How To Style Statement Pieces Around The Home

Are you a lover of impactful decor? Whether you’re a hunter of vintage gems or an enthusiast of cutting-edge design, statement pieces are the key to expressing your individuality through your home. However, it can often be tricky to style a statement item of furniture or decor to give it the attention it deserves whilst ensuring it harmoniously unifies with your existing environment. Here are some tips for styling your next statement piece.

Create Contrast

When seeking interior design advice, we are often told to create balance and stick to a colour scheme or theme. Nevertheless, aren’t rules meant to be broken? If minimalism and understated neutrals aren’t for you, no problem! Your home is your castle, and you have complete creative freedom to decorate it in a way that brings you joy.

Creating contrast with varying colours, patterns, and textures will allow your individual pieces to pop. Suppose you’ve become the proud owner of a statement Chesterfield-style sofa in striking bottle green or fuschia - this piece will instantly bring a dull room to life and act as a focal point when styled with contrasting throw cushions featuring a variation of fabrics and textures. To add an extra touch of unique charm, try your hand at making cushion covers by hand-selecting your own materials from a local haberdashery.

Colour Psychology

Colour Psychology is the concept of conveying messages nonverbally through colour. Colour influences mood and impact behaviour; therefore, consider the desired ambience of a room. Statement pieces are designed to draw attention, the colour of which can set the mood of your environment. For example, sage green is known for its calming properties, whereas deep blue encourages efficiency.

Many interior designers work with the 60-30-10 rule, which describes decorating an environment with 60% of a dominant colour, 30% of a secondary colour, and 10% of an accent shade. With this in mind, consider where you would like your statement piece to fall within this ratio.

Let It Speak For Itself

If you lean towards the “less is more” approach, allow your pieces to shine by giving them centre stage. Filling a room with statement-makers may be to the taste of some, but others might find it overwhelming. For example, consider the feeling you get when you walk into a bathroom and see a free-standing roll-top bathtub - instantly inviting. The same can be said for a four-poster bed or classic open-hearth fireplace. Some homeware pieces and architectural features work best when they speak for themselves as conversation starters and emotion-evoking centrepieces. 

That’s not to say you can’t adorn your statement pieces with smaller items that command less attention. A stunning 12 seater dining table may be the focal point of a dining area, but it may appear unusual and unfinished without a centrepiece or table runner. 

Rule Of Three

When it comes to interior design, three most certainly is a magic number. Grouping items in threes or fives is a great way to make your home feel more balanced. This rule, often found in art and photography, suggests that items arranged in odd numbers appear more natural and aesthetically pleasing.

Of course, this isn’t necessarily a hard and fast rule to be adhered to at all costs. However, consider experimenting with the rule of three regarding your furniture and decor to highlight statement pieces. For instance, suppose you have an empty corner of a sitting room that needs filling. Place a unique armchair next to a tower floor lamp (ideal for storing books) and hang up an antique mirror or piece of compelling wall art - you now have a cosy, inviting reading nook made up of three complimentary statement pieces. 

Lighting 

Use lighting fixtures to express your personal style and accentuate your decor aesthetic. Not only can lighting draw attention to certain furniture items, but lighting fixtures can be statements in and of themselves. From grand light-refracting glass bead chandeliers to vintage tassel table lamps, lighting can amplify the quality of a space and determine the atmosphere. 

Many interior designers advise against harsh overhead lighting in favour of soft pools of light placed strategically around a room. If you have a prominent overhead fixture, consider installing a dimmer switch to avoid flooding your environment with intense light. 

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