When decorating your home, you can reach a point where you wonder ‘what else can I use?’. You’ve maxed out the amount of photos you want to display and have more candles than your local boutique, so what other home decor or items can you use to decorate your house to make it feel like home?
It’s a struggle we’ve experienced many times, whether decorating a bookshelf, coffee table or sideboard. That’s why we pulled together this list of the 50 top items in home decor. Whenever we have an arrangement that’s lacking or a room that’s looking a bit sparse, we refer back to this list for inspiration on what else we can use in the space.
We hope this list helps you next time you have decorator’s block. Let’s dive into our favourite home decoration ideas for every room of the home!
Related article: The tips and tricks to styling your coffee table with ease
Related article: 7 of my best interior styling tips to make a space work… when it just won’t!
1. Wall prints
So often when decorating, we focus on what’s on the floor and neglect our walls. There’s a huge range of affordable wall art on the market now. You can find a large scale piece that looks fabulous without breaking the bank. We share our list of the best places to buy affordable artwork online here.
For a more meaningful touch, a personalised paint by number canvas lets you turn a favourite photo into a custom piece of art — a fun DIY and decor item in one.
2. Clocks
A wall clock can be a beautiful decor piece — even if we have the time displayed on just about every device nowadays! Look for one that works in with your interior style, whether that’s coastal, industrial, contemporary or something else. If you’re not sure what your style is, take our fun and free interior style quiz here.
3. Table lamps
We often harp on about the importance of lighting and not just relying on ceiling lights to illuminate our homes. Table and floor lamps cast softer light and reduce harsh shadows in our home — and they can be a decor piece in their own right!
Shop our favourite lighting
4. Cushions
If you ask us, there’s no better way to get bang for buck than simply switching over your cushions. They’re a great way to introduce a new colour palette into a room or add more texture. Our hot tip, switch the regular foam cushion inserts over to feather inserts for a more luxe look and added comfort!
5. Candles
You know how obsessed we are with candles so this one was definitely going to be on the list! Candles add ambience to a home in a way few other decor pieces can because it works on our sense of smell. Look for ones made from soy wax and natural fragrances to avoid bringing toxins into your home. You may also like to check out our DIY candle tutorial to make your own.
6. Rugs
Rugs serve so many uses in a home — they define zones, add warmth and can soften hard flooring. And when you use one with a bold colour or pattern, they can be like art for a room. Keep your rugs looking fresh by regularly deep cleaning them or calling on a pro dry carpet cleaning company to do it. Picking a rug isn’t easy, which is why we share all the tips on how to select the right rug in the video below.
7. Vases
Glass or ceramic, metal or concrete, there’s no shortage in choice of vases on the market nowadays! Depending on the size and style of your vase, these can look fabulous as a stand alone item (such as an oversized vase filled with dried branches on a sideboard) or work into a styled arrangement beautifully.
Check out our favourite vases this season!
8. Art
There’s something so special about having a one-off or limited edition piece of original art in our home. Knowing the meaning behind a piece or about the artist adds to the unique story of our homes. Whether it’s a painting, sculpture, glasswork or something else, we always recommend investing in art.
9. Books
Add that homely feel and display your personal interests with books. These look great in a bookshelf (obviously!), on a coffee table, bedside table and just about any other surface area you can think of.
You can also make your own photo books which double as a keepsake and decor item in one. There are apps and online platforms making it easier than ever to drag and drop your favourite photos to create a custom book in minutes. We want to start doing this annually to capture the year in pages… rather than just our phone photo albums!
10. Mirrors
Bounce light around or create the illusion of a larger space with a strategically placed mirror. Naomi shares how you can use mirrors to attract the desired energy of abundance and calm in this article all about how to incorporate elements of Feng Shui into your home.
You can also shop our round up of the best floor mirrors here.
11. Indoor plants
You can never have too many indoor plants. Fact. And there’s never been a better range of stylish vessels to display your indoor plants! If you lack a green thumb, check out this article on the top 20 hard to kill indoor plants.
Good interior decorating and styling is all about layers, texture and colour.
12. Photo frames
Framing photos or printing them onto canvas adds personality to your home and is a way of putting your happiest memories on display. But there’s an art to doing it without going overboard, check out our tips on how to decorate with photos here.
13. Crystals
Mmmmk, if you’re not already on the crystal bandwagon, do us a favour and just try. Whether you believe in the natural properties of crystals or not, there’s no denying they’re a beautiful decor piece! We’ve got a room-by-room guide to using crystals in your home to help you get started.
14. Sheepskins
Channeling Nordic vibes, we love a good sheepskin moment around the home. Draped over a bench seat, over an occasional chair or on the floor of a cosy nook, sheepskins look and feel amazing.
