Benvenuti Amici,

 

>      Welcome friends.  Happy New Year from all of us to all of you.   "May

> the best days of the past year be the worst days in the year to come.>

>

>         I hope you had a very merry Christmas.  Our Christmas was great

> except for my daughter Carrie and family not getting home this year.  Thanks

> to the phone company we were in touch a lot.>

>

>         This month following Christmas  we put away all the decorations

> and we put back all our furniture and accessories.  I thought you might enjoy this decorating tip

> on arranging "Home Decor Accessories."

>

>

> 3 Steps to Arranging Home Décor Accessories

>

> By Kathy Wilson>

> The Budget Decorator

>

> One of the biggest home decorating dilemmas is how to arrange your

> accessories, whether it be a bookcase, shelf, or tabletop. Here is a three

> step system that will transform your boring or cluttered spaces into

 charming vignettes!

>

> Harmony and Contrast

> When arranging a space with accessories, one has to keep in mind that the

> most important thing to avoid here is boredom! This has a lot less to do

> with the objects you choose than how you choose to display them. To keep an

> arrangement from putting the neighbors down for their afternoon nap,

> remember to keep a balance of harmony (things that feel like they go

> together, like similar colors or styles) and contrast (things that spice

> things up by being different…smooth against texture, round against straight

> line, et…) You want a bit of both in your arrangement. Perhaps you could

> create harmony by repeating a square shape or the color purple, and then add

> contrast by sitting a smooth candlestick next to a rough basket

>

> Scale and Shape

> Make sure that the items you are using fit into their new homes scale…you

> don’t want one tiny paperweight on a large kitchen table, and you want to

> steer clear of using a huge ceiling high arrangement of flowers on a tiny

> end table. Most people tend to use things that are too small for their

> surroundings however. If you have small accessories you would like to

> display, but need to give them more oomph in the arrangement, try grouping

> them on a plate or a fabric covered box. You can also give them height by

> perching them atop stacked books or baskets.

>

> Layer and Soften

> Once you’ve chosen your objects for the space following the design

> principles above, now it’s time to layer and soften. Start with a larger,

> taller piece slightly off center…this will be the defining piece in your

> arrangement. Now work to the outer edges in layers…Add a taller background

> layer, a middle sized medium height layer, and your tiniest objects in the

> front. Keep the eye moving up and down as it purveys the arrangement from

> left to right for interest. Add some fabric or twisted ribbon to soften the

> edges of the shelf or table, to bring in color, and to highlight certain

> objects.

>

> Above all, keep trying new combinations of items until you find an

> arrangement that works for you. Use things in unusual ways. Tuck flowers or

> a live plant into an arrangement that seems too static. Even professional

> designers will occasionally be surprised by trying things in a new way! And

> remember, if your arrangement still looks cluttered and lost, chances are

> you are trying to display too much. Develop a prop box or closet where you

> can keep some of your treasures, and switch them our a couple of times a

> year for a fresh new look without spending a dime! For an example photo of

> accessory arrangement see the attachment.

>

> Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator.

>

>       I hope this sparked some ideas for you.  Once again Happy New year and

> until the next time.

>

> "Live good,Love well and Laugh Often"

>

>

>                                 As always

>

>                                  Nunnie (Margie)