Accessories may not be the most expensive items in your décor, but they are a great opportunity to reveal your personality. When you’re purchasing accessories for your home, I recommend selecting dramatic bigger items that you just love. Why bigger? Because most people buy accessories that are too small and when grouped together, they sometimes appear more like clutter, than an arrangement. When shopping, it’s better to select one really great accessory that you just love instead of several smaller items that don’t speak to you. For example a piece of artwork, a beautifully framed mirror or an interesting tree is going to create much more drama than a couple of sets of small candlesticks and a few mismatched picture frames or other knickknacks.

When purchasing accessories, as a designer, I normally recommend using the most dramatic colors in your color scheme for accessories because pops of color will draw your eye around the room, make it more interesting and dramatic. If, however, you want a calmer more neutral look in your décor, then you can add visual interest through accessories in different textures, but similar colors.

As you look for accessories, think about the lines of your furnishings and architecture. If you have furnishings with curves which are sometimes considered more feminine and romantic, then try purchasing an accessory with curves such as a curved lamp or platter. For angular furniture, try purchasing an angular accessory and if you want to add height to your room, consider purchasing vertical accessories which also can denote masculinity or calmness.

If you’re overwhelmed with accessory choices, focus on accessories that you love. If you still can’t decide, here are some of my favorite choices. How about a family heirloom such as a painting or mirror? Not only is the accessory dramatic, but it also is part of your family heritage. Or what about dramatic greenery such as an unique tree? Greenery is a fabulous choice because trees and plants bring the outdoors in and warm up the room. And have you considered light reflecting accessories that take on a whole new character when light bounces off of them? For example a mirror with a lamp in front of it creates a wonderful ambiance in a room. And how about using an item in an unusual way such as repurposing an outdoor wrought iron piece or fountain as an indoor accessory? Repurposing items to new uses can create a wonderful and unique environment.

Once you’ve have accessories to decorate your interiors in colors and styles that coordinate with your décor, how do you begin? I suggest taking all of your existing accessories that you love, along with any newly purchased accessories and placing them into one area or room. Then cluster the accessories together in groups of one’s, threes or fives by color, material or theme. Try to keep each grouping of accessories in the same size category too, if possible. For example, a large mirror and a tiny figurine won’t pair together well in most interiors. Place the taller accessories at the back of your groupings, plus create valleys and peaks by varying the heights of your accessories. For example, if you have two accessories the same height, place on on top of a book or pedestal to add height.

Start accessorizing by placing your favorite or most dramatic accessories on your focal point. In great room for example, your focal point would probably be the fireplace. Once you’ve added emphasis to your focal point, add grouped accessories to different areas of the your room. Just don’t add so many groupings that your room begins to take on a cluttered appearance.

For mirrors, try placing them on the wall opposite windows to reflect the most light or facing other rooms to create a space that visually appears larger. Other great places to hang mirrors are in your entryway, the end of a long hallway or behind a dining room table where the chandelier will reflect in the mirror.

When arranging framed pictures, select frames that are all the same color to group together and arrange them front to back from shortest to tallest frame. When arranging bookshelves, vary the groupings on each shelf, placing the larger items on lower shelves. For example, on the top shelf you could place a few books on their side on the right with an accessory on top and then on the second shelf, you could place a few books on their side on the left side of the shelf with another accessory to create variety and interest. Just make sure that you don’t have so many books and accessories that your eye doesn’t have a place to rest on the shelves.