15. Bookends
It’s been a while since bookends have had their moment in the decor limelight and we want to do our part to shine a spotlight back on them! Forget traditional L shaped book ends that only serve a functional purpose when you can find some that are truly gorgeous decor pieces.
16. Pinboards
From circular to arch shape, hexagonal or something else, pinboards have come a long way! Keep organised and add a dose of style to your home with a pinboard — Mocka is a go-to store to buy them or you may like to try our DIY to make your own. Check out how interior designer Michelle Hart grouped three pin boards in her office below (see the full home tour here).
17. Baskets
We’ve never met a basket we didn’t like! Big or small, in a natural weave or colour, these are fabulous at keeping smaller items organised. In the pantry, baskets are great for keeping packet food items together and in play rooms there’s no easier way to organise kids toys. We use baskets in bookshelf styling, in bathrooms and just about every corner of the home. Get your hands on some!
18. Glass sculptures
When we first think of artists, generally our minds think of painters or perhaps ceramicists. There’s a world of talented glass artists out there and we love the idea of incorporating glass sculptures into the home. You can find intricate designs or something more simplistic, such as the beautiful glass sculptures pictured on the coffee table below.
19. Stool
We’ve seen on The Block time and time again how a stool is a styling staple in every bathroom reveal. They provide the perfect surface to drape a towel and display some beautiful bath products. Stools are also a great idea in living rooms as they provide extra seating when you need it or can otherwise act as a side table. Kids play rooms are another zone of the home we’ll generally incorporate a stool.
20. Hook
Functional and stylish, hooks can be arranged like art on your wall. A wall-mounted hook rack can also create the sense of an entry in smaller homes that open directly into a living room or kitchen.
From minimalist circular hooks to Colonial style brass pineapple hooks, there’s a hook out there to suit your home style.
21. Timber decor
A garland of timber beads on the coffee table of a coastal style living room, a timber hand in a Scandi-style space, a timber sphere in a contemporary bookshelf, or a piece of drift wood turned into a beautiful timber sculpture, there’s no shortage of ways you can incorporate timber decor into your home. Timber is a natural material that adds a sense of connection to outdoors. It is also a great way of mixing up the type of materials you use.
If you’re feeling crafty, it’s simple to DIY room decor using timber. For example, that timber bead garland below only uses a couple of packets of timber beads and a tassel.
22. Trays
A catch-all tray in the entry of a home is a styling essential we think everyone should have. Trays can serve many other styling uses though — some just for looks (like as a tray on your coffee table to anchor your arrangement) and as a practical tool (such as near your coffee station).
You want to create dimension to a space by having points of interest, elements that complement and contrast, and above all, items that show your personality.
23. Oil burners or diffusers
There’s no denying the calming and uplifting benefits of diffusing oils in the home. Luckily brands have cottoned on to the idea and you can now find modern and stylish oil burners and diffusers on the market. Make it part of your morning routine and start your day on a positive note.
24. Occasional chairs
Whether you’ve got an empty corner of the home, want to create a more inclusive seating arrangement in your living room, or want to create a cosy seating nook, occasional chairs are always a good idea. We’ll admit this one falls more in the ‘furniture’ than ‘decor’ category buuuut sometimes it’s just the thing you need to make a space work.
25. Canisters
You know how much we love using smaller boxes, baskets and storage solutions to hide away items. Canisters are an often-forgotten one. You can find beautiful organic canisters made my ceramic artists or something more modern. Whatever style you prefer, these are a great item to have when styling. Place it on a bedside table to keep jewellery safe, in your office to store smaller stationery or in a kitchen vignette for rock salts or sugar.
26. Dried or artificial flowers or branches
For a few years, dried floral arrangements were all the rage. While this trend may have fizzled out, don’t throw away your dried flowers just yet! More organic and deconstructed dried floral arrangements have taken their place. Just take a look at how beautiful a vase of dried native flowers looks on our sideboard below. Alternatively, you could use branches for an even more rustic vibe.
Artificial flowers also have the same visual impact as fresh flowers — provided you get quality ones! The Faux Flower Company has some of the most impressive faux flowers we’ve seen. We share all our sideboard styling tips in this article.
27. Macrame anything
Speaking of trends, another material we’re beginning to see make a comeback is macrame. Let’s not go OTT like we did 10 years ago though! In moderation, we love a macrame wall hanging or hanging pot. Macrame particularly suits boho and eclectic style interiors but also looks fab in a coastal home.
28. Throw rugs
Add layers to your interior styling and create a greater sense of comfort and warmth using throws. Similar to cushions, they’re also a great way of repeating your colour palette throughout a space and we always suggest finishing your bed styling off with a throw.
