Our top 10 affordable home-styling accessories
Add a design-led flourish to your interiors with our edit of 10 of the best budget-friendly home-styling accessories
A stylist’s job might look easy – a karate-chopped cushion here, a vase of twigs from the garden there – but that’s only because they make it look easy. When it comes to giving your living room (or any room) a certain je ne sais quoi, there’s a go-to formula that interior designers and stylists rely on.
This insider’s playbook usually involves dressing flat surfaces – shelves, sideboards, coffee tables – with decorative objects in varying heights to soften harsh lines, plus adding lamp light and soft accents to make a room feel warmer and more inviting.
You don’t need to spend a fortune to style your home like a pro, though – we’ve picked 10 chic accessories to add to your decorational arsenal, all at budget-conscious price points. Think of them as the ingredients you need to concoct a deliciously well-styled home. They’d also make perfect gift ideas for your interiors-loving pals.
LSA International Flared Vase, £45
With so much choice when it comes to vases, building a ceramic collection can be overwhelming. Start with the bread and butter, though, and choose a beautifully simple, clear glass vase. It'll lift a whole room – just half-fill with water and put in a bunch of fresh eucalyptus.
John Lewis & Partners Patterned Seagrass Basket, £30
Not only incredibly practical, rattan and wicker baskets are interiors gold right now. Keep one next to your sofa and use it to store your cosy sofa blankets, hide your kids’ toys away or pop a house plant inside (make sure to add a waterproof plate first though).
Robert Welch Limbrey Bowl, £40
When is a bowl more than a bowl? When it’s a decorative place to put your jewellery, your paperclip collection, a few lemons, or simply display as an attractive objet d’art. You get the picture – a timeless stainless steel bowl like this is always great for styling.
Peony Pink Artificial Skimmia Stem, £10
One of the easiest ways to add height and impact to an uninspiring table or chest of drawers is a pretty vase of flowers or simple green foliage. These days, artificial flowers could be mistaken for the real deal and they last a lot longer than fresh stems.
Silver 35cm Kaymet tray, £40
Kaymet’s pressed aluminum trays have been made in London since the 1960s. A tray is your styling secret weapon because a gaggle of messy objects (candles on a coffee table, bottles on a bar cart) suddenly look like a purposeful group when displayed together on a tray.
Serax flame pot, rose, £16
The organic shape of a house plant will always make a room look softer and more loved. Add to that the calming feeling that greenery brings and you’re on to a styling winner. The #plantsonpink hashtag exists for a reason – the two colours are perfect together.
Design Project by John Lewis No.197 Cushion, £35
Every interiors stylist knows that replacing the scatter cushions on a sofa or armchair can transform the look of the furniture – heck, they can transform the whole room. Go for a tactile velvet or a striking pattern, such as this Henry Moore-inspired design.
John Lewis & Partners Meryl Concrete Table Lamp, £45
A table lamp will soften the lighting in your room, make it feel and look cosier – even when not in use, it will add style and varied height to a flat surface. This small concrete design has a chic, modern look and works well on shelves and side tables.
West Elm Colosseo Ceramic Lantern Candle Holder, £44.25
The flickering flame from a candle will always make a room feel cosier, but this Colosseum-inspired lantern candle holder from West Elm will make a design statement even when the candle isn’t lit. Add a tealight or pillar candle and enjoy the dancing shadows it casts.
ARCHITECTMADE Paul Anker Hansen Owl Ornament, Mini, £39
A decorative ornament adds great value and personality to a room. A good piece says a lot about you and your style, bringing a focal point to a space. This charming Danish wooden owl would add a unique element to your styled shelf or sideboard.
