Friday Favorites: Small Accent Decor

Small accent decor can make or break a room, and the little pieces you choose often do more work than the furniture around them.

Accents are what tie a room together. They bring warmth and personality, give a gentle nod to the season, and add color, contrast, height, and texture so a space never feels flat or unfinished. Even the smallest accent in a room is a big workhorse.

The best part is that the pieces doing all this heavy lifting are usually simple ones. Pillows and throws, vases, dishes, baskets, plants and organics, seasonal items, candles, a stack of favorite books, small bowls, a pretty tray, a small ottoman, a lamp with a lovely shade, pictures in interesting frames, a piece of art, drink tables, personal items, souvenirs, and so much more all change the way a room looks and feels.

Accents do not have to be expensive or trendy or new. I have a mix of more precious accent pieces and quite a few from Target, a local vintage shop, and loved items passed down to me. It’s all about mixing them into your decor in ways you can enjoy and appreciate them.

This week, my favorite small accents are getting the spotlight, along with the ways they work hardest here at Tanglewood. A few thoughtful pieces, moved around and refreshed with the seasons, can give your home a whole new look without starting over.

A Few Tips For Sprinkling Accent Decor Through Your Home

Spread color around the room. Repeat an accent color in at least three spots so it feels intentional and leads the eye across the space.

Vary the heights. Pair a tall vase of branches with something low, like a small bowl or a stack of books, so each grouping has shape and movement.

Group in odd numbers. Three or five pieces together feel more relaxed and natural than a matched pair.

Leave breathing room. Empty space on a table or shelf gives your accents room to shine and keeps the room feeling restful.

Anchor small pieces. Set a little accent near a lamp, beside a piece of art, or on a tray so it looks planned rather than scattered.

Layer texture. Mix smooth and rough finishes, like glass with wood or linen with wicker, so every piece adds depth.

Bring in something living. A plant, a few cut stems, or a bowl of seasonal organics adds a freshness no other accent can.

Edit and rotate. Tuck a few pieces away each season and bring them back later, and they will feel new all over again.

Small Accent Decor To Add To Your Collection

Beautiful accent decor for your home…

A Small Habit: An Organized Purse

An organized purse is a small habit that makes a big difference in my week. When my purse gets disorganized, it feels like my whole life is starting to unravel. It sounds a little funny, but if you are like me, your purse goes everywhere with you and holds most of the essentials you rely on when you are out and about.

This habit developed naturally over time. Every time I pull into the driveway, I take a minute to check my purse. Anything out of place goes back where it belongs, since everything has a home, and I gather up any receipts, wrappers, or bits of trash to toss.

While I am at it, I make a mental note of anything that needs refilling, like pocket tissues, cinnamon Altoids, and hand wipes. It only takes a moment, but walking out the door with a tidy, well-stocked purse makes the next outing feel calm and ready.

An Item I’m Loving

This sweet hand-painted ceramic pheasant bowl is the item I’m loving most this week. I found it this fall and knew right away it would bring so much interest and charm to my home. It was also quite inexpensive, which makes it even more of a treasure.

Take a closer look at the photo, and you will spot eight small accents working together: the ceramic pheasant, the fall faux organics tucked into its bowl, the blue and white lamp, a little lidded rattan basket box, a stack of books, the botanical art, and two pillows. Each one adds color, height, or texture, but the pheasant is the piece that gives this vignette its personality.

The best part is that this bowl will not be packed away when fall is over. For Christmas, it will be filled with fresh greens, small pheasant feathers, and pods. Once the holidays have passed, a potted plant will settle into it for winter and spring. A good accent piece earns its place by working hard all year, and this charming pheasant is ready for every season ahead.

See a smaller ceramic partridge I also got HERE.

Something I’m Reading: March by Geraldie Brooks

My daughter is an avid reader, and she always gives me the best book suggestions. On a recent trip to visit her and her family, she sent me home with three books, and the first one I picked up is March by Geraldine Brooks.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of the father from Little Women, who leaves his family behind to serve in the Civil War. While Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are at home in Concord, this book follows Mr. March through the hardships and heartaches of war in the antebellum South.

The writing is beautiful, and it is one of those books you want to read slowly. If you love Little Women, March gives you a whole new point of view on a story you already treasure.

13 Weeks Or 84 Days Until Christmas

Get organized and ready for Christmas with so much less stress.

Christmas Things To Do:

1. Take pictures for your Christmas cards
2. Pull out favorite holiday recipes and start making your Christmas menus
3. If you are having family or guests, start cleaning out guestroom closets

Home Organization

Make a list of pantry staples, paper products, and anything for your table. Organize these areas, and start buying what you need.

Your Turn

Think of one more thing that would make your Holiday season easier and more special.

Something Fun

Try a Christmas recipe you want to make.

A Personal Note

I have had the privilege of teaching the Bible for over 35 years, and it remains one of the greatest joys of my life. This year, our Bible study is diving into the Book of Genesis, something I have never taught before, and I could not be more thrilled. Genesis has 50 chapters, and since I teach an in-depth study, my hope and prayer is to cover the first 11 chapters. If you live in or near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, I would love for you to join us. Just email me, and I will send along the details. Please pray for me and our group. Thanks.

Before You Go

I love to decorate, and I have a feeling you do too. So this is just a little reminder to decorate your home with what you love, for who you love. Whether that means pulling out the ornaments your kids made years ago or finally using the dishes you have been saving for the right occasion, your home is for living in and enjoying, not for impressing anyone. I will see you back here next Friday for the next step in our Christmas Countdown.

Happy October, friends!