JoAnne Lenart-Weary, the ever talented and encouraging designer that trained me, has a pet peeve. She calls it Accessories on Parade. Fitting don’t you think? It’s so easy to fall into the trap of adding all of our favorite accessories together until they look like they are standing single file in line to get on HGTV. I don’t think JoAnne has anything against a good parade but parades are meant to be in the streets not on our mantles and tabletops.
Look around and see if you’ve got an unintended parade happening somewhere in your space. Edit out all but a couple of things that work the best together. Aim for having three accessories, tops on any surface. I admit, this is really hard for me I have a little thing for accessories. Remember that the more you add in, the less attention each piece gets. That usually helps me take a few things away.
I knew I wanted something red, aqua and black and white for the mantle so I just played around until it looked right. I’ll find good homes for the cast offs, no worries.
Guilty as charged! It’s like I’m scared of flat, open, free space. I could probably edit out half the things in my home, but that would be a lot of flat surfaces. I do love the look of uncluttered home, though. Funny enough, I never put the two together.
I do this all the time! It’s just that I want all of my cute little accessories seen by everyone!!! LOL! I am kind of obsessed with accessorizing! I really need to get over that!! Thanks for the tip!
Are “accessories” the smaller items (so the arrangement on the left doesn’t count)?
Feeling like a newbie….
Good question. The answer is: I have no idea. You could count that big urn as an accessory–and then I have 4 over there in that corner–also on the same mantle I have a set of shutters and a large piece of art–so that equals like 30 million items. Breaking “rules” right and left.
There aren’t any hard and fast rules but 3 small things are a good guideline. So for me, I’m not counting the big urn as an accessory in this post.
I just want to avoid having my accessories of the same size all lined up. I probably should have mentioned scale. Hate me.
Lightening strikes… complete aha! Thank you for this post, it is SO true!!! I must go break up parties all over my house now!
I struggle with this sometimes, too – I want to see ALL of my things! I guess that’s where rotation comes in…
Yes! I noticed how you also had the concept of “big, medium, little” going on which adds great interest. I’m going to be doing a mantle soon and needed some good ideas. Thanks!
Do photos count or is that just a giant no-no too? I have 4 8×10′s of my children marching across my mantle at present…..hmm….
what about a 5th frame in the middle with a design or writing in it?
Thanks for the tip, I’ll go look for parades!
i have a parade on my mantle right now! but actually, i kind of like it (old pharmacy bottles). i wonder if there are exceptions to the rule if all the items are really really similar?
I’m a big believer in an exceptions to EVERY rule!
Guilty as charged! I will be looking for parades today too!
My mom is famous for this (I imagine most older people are). I used to shove half of her stuff into cupboards each time she’d leave town. I don’t like clutter…makes me feel queezy.
Hallelujah and Amen.
Guilty as charged. Off to break up the parades. Thanks for the tip!
I too like the look of less clutter but at the same time I think I make parades too. lol. I have a big mantle and I think if I took off too much it would look empty. I have to figure it out. Thanks for the tip. Off to stop the parades!
I’m totally rock’n that color combo in our house living room! LOVE IT!!!
Thanks for the ‘parade’ warning tip. I have not collected enough decorative items to line up just yet, but I’ll remember it for the future! I suppose the same could be said for photos on display?
A parade sounds so nice and organized….I am experiencing more of a “mob.” I am currently guilty of the family photo frames of all the cousins on a console table. So tired and old. I need help….but I can’t leave anyone out! Thanks for the post!
Maybe you could put all of the photos in a beautiful album and then display the album on the table with a couple other items.
Lauren’s idea is great but I have one more for consideration. My husband and kids gave me a large frame with spots for 21 4×6′s, both horizontal and vertical. I can add all my family, right down to great nieces and great nephews, in single and group shots from get togethers, camping etc. They picked it up half price at Michaels Craft store. One frame seems much less cluttered than multiple small ones (although I must say I like small frame groupings too.)
Hehehe……I’m just looking over my shoulder at the parade on my mantle. Guess I need to fix that.
Accessories on parade. Now that’s funny.
I love the “rule” of three. Except of course when I want to use five. Or fifteen. Whatever. But it’s nice to have some guidance.
I’m in love with that little dog, by the way.
hilarious! i never knew it had a name, but i like it!
most of my accessories are in boxes… i’ll get there someday. but the ones i’ve removed from boxes (to get to the necessary items underneath- like underwear) are definitely on parade. i just plopped them all on whatever surface i could reach to get them out of the box- needed those undies! and no, i have no idea why i packed decorative items with my undies. but they didn’t break in the move, so that’s something! : )
happy wednesday,
rachel
I’ve always had a little accessories saying: “Forwards, backwards, 1,2,3″: That way you have just enough stuff AND depth to your grouping… I also have the “Bigger Than My Head” rule: one object in the group has to be bigger than my head so it doesn’t become a group of tiny things.
But that’s just me. :0)
“accessories on parade” i love that! i am soooo guilty. & doubly guilty of matchy, matchy accessories on parade. if fact, just this morning, i was thinking i needed to find a few other things for the tabletop, the mantle, the whatever. i have been stopped in my tracks! maybe “simplify” is, indeed, the word of the year.
peace -
word pictures stick with me…i’ll remember the accessories on parade. kinda makes me laugh! :) I’ll be looking to make sure there are no parades of that sort at my house.
