How To Use Accents To Transform Your Living Space

When it comes to designing your home, you can’t go past accents. Even minimalist designs need elements that add interest, and you’re going to feel more at home within your space if it has features that add warmth and depth.

While going all out isn’t always practical – or aligned with your preferred style – small touches can have a significant impact in the way that a room looks and feels. That’s why it’s important to nail the accents in your space, so you can infuse personality into the room.

Don’t know where to start? Read on for a range of practical tips and creative ideas, so you can create a space that’s truly you, with accents that really pop. Let’s get started.

Starting With A Strong Foundation

Before you can make your space shine with accents, it’s important to get the fundamentals right. Your floors and wall treatments will lay the foundation for the rest of your design, so it helps to consider these first.

The right floors can act as a neutral base that supports your accents across a range of design styles. Wall treatments, on the other hand, such as your paint, wallpaper or decals, will serve as the backdrop for the rest of your chosen elements.

Floor and wall combos for visual harmony

Keeping in mind that your base elements will impact how everything else appears, it makes sense to treat them as one.

Your floors and wall can create a balanced anchor for your space by pairing options such as a light hybrid floor with a deep toned or bold coloured wall. Not a fan of dark walls? Switch it up and choose dark floorboards that contrast a lighter wall shade. Similar tones can work well for feature walls, but as a general rule you don’t want your walls and floors to match. Too much similarity can make the space feel flat.

Making a statement with feature walls

Speaking of feature walls, they’re worth considering, depending on the design style you’re going for. If this type of addition works well for your overall look, a vibrant shade or unique material will have a striking impact. Textures and patterns can also create a nice accent here so let your creativity run wild.

Be sure to focus on creating contrast, and use your feature wall to anchor the rest of your design. By doing this you’ll get the most out of your space’s new addition, and it can completely transform the room.

Top Tip: When planning your feature wall, think of the emotion you want in the space, and select a finish that supports this feeling. Muted colours for example will give the space a tranquil feel, while bold colours like bright yellow and deep red will add energy.

Playful Patterns For Personality

Patterns are the perfect solution if you’re looking to add character to your space and make it feel a little more playful.

This can be done on a larger scale with wallpaper if you’re looking to make a bold statement, or in a more subtle manner with decor. Think furniture upholstery or soft finishings if you’d like the option to change things up more often.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with mixing and matching different patterns, as this can create a stunning visual effect – just remember to maintain balance so your space doesn’t become overwhelmed. To create a cohesive look, choose patterns that share complementary colours to make a bold statement. Or, keep it to a single pattern as the main focal point of the room. This can look great as a feature wall or piece of unique furniture.

Textures To Delight The Senses

Textures also work well for adding personality, as well as bringing depth and interest into your space.

Play with contrasting elements, such as a plush rug and woven baskets for maximum impact. Having fun textures in your curtains is also a great way to add a tactile dimension, and velvet or similar fabrics are fantastic for this.

When working with texture, think about creating comfort to create an inviting atmosphere. For example, fabric storage ottomans are both functional and beautiful, while the above mentioned plush rugs could be just what you need to warm up a space.

Bringing it all together

Creating a solid base is key, but the right accents are what will make everything pop. Use the tips above, but remember to focus on adding accents that make you happy and add your unique taste to the space. This way you’ll design a home that you feel great in and can enjoy for years to come.

The best bit is, you can completely transform your space with just a few minor changes. So pick an accent or two, and delight in your space’s new-found vibrancy!