It's all in the detail

Jul 27 2009 By Anuji Varma

WHY DO well-dressed people stand out from the crowd?

It’s not just the clothes they wear, but the way they incorporate little finishing touches like a scarf, belt or jewellery which make them eye-catching.

The same surely applies to rooms – and the most successful are “well dressed” with decorative details, be they mirrors and art work, cushions or books.

Caroline Clifton-Mogg, interiors specialist and author, is a definite believer. “We have all been to houses where ‘stuff’ is everywhere, lying around almost at random and looking definitely unloved,” she says.

“But in another house, the same things are arranged in such a way that lifts the spirits and makes you want to go home and rearrange all your possessions.”

All too often, she says, the power of those details is underestimated.

“That’s such a waste as they make a space a home and give it a personality. When someone new comes to our home, the first things they notice aren’t the semi-permanent pieces – the fitted kitchen or the trendy wet room.

“What they focus on are the pictures and the way they are hung, the decorative objects, flowers on a table or the way books are arranged on the shelves. These give any visitor an instant impression of who you are, your taste and likes and dislikes.”

So if your possessions are randomly displayed and the look is cluttered rather than classic, Caroline’s new book, All In The Detail, could be a boon. It’s packed with 400 imaginative finishing touches and practical advice on how to achieve them.

Caroline says: “I simply want to show people the value of finishing touches, and how to make them count. We all have possessions that we’ve bought, been given or inherited.

“The joy is that properly treated they can truly transform a home making it pleasant, warm, and visually stunning, and it won’t even cost you a penny!”

Follow Caroline’s guide to winning ways with decorative details.

DECORATIVE TIPS:

1. Stand back and try to see your possessions as a visitor would. It will help you re-evaluate them with a fresh eye. Take some photos of your rooms, as it will make it clear which objects are working for you, and which aren’t.

2. Recognise that, sometimes without realising it, we’re all collectors. That may be on a simple scale with a few pieces of decorative china or old photographs, or more planned with objects carefully gathered over the years. Consider whether items can be grouped together to appealing effect, and look for themes to unify them.

3. “Less is more” is a good guideline. Rotating displays occasionally and moving familiar objects into different rooms will instantly refresh them and the space.

PRETTY AS A PICTURE

Walls look wonderful if they’re dressed properly – but successful picture displays rely for their impact on a connecting factor.

TOP TIP: Have a favourite print enlarged on a large canvas and also replicate it on a cushion cover. Companies such as Snappy Snaps offer this service. Hang prints on a wall above a sofa, and scatter cushions on the sofa.

MAGIC OF MIRRORS

Mirrors transform a room by reflecting light and making a space seem larger.

TOP TIP: Display a collection of mirrors together on a wall, perhaps antique hand mirrors sourced at second-hand shops, or opt for a collection of larger bevelled glass mirrors in different shapes.

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS

Flowers make a room come alive, but there’s no need to splash out on expensive arrangements.

TOP TIP: Almost anything can make a great container for flowers, so don’t simply rely on conventional vases.

Use jam jars as waterproof “liners” for flowers if you want to use a basket or box. Adapt teapots, sauce boats, buckets or bottles into alternative containers. Single blooms arranged in a collection of bottles work especially well, especially placed in front of a mirror or picture.