Key Elements That Take Your Home To The Next Level

Interior DesignDIY

May 25

How to Introduce an Exciting Decor Element

You are happy with your home but would still like to give it that something “Je ne sais quoi”. That something extra to elevate your most important rooms like your living room, kitchen, master bedroom, or even entry.

Over the years we tend to collect stuff, items that often lose their meaning, but that we keep since it is not easy to get rid of. Frequently those items begin to clutter our homes. They take up valuable ‘real estate’ in our homes. Unfortunately, after living years with stuff, we no longer notice it. This is also often the time when the items have lost their meaning.

This is where the process of decluttering becomes so important. In the ‘good old days’ people would have their spring cleaning rituals. An entire house would be scrubbed from top to bottom. Ceilings, walls, furniture, you name it. Closets and cabinets would be emptied out and old, chipped, or broken items would be discarded. Unused toys would be passed on to younger nieces and nephews or the new neighbours down the block.

This was also most often the time when decisions on new furniture or accessories were considered. We no longer live in those times. Official spring cleanings are out. Most people no longer declutter on a regular basis. Times have changed. And that’s ok.

But, what if you would do a good review of what your home looks like and how you would like it to be? What if you could get rid of some things that have been around for a long time and that have lost their meaning. What if you could create something new and make room for something different, something special. Or just plain something you’ve wanted for a long time, but never had the room for.

Today let’s take a look at some design elements which require room to breathe, but which make such an impact that they will make you smile. Some of these decor details can be achieved without a huge amount of money. Some just require some clever thinking and doing.

Antique or Vintage Furniture

For any item to be antique, it needs to be 100 years old or more. If it is younger it is called vintage.

Most people either like or hate antiques or vintage furniture. Some homeowners swear by it and have their homes look like a museum. The sad thing about antiques or vintage items is, that the market is very small these days. Good items are hard to find. Most of the things you find in second-hand or antique stores are vintage. Kids don’t want their parents’ or grandparents’ things anymore. People today are looking for more modern decors.

Often older or antique items are of great or good quality, particularly in comparison to today’s China-produced reasonably priced furniture and accessories. And, if you find a beautiful old armoire or secretary, you are in luck! If one has been passed on to you, you are so in luck!

Antique or vintage items need to have lots of space, not only to breathe but also to do them justice. Today a modern decor with clean lines can be enhanced by adding an antique or vintage piece. Let’s take a look

The antique secretary to the left is a great example of how an antique piece can elevate an interior. The bow front is detailed with wood inlay and what looks like the original handles. The base at the front of this cabinet has more wood detail than just a couple of legs. Drawers at the top hold pens and paper. I bet there’s even a secret compartment in this piece. The silver light fixture and the clean-lined vases are shown with two portraits, hopefully depicting ancestors.

The acrylic chair enhances the beauty of this secretary while being functional. This piece is all a modern-looking room needs to bring it to the next level. It has a lot of personality and makes a statement for sure.

Below are a few more great uses of antique pieces married to modern and contemporary-looking one.

The image on the left shows antique dining chairs around a very modern-looking dining table. Placed before a nearly empty white wall this grouping really stands out. With a large mirror to the side and a gorgeous flower arrangement in the center, this dining area is complete.

The image in the middle is the reverse. An antique or vintage table is grouped with wire chairs. The other older piece in this vignette is the mirror to the side. I do think though that the grouping might work even better without the distracting rug under it.

The far-right image shows a modern decor with an armoire as a centerpiece. While I love the combination of these two design elements, I think the impact of the room would be far greater if the two dark side chars were removed. In addition, the busy display on top of the armoire together with the wall art is too much. For beautiful pieces of furniture to get the attention they deserve, simplicity is always the answer!

Now, what to do with an antique or vintage piece that is only partially in good shape? Well, they can still be used. Often the doors of a cabinet are still in good condition, but the actual storage part may well be so damaged that it can no longer be used. In that case find another ‘home’ for the doors. Here are a couple of examples.

On the left, you see the remnants of an old armoire. Only the doors were salvageable. The designer used them to create a beautiful coat closet in a small foyer. The closet was already in place. The original boring doors were replaced with these two beauties. Imagine coming home to this welcoming view! This design element can be used in any room, really.

On the right are two images showing how the facade of a cabinet became a three-way mirror. Isn’t this super clever and beautiful at the same time?! This piece would look particularly amazing in a contemporary bedroom.

