Some accessories offer the best way to personalize a home

Adding accessories to a room gives homeowners a chance to personalize their spaces with the items they treasure most.


Six accessories that interior decorator Shari Hiller considers among the best for homes are also among those commonly found in households - family photos, books, fresh flowers, artwork, pillows and collections.


"They are the best because they go a long way to help make your house become a home," writes Hiller on MattAndShari.com. "Accessories can help define you because they bring in your own personality, they have meaning, and they create impact, yet they don’t have to be expensive."


Hiller suggests unifying photos by theme such as family events, or displaying all color or all black and white pictures along a hall or stairway wall.


Books can also be used as accessories. "Books can be used to lift a lamp up a bit to make it the right height, or to give more prominence to a photo on a stand," said Hiller, who co-hosts the PBS series, Around the House with Matt and Shari. "They can be used simply stacked next to a chair or left open on the bed with a pair of glasses purely as an accessory."


Fresh flowers aren't necessarily a constant accessory, but one that can be displayed when company is expected or to freshen up a room when the mood strikes. Several bunches can be gathered together for a dramatic display, or single buds can spruce a table.


Artwork should be an addition to a room that the homeowners really love and can turn into a conversation piece with visitors. "Don’t worry if it matches your furniture, your artwork needs to tell about you," according to the website.


Window treatments can be an attractive backdrop for accessories. Wooden blinds or woven shades both add texture to a room in a variety of finishes. Roller shades can be in neutrals or colors that complement the collectibles.
Pillows can add both color and pattern, particularly in neutral rooms in which they can be changed seasonally.

Different covers can be made for the same pillow forms, similar to changing slip covers on a sofa.


Displaying a personal collection can make an immediate impact in a room. They can be a focal point, often in colors that complement the room's color scheme. Usually odd numbers of collectibles look best as an assymmetrical display.