Large Impact vs. Small Accessories - Have a Plan

THIS POST IS FROM ROOM REMIX - THE BLOG .

Amanda Nisbet Design

Thank you for all of your kind, supportive comments on my previous post. Some of you had questions and, if your e-mail is linked to your profile, I'll respond in an e-mail because, quite honestly, that is all the blog time I want to devote to that problem. I'm getting out-of-town guests today, so it probably won't be today but I'll do it as soon as I can. As for that other thing at the beginning of my posts - sorry. Ugly necessity. Moving on...

I'm a big fan of both area rugs and window treatments because I think they can go a long way toward softening a space, adding texture and color (or pulling colors together) and making a room cozy. I've seen people spend a lot of time and effort trying to make a room feel "right" without them, when if they would have just added them the room would have been complete. Sure, there are definitely rooms that can do without them but, in more cases than not, at least one of these is what a room needs.

Coastal Living Photo: Tria Giovan, Stylist: Heather Chadduck

I've run across a variety of people over the years who don't have either in their space because it's just not in the budget. What I've found really interesting, though, is that some of these same people have a BOATLOAD of small accessories. Some are displayed, but many are just stashed in closets, bins, or wherever. You know, those absolutely adorable or inexpensive little things we all run across when we're out and about and just have to have but have no clue where we're going to put them. Sometimes we almost feel compelled to buy them because they ARE so inexpensive! I mean, who would pass up a deal like that? :-)

Southern Living Designer Paige Schnell/Tracery Interiors
Photo Laurey W. Glenn/Robbie Caponetto

If there are any of you who have that same dilemma (missing window treatments/rugs/large acessories, but more than your share of small accessories) here is a suggestion. Analyze your space and determine where you still need small accessories and what you need. Not the specific item, necessarily, but generally what would work as far as size, etc.. Make a list and keep it with you when you shop. Every time you bypass one of those absolutely to-die-for little accessories that isn't on your list, take that amount of money and piggy bank it toward window treatments, rugs or a larger accessory that would make a bigger impact in the room. Depending on how many little accessories you normally buy, you might be surprised at how quickly your little cash stash multiplies. Once you've grown your cash stash, you can purchase these items fairly inexpensively at a variety of sources and, as we've seen all over blogland, there are DIY options as well.

pointclickhome.com Designer Monelle Totah/Photo Simon Upton

I know that making a plan for accessorizing takes some of the fun and spontaneity out of the process, BUT if you're on a limited budget and really looking to make an impact in your space, and you DON'T have an area rug or window treatments, or you're missing LARGER accessories, why not forego the instant gratification of the small accessories for the delayed gratification (and much bigger impact) of the larger items? (I'm getting super good at these run-on sentences, aren't I?)

Just saying it's something to think about... What do you think?