29. Records
Record players are just cool and if you’re lucky enough to have one, be sure to put your records on display! Similar to books, the worn covers add character to a home and showcase your individual taste.
30. Magazines
Call us weird but we collect magazines and rather than hiding them away in cupboards, we’ll often place a stack of these in a bookshelf or on a side table. When they’re out on display, you’ll be more likely to go back to a magazine and discover new things amongst the pages that you may have missed or forgotten about.
31. Side tables
Ok, so this one is technically a furniture item too but we’re sure you’ll forgive us for including it on the list. You can find amazing natural stone, timber, bone inlay and all sorts of other side tables in stores. And given the affordability of (and flexibility to change up) side tables, we’re more lenient with our ‘go neutral with furniture’ rule 😉
This is another one to ad to your list of DIY decoration ideas. For example, we made this terrazzo side table or just take a scroll of social media to see all the tiled or timber dowel side tables people are making. Oh, and you can also pick up an old side table for cheap from a thrift store and upcycle it 😉
32. Natural stone trivet
Whenever Gina posts a picture of the marble trivet in her kitchen, the DMs and emails start pouring in asking where it’s from. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available but you can generally find similar at Temple & Webster. Safe to say it’s a firm favourite decor item!
Recently, warmer and richer natural stones like travertine and Verdi marble have been gaining popularity.
If you’re starting out on your styling journey and want simple home decoration ideas, check out this article on how to create a vignette or small styled arrangement.
Shop our fave trivets and trays
33. Luxe game board
Perhaps it’s thanks to all the time we spent in isolation but game boards have had a major comeback. You can find some seriously luxe game boards now, such as a marble chess board, or antique ones that add character to a space. On a table in your office, sideboard of a living room or in a cabinet are a few places you could incorporate these.
34. Candle sticks
Candle sticks or candle holders look great on your dining table — we’ve got a whole article dedicated to how to style your dining table when it’s not being eaten at here. You can also work them into a vignette on a sideboard for that tall element 😉
35. Decorative bowl
Decorative bowls are perfect for adding interest to surfaces that you don’t want to overcrowd with small decor but still want to decorate. Think a decorative bowl on your kitchen bench that can double as a fruit bowl, yet still looks great when empty. Or an artist made glass bowl like the one below that you can place on a sideboard or dining table. These also look great in a glass cabinet or open shelving.
Another idea is to find a stunning decorative plate that can be stood upright with a plate stand.
36. Floor lamps
Serving the same purpose as table lamps of casting softer lighting but floor lamps are perfect for filling those void corners of a room, or adding height to a room where everything else is lower to the ground.
37. Coral
If you love the coastal or Hamptons style, a piece of coral or beautiful shell is a must-have decor piece. And if you’re concerned about the sustainability of these items, you should know there are some fab faux versions on the market now.
38. Wall shelf
Any kind of wall shelf — circular with smaller shelves, timber leather strap shelves, or even a picture ledge — are an opportunity to display some of your favourite objects. The picture shelf above the bed in Gina’s guest room is ideal for easily changing artwork displayed in this space. Best of all, that shelf was a steal for under $20 from IKEA!
39. Ceramic vessels or sculptures
We have a serious obsession with ceramic pieces and who can blame us?! In brightly glazed or unglazed natural clay, there’s something so special about the handmade beauty of ceramics. Find a functional piece, such as a candle holder or bowl, or you could simply pick up a sculpture for arts sake.
40. Floor runners
Ok, so this one is similar to rugs but because they’re so overlooked, we felt it deserved its own point. Hallways, the area between your kitchen and island, in your laundry or beside your bed can be softened with a floor runner. It’s another great way of introducing texture and pattern to a room.
41. Coasters
Coasters are often thought of as only being a practical item but gosh you can find some stylish ones around now — they’re so pretty, you’ll want to keep them on display 24/7! Agate coasters or travertine are still our faves but marble, timber or concrete are also strong contenders.
42. Decorative box
Similar to the canister idea, a decorative box made of any material can serve many uses and look great in almost any room of the home. Find one in a material to complement your interior style, such as a luxe marble or glass one or natural timber box for an earthier vibe.
Styling tip: place a decorative box on your coffee table to keep remotes out of sight yet accessible.
43. African Juju hat
If the global, coastal or wanderlust style is your thing, a juju hat could be the hero of the room. We adore the texture they bring to a space and just check out how fab it looks in Lana’s home below. Take the full home tour here.
44. Globe
In an office or bookshelf especially, we love the idea of a world globe. Find them in big or small sizes, in antique look or modern styles, there’s sure to be one out there to suit your space.
