remember that if you decide you don’t like the placement of an accessory, they’re easy to replace! There’s no reason you can’t move accessories around whenever you like, as the mood takes you!
Talk to Gubb Design about stylish homes today
Here at Gubb Design, beautiful homes are what we do. If you’re interested in a new build home, terraced housing, or a contemporary renovation, our architectural team has the skills and experience to deliver something truly exceptional. Talk to us about designing your dream home today.
BOOK A CALL
Let us design your architectural vision.