Book Collections, Travel Books, Coffee Table Books

We know a couple of people who have a weakness for beautiful coffee table books. Not to mention the avid travelers who like to bring home memories in the form of gorgeous travel books. How to display these items so they are easily accessible to be enjoyed at a moment’s notice?

A nice, clean display on a coffee table always works well. Key is to not overdo it with books but to add a couple of other elements, such as a statue, a plant, or a vase of flowers. A variety of heights makes a coffee table an interesting display. The low bench along the staircase complete with table light, books and plant looks eye-catching as well

Some homes have dead-end hallways. The majority of people we have met often just hang a mirror or some artwork in this location. Some leave that wall blank. However, if you have the room (about 10-11” or 28-30 cm of depth) this space could become so much more. A floor-to-ceiling bookcase could showcase your books quite nicely. In the bottom row, center image, the cubicles could even show the covers of the books only, making the display into a piece of art. Alternatively, organizing your books according to colour with a collection of interesting ceramics heaped together, could well do the trick to create an interesting look.

Art

Nothing is as eye-popping or wow-evoking as a large original canvas with an interesting design or colours. While large, original art is not within the reach of lots of people, there are ways to create a similar effect by grouping smaller pieces together to give the illusion of a large work of art. Take a look below.

Each lantern used in the above two images is nice but unassuming. Together, however, they are a statement, a conversation piece. They are colourful, imaginative, and super interesting.

We recognize that this may not be for everyone, but the pictures show what can be done with a lot of smaller items grouped together, some imagination, and a bit of money. All of a sudden these two groupings take on meaning.

On a safer note, people have been collecting ‘objects d’art’ for centuries. From postage stamps to barbie dolls, to original works of art, etc. Some people collect vintage glassware in either one colour or in multiple colours. Displaying these delicate objects together can make an impressive feast for the eye.

If you are into origami, making cranes is a rewarding activity. Folding 1000 cranes is said to bring good luck. Drop them in the order of rainbow colours to show your work. Or, suspend them from a branch and hang from the ceiling against a wall in a contrasting colour, or use them as a room divider.

And, last but not least, Jessica’s favourite collection ever: the miniature, to-scale reproductions of famous chairs issued by the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. These 1/4-inch models are absolutely stunning. They are true reproductions. Their price is similar to the price of an actual decent chair. so, not cheap. The display of these little gems, each on their own wall block, is doing them great justice.

We conclude this article by showing the impact large-scale canvasses or prints can have. As mentioned above, the price of original, beautiful artwork can be prohibitive for lots of people. However, these days there are ways of getting large-scale images at a fraction of the cost of originals. Today there are plenty of sites that provide thousands of images that can be purchased in a large, digital format as a download. This download can then be printed in a large size on paper or even on canvas. They can be framed for dramatic effect or be left unframed for a more contemporary feeling. This choice is much dependent on the actual image itself.

For instance, a colourful abstract might be left unframed, whereas the print of a Renaissance still-life would be better framed in an elaborate, maybe even gilded frame. Take a look at what such a large work of art can do for a room.

The abstract on the left is perfectly positioned on a navy blue wall. The gold finish of the frame contrasts beautifully with its background. Not to mention the vibrant red.

Note how this large work hangs quite close to the floor which makes it so much more interesting.

Most people make the mistake of hanging their art pieces and photo images too high. The location of artwork is, of course, dependent on its size and on available space. As a rule of thumb, once you have determined the spot where you want to hang a painting, hang it at least 6-8 inches (or 15 to 30 cm) lower than what you originally thought would be the right height.

The two images below show a very different approach to decorating. The dining room on the left is modern and sparse with only a few elements. The black finish of the chairs is repeated in the mesh pendants and in the painting. The bold colours of the artwork are found again in the wall-hung buffet under the painting giving it an anchor. The natural finish of the dining table ties all the elements together. A very balanced room with a gorgeous large canvas.

The living room on the right is more traditional. It is moody with its dark colours. It is also a busier looking space. There is much to see. Yet, all of these multiple elements are dwarfed and made less signifiant, less obvious by the unframed painting in white, black and grey tones. It is impossible to miss this painting, don’t you think?

Three very different spaces with three very different approaches to design and art. All three of these spaces work really, really well. Spending time in any of these three spaces is rewarded by a richness in colour and impact.

As you can see there are plenty of ways to elevate your rooms with plenty of ways to not spend a lot of money.

Shop On Amazon

We have curated some of the items we discussed and they are available on Amazon for reasonable prices. You can do your shopping right here! Click on one of the images below to get it.