A room can have the right sofa, the right paint and the right rug and still feel unfinished. Usually what's missing is the layer of smaller things: a mirror to bounce light around, a lamp for the evenings, a vase on the table and something with character on a shelf. Here's how we think about those finishing touches, with a few favourites from the shop.
Start with a mirror
A mirror is often the hardest-working accessory in a room. Hung beside or opposite a window it brings in more daylight, and in a narrow hallway it makes the space feel wider. It's also a chance to add a piece with real personality.
The Seletti x Toiletpaper Gold Frame Tall Mirror sits somewhere between a mirror and a work of art. It's printed with the studio's surreal imagery, in a choice of Lipsticks or Snakes, and set in a gold frame. A tall mirror like this works well in a hallway, living room or dressing room, where you can catch a full-length glance on the way out. If you'd prefer a different outline, the Gold Frame range also includes classic and pear-shaped mirrors.
Layer your lighting
Ceiling lights do the practical work, but lamps set the mood. Aim for light at a few different heights: something on a side table, something on a shelf or sideboard, and a decorative piece higher up if the room allows.
The Fatboy Bellboy Lamp is a cordless table lamp, so it isn't tied to a socket. Tap the touch button on its cap to switch on the warm LED light, and hold it a little longer to dim. The battery charges via the base, which makes it easy to move from a desk to a bedside table, or out to a roof terrace on a summer evening. Parts can be replaced if they ever fail, too.
For something more theatrical, the Seletti Monkey Light is a white resin monkey holding a light bulb, designed by Marcantonio. It comes in six poses (Sitting, Standing, Hanging, Swinging, and Climbing Left or Right) and looks striking on its own or in a playful group. Two or three together above a console table make a real talking point.
Vases and objects with character
Shelves, mantelpieces and dressing tables are where a room shows its personality. A good rule is to group things in odd numbers and vary the heights, so the eye moves across the display rather than along a straight line.
The Love in Bloom Heart Vase by Marcantonio for Seletti is a porcelain vase shaped like a human heart, its veins and arteries forming a network of bud vases. A few single stems are all it needs, and it makes a romantic, unexpected gift. Beside it, the Seletti Memorabilia My Crown adds a regal, fairy-tale note. It's porcelain, 18.5cm x 7.5cm, in white or gold, and sits happily on a shelf, dressing table or mantelpiece.
Books count as accessories too. The Qeeboo Turtle Carry Bookcase carries a pile of your favourite books on its shell, held tight by a metal support with three shelves. Designed by Marcantonio, it comes in six colours, including Dove Grey, Deep Green and Indian Red, and suits a living room, study or child's bedroom.
Tie it together with pattern
Accessories look most deliberate when they pick up something already in the room. Repeat a colour from your wallpaper in a vase, or echo the tone of a rug in a lampshade.
Patterned walls give you plenty to pick up from. The Strawberry Thief Wallpaper from Morris & Co, created by William Morris in 1883, comes in Crimson/Slate, Chocolate/Slate and Indigo/Mineral; a gold crown or white porcelain vase would both sit well against it. For a study or snug, Mind The Gap's Equestrian Plaid Wallpaper takes traditional tartan and supersizes the checks for a warm, country-house feel. Underfoot, the Artichoke Mineral Rug from Morris & Co is 100% wool and soft to walk on, a calm base for bolder accessories above it.
Know when to stop
The last finishing touch is editing. Once everything is out, step back and take one thing away. A few pieces with room to breathe will always say more than a crowded surface, and leaving a little space means you can add something new when it catches your eye.
Browse our full home decor collection for more mirrors, lamps, vases and accessories, or visit us in Somerset. Our team is always happy to help you find the piece that finishes a room.
