Don’t have anything to decorate with? You may have more than you think!
I’ve walked into houses where there seems to be just no “stuff” around.
There may be some toys, some clutter, the remote controls, a leftover Christmas candle, a dusty silk flower arrangement, but really, nothing particularly decorative. Nothing thoughtful or dramatic, nothing that says anything about the style, the taste or personality of the homeowner.
There sometimes isn’t much to make a house look like a home.
Many times homeowners really just don’t know what to buy. They may be focusing on spending money on their big investment pieces or getting the bones right before adding in that last layer.
And that’s a good thing. That’s what I like.
That’s my mantra. Get the bones right. Get the architectural done.
Get the messes made and cleaned up. Get the right pieces, the upholstery and some tables, consoles, lighting. Then…...add the fluff. Add that last layer at the end when you’ve built the rest.
But sometimes, you’re out of money, energy, or frankly, you just hate to shop!
So, besides calling me to come in and arrange it all for you….. :-), you could take some of these tips below and incorporate them into your decor for some fast, easy fixes. I use these ideas when styling sometimes, so that a homeowner doesn’t have to blow all their budget and can fill in their look with a few things they already own.
This post was published several years ago, but has been refreshed for you today. Part 2 is linked at the bottom of the post. :-)
1) Use glass vases in quantity
Sometimes you don’t need anything special, quantity can be special. So, any kind of glass vase you have, even a few glasses from your kitchen will work.
Some people, I’ve found, have many stashed away in the back of cabinets or up high on shelves in the laundry room, and can be used, in quantity, to create a beautiful centerpiece, mantel decor, or coffee table styling.
The colored water in this assortment of clear glass vases makes for an interesting display on this console in a showroom at High Point Market. carlaaston.com
The cool thing about it is all you need is a few sprigs of something live in a few of the vases, you can just do a few clips of greenery from the garden. Some you can just leave empty, so it’s not high maintenance either.
Because it’s not about the flower or sprig of greenery, it’s about the collective. It’s about the whole and the fresh, sparkly, clean look it gives or even the variation on size, shape, and color.
A collection of glass vases and bottles makes for interesting decor on a cabinet countertop. carlaaston.com
These milk glass vases were my mother’s and now they reside in my daughter’s apartment as a little collection on a shelf. carlaaston.com
This collection of glass vases in a Houston showroom has a light but interesting touch that echoes the color scheme of the art behind.
This grouping of vases on a tray on my dining table makes for a nice fall centerpiece. carlaaston.com
A collection of vintage bottles makes for an interesting dislay on a coffee table.
These antique bottles make for an interesting collection displayed on a center table. the color and shapes are emphasized and deliver a lovely style statement.
I love these bright yellow glass vintage bottles. They create a light, colorful statement.
2. Use Books As Decor
With younger generations, books in homes are getting harder and harder to find.
I have some younger clients who really have gone all digital with their reading. However, that makes buying some interesting books at used bookstores much easier these days, doesn’t it? Maybe books by the yard?
Most boomers have many books, sometimes they are overflowing with books and need to pare it down. Hmm, maybe boomer parents can share some of their books with their millennial children so everyone can have some decor!! :-)
Used on coffee tables, end tables, and of course, bookshelves, books are one of my first options for styling.
This beautiful atlas makes a colorful statement on an ottoman tray.
Bookshelf styling needs one major component…..books! Grab some beautiful books that interest you from your parents, a second hand bookshop, or Facebook Marketplace and start decorating! Online auctions also have lots of books from estates that need new homes and are a bargain!
Books stack up nicely when styling this family room. Carla Aston, Designer | Colleen Scott, Photographer
I love to see what my clients have collected and are interested in and usually include something like that front and center. You’d be surprised how many people, visiting someone’s home, will reach over and look through a coffee table book or just take notice of the type of reading material laid out in front of them.
I collect design books and use some on a tray on my ottomans.
I have often recommended buying a coffee table book from each vacation or ordering one when you return, as it is a nice way to start to build a collection and trigger some nice memories.
Stacked books on a side table make for a “platform” for decorative glass. They fill the shelf below nicely too.
If you don’t like the covers of your books, you can always turn them around for a warm, textural display.
A great place to grab some books for cheap is thrift stores. I found all the books I used in this bookshelf styling at local thrift stores. They were in great condition and were $1 for a paperback and $2 for a hardback. That’s a great deal!
I found all the books I used in this bookshelf styling at local thrift stores. They were in great condition and were $1 for a paperback and $2 for a hardback. carlaaston.com
3. Use a bromeliad, some philodendron leaves or any sprig from the garden.
Do you kill plants? Do you hate the maintenance of keeping fresh flowers? Try a bromeliad for a table top. They last a long time and look fresh.
Bromeliads will look great for months and are so architectural in shape. You can get them quite large too, so they make a statement and take up a lot of tabletop square footage.
I’ve always loved the large architectural shape of a bromeliad. They make for an impactful decor item and last a long time too. | Designer: Carla Aston, Photographer: Colleen Scott
You don’t need a lot of other accessories when you have tall, leafy plant like a bromeliad on the tabletop. It’s striking and lasts a long time.
I also use philodendron leaves and other leaves or branches in water, cut from my garden.
They last for months sometimes! Perfect to have growing outside your door if you live in a warm climate. Many designers use them in photo shoots for that little touch of life in a room.
Philodendron leaves cut from my garden worked well in this farmhouse kitchen photo shoot.
Orchids are also pretty, a little more tender, especially the blooms, but last for weeks too in a well-lit interior. When the blooms die, you can stick a silk orchid flower stem in the container until a new one grows.
(Shhh, don’t tell anyone I’ve done that.)
You can buy orchids pretty cheap at Ikea or Trader Joe’s too.
A grocery store orchid looks pretty atop this coffee table.
4. How about a game for your coffee table?
When my kids were young, I kept a wooden chess board that had been my father’s, out on the coffee table. The pieces were stashed in a pretty wooden box sitting on top.
My husband plays chess and both my kids do now because that was out and available. My daughter especially, would plop down and start setting up the board and engage her dad in a game randomly.
Not only did it look nice, but it got the family interacting in a great activity that got them learning a lifelong skill. I’ve also used a leather wrapped backgammon game I have to stack books on top of.
You’ll always be ready for a game night if you decorate your coffee table with a chess board or other game.
5. Children's art projects can be interesting bits of your life to display in your home.
Kids bring home all kinds of crafty things from school that don't always have to wind up on the fridge. One little ceramic sculpture or paper mâché object might be the perfect colorful addition to your bookcase.
My daughter made these paper mache houses in school years ago as part of an art project. Here they are leaning on a kitchen plate rack. I eventually framed them and now they are hung in my kitchen over my pantry door.
On one of my styling jobs, this painted ceramic plate done by one of the homeowner’s children, was used in a bookshelf.
I’ve got Part 2 of this post, linked below!
How To Decorate Your Home With What You Already Have - Part 2
Related Posts:
Click below for suggestions for beautiful books to style with.
This post has nice examples of games that can be used as decor.
Examples of prized possessions that have been artfully framed to create meaningful wall decor.
Decorating with things you already have - Part 1 | Tips for decorating on a budget.
I’ve been styling coffee tables and bookshelves on projects lately and I’ve selected some books for clients that really look great and I think speak to the rooms, their style and some of my clients’ taste and preferences. I thought I’d share some of my favorite books with you today, for styling your shelves and tables.