45. Glass cloche
You know you’re getting fancy when you add a glass cloche to your home, ha ha. Seriously though, they instantly elevate any styling and are so affordable! Many interior stylists say this one inexpensive decor item instantly makes any room feel luxe.
Not only do they look great, they help prevent intricate objects from getting dusty. During the festive months, they are also the perfect size have some styling fun.
Ideas of items you can place under a glass cloche in your home:
- candle: makes it look more sophisticated while preventing dust from settling on the wax
- coral: keeps delicate objects protected
- sentimental or precious decor: perhaps you have something your grandfather made, a vintage item or something else you want to highlight?
- Christmas scene: during the festive months, place fairy lights, bristle brush Christmas trees or other small decor underneath
- Halloween feature: another seasonal decorating idea is to use it for spooktacular Halloween styling, such decorative faux pumpkins or skulls
- Easter decor: a mini nest, bunny or eggs can look super cute.
46. Cowhide
We know this one won’t be for everyone but cowhides can introduce an earthier element to a space in a way that most rugs can’t. Interior designers often use these in smaller or awkward spaces such as a study nook as you can see in the pic below.
47. Hourglass
Popular in an office or bookshelf styling, an hourglass is an elegant and timeless (see what we did there 😉 ) home decor item that’s worth adding to your shopping list!
48. Pot plant stands
A firm favourite of ours are pot plant stands. Available in all sorts of sizes, colours and styles, these are a way of casting your eye upwards in a room. This is another item of home decor we’ve bookmarked Temple & Webster. No matter your budget or taste, you’re sure to find one to love!
49. Wick trimmer or candle snuffer
If you’re creating a styled arrangement with a candle, a nice low element to use is a wick trimmer or candle snuffer. There are many styles and different finishes so look for one to tie into your theme.
50. Watering can
This one probably sounds silly at first but hear us out! With indoor plants being more popular than ever — and we know a trick to keeping them alive is to stay on top of their watering schedule — it makes sense to have a stylish watering can on display so you’re reminded to give them a drink!
From matte black to burnt orange, crisp white and sage green, there’s a watering can colour and style to suit your space. Personally, we love the ones with an unusual design detail like a wavy handle or extra slim spout.
51. Decorative dish
Decorative trays or small dishes are available in a wide range of materials, including natural stone, ceramic, timber, metal or crystal. Whichever material you choose, this is an ESSENTIAL decor piece in every home!
Place one on your bedside table for jewellery, use one on your dining table for pinch salt, keep one in your office for push pins or other small knick knacks… there are endless uses for them around the home.
52. Neon light
Whether it’s in a kids room, media room or man cave, a neon light adds personality and fun to the space! Get one with a cool quote, illustration or custom neon sign with the person’s name. You can customise the perfect neon light for your space, picking the fonts, colours and size to make it your own.
Best home decor, our top picks
Just like with everything interiors, home decor goes through trends. We always suggest selecting items that you genuinely love so you’ll be less likely to tire of them once the trend passes. Think about your interior style and the type of home you want to create. For example, if you love the coastal style you may be drawn to faux coral or a large shell, whereas contemporary interiors would be better suited to ceramic decor.
If you’re just starting out decorating your home, our top home decor picks would be:
- table or floor lamps: perfect for filling a void corner and adding soft ambient lighting to your space (one of the easiest ways to make your home feel more inviting)
- trays or trivets: the unsung hero of home decorating. These can be used in almost every room of the home and instantly elevate your styling, literally!
- candles, incense or diffuser: because so much of how we feel in a space has to do with our other senses. Plus, these can often be a stylish decor piece in their own right
- photos: add personality to your home by displaying your favourite people and memories. These are great in a gallery wall, sprinkled throughout a bookshelf or placed on a bedside table. And photos don’t all have to sit behind glass in a frame — over the years we’ve shared ideas like photo blocks, canvas prints, on a pinboard, hanging clip garland and more.
- artwork: if you follow the blog, you’d know we’re art obsessed! A room just doesn’t feel complete to us unless there’s art on the walls. We have so many articles about where to shop for affordable art, profiles of emerging artists, and DIY tutorials to make your own art.
Whether you were looking for bedroom decor essentials, living room home decor ideas or just some decor accents for modern homes, we hope you found some new ideas in this round up. Pin the infographic below to your Pinterest board or save this post on Facebook to easily find our round up of decor items for every room.
Do you have another top home decor item that hasn’t been listed? Share it in the comments below! Or show us how you’ve styled your home by tagging us when you post a pic on social media.
More styling ideas
Disclaimer: This article was originally published in October 2014 and has been updated with new information and images.
