Style Like a Designer

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By Casey Howard, Principal, Casey Howard Designs, Inc.

Whether it’s an edgy piece inspired by avant-garde fashion, or a captivating conversation piece, the accessories we bring into our homes say a lot about us! My personal aesthetic stems from my passion for designs that transcend trends and add a distinct point of view to a space. These accessorizing tips are some of the techniques we use when accessorizing a space.

LAYER

When you are using the layering technique imagine your shelf as a landscape. The goal is to build interest throughout the entire landscape by paying attention to the background as well as what’s in front. You want to begin by placing larger pieces in the back, so the smaller pieces aren’t lost in the layers. In a larger shelf you can even place artwork or a mirror in the back to really give the space some depth. In the middle and foreground focus on the pieces that will be your focal point.

Photo by Lauren Edith Anderson

PERSONALIZE

Accessorizing is the perfect time to incorporate some of the pieces from your personal collection. Pieces acquired while traveling, or special objects that are meaningful give a space a very personalized feel that can’t be replicated, and just because something has a different style, or comes from a different period of time, doesn’t mean it won’t work well with other pieces. I love to blend vintage items with modern pieces and the result is an eclectic look that can’t be placed in one time period.

BALANCE

When you’re accessorizing a space you often need to step back and take a look at the whole picture which includes the interaction of objects with the other objects around it. Sometimes a shelf can feel heavy, maybe there are too many items in relation to the other shelves. Other times a shelf can feel lifeless, usually this happens because there are too many of the same type of object. Both of these scenarios can easily lead to a boring shelf! It is important to have variety in object type when accessorizing.

I hope these tips inspire you to clean off those bookshelves and start fresh! Casey Howard Designs offers a chic selection of home accessories that are shoppable through our Fringe Curiosities online boutique.