I’m more of a ‘clusterer’. I do little clusters or vignettes here and there throughout my home. For instance, on the deacon’s bench in my foyer, I have an off-white throw across one arm; an original copy of ‘The Complete Works of Edgar Guest’ lying on the seat (on the edge of the throw); a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles lying on the book; and an antique oil lamp anchoring the entire scene. It is one of my favorite spots in the house. It leaves the impression that someone just got up and left the book there until they have another moment to sit a spell and read. : )
I am not a fan of accessories on parade either but hadn’t ever given it an official name. Now I can!
Oh I just adore JoAnne. It’s has been to long since I have been in the presence of her brillance. I always learn something new.
She must be busting her buttons over her Nesting protege.
I love this “accessories on parade” phrase! :) Gotta remember that! And in our “cozy” home it’s even more important to edit, edit, edit! Thanks :)!
Blessings,
Stacey
Three? Three? No, no way. We’re into that dilapidated aristocracy look around here lately (not that we were ever aristocrats, but dilapidated, yes). Get out every broke-down potentially interesting thingy and display it. Leave the upholstery torn, it’s like that on purpose. Slather on the books, sea shells, birds nests, and pressed leaves, and you’ve got yourself a glimpse into our dec-wreck. Want to hire me?
Loving the parade – funny.
I am SO guilty! Mission for today…look for parades :) Thanks for the post! Hugs!
PS What do you think of a picture collage on my staircase? Does this rule apply here as well?
a friend once told me that her designer
( i was already behind the eight ball in that conversations as i didn’t have a designer-nor do i now!)
told her to keep her accessories at an odd number-ie, 3 or 5
that apparantly this odd number is friendly to the eye
so
now my hubbs thinks this is fun
last night he whittingly commented on my mercury glass tablescape
which had 4, not 3 not 5 items
“eh hum, doesn’t this exceed the three’s rule”
his dinner was served cold
(wink)
ps–i love that doggie of yours
& the red
& the blue shutters
total cuteness
Paige, that odd numbers rule applies to landscaping as well! It’s so true.
Yay for decluttering! Hey, speaking of decorating, did you know Walmart’s Christmas stuff is 75% off? I got 3″ vanilla scented pillar candles for 25 cents and 6″ ones for 50 cents! They’re a nice cream color, so they should fit with your decor.
Great idea, I like the look!
That pic really screams your point. You are so right about the objects losing their “wow” when there are too many! I have always followed the “3″ rule, too. Not sure where I learned it, but it works!! Great post! xoxo
Wonderful tip! Love the pretty red finial.
Ha- love the parade metaphor. I don’t think I have a parade, right now my house is so messy it’s not a parade it’s a collectible frat party.
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Great tip, One of my good friends says that she moves all accessories every week when she dusts; she says she picks them up to dust anyway-why not put them someplace new?
yep, I have some accessories on parade. I need to work on those…
I like this idea, but I can’t figure out how to make it work for me. I have two shelves hanging on the wall…like 1.5 foot and 2 foot. They are staggered with one above the other. What am I supposed to put on them if not accessories on parade? if they are empty it looks silly.
Love the red and aqua….it reminds me of Martha Stewart’s kitchen stuff.
I’m not so bad about the single fil line part…no, mine mill about, like a bunch of extroverts at an after-party…but 3? Wow. I need to find more reasonably low horizontal surfaces to put my apothecary jars on…hm
I really am bad with the knick knacks.. yikes! :) But your right.. you don’t really enjoy the pieces you want to show! :)
Also if you get a chance.. check out the giveaway over at my bloggity blog! :)
Happy Blogging!
Heather
Looove that little dog. I bet he’s happy he’s the grand marshall of the parade now, or whatever they call ‘em.
Excuse me…I have a parade I need to go stop in my addition…. ;)
Just wanted to let you know I saw this pillow in the new Pottery Barn catalog yesterday and immediately thought of you!
http://www.potterybarn.com/products/nest-sentiment-lumbar-pillow/?pkey=cpatterned-striped-pillows
SO true! It is hard to edit when you have things that seem like they should go together. I just redid my mantle and might have gone a little crazy with the accessories but I will work on my editing skills! Have a wonderful day!
XOXO
Jen
Thank you! I’ve been searching for recruits to join my parade for my mantle & now I know I don’t need them!
Love this post. I am also not a fan of mantle parades and such. But who knows… I had better search my house to make sure!
Whoops I am guilty of this. Well off to go rearrange my fireplace mantle, again!
Thanks- I think we women have a thing for accesories! Must check this one – great rule of thumb.
I found that once I had children, I created a lot more clear spaces. I wanted them to have spaces to play and I also wanted to protect my objects. As they get older I find I create groupings of items. I stick to the rule of odd numbers 3,5 and 7. Then it is the art of mixing color, size and texture.
I try not to create groupings on every surface. I think the open spaces help you focus on the things I choose to display.
Anyway…I’m gonna scour my house to make sure I didn’t inadvertantly create a parade.
Thanks!
I have a tough time deciding the size of my pieces so as not to look bare with just 3 things. The key is to make it look substantial – without looking crowded or cluttered. RIght? I think taking pictures might help me.
Ok-Guilty!!! You inspired me to change my mantel again!!! I have already changed it twice since taking stuff down for Christmas. Pop on over and tell me what you think!
Thanks,
Jody
Love it Girl. You are so gifted! Where did you get the berry arrangement. Is it a combo of the berries with some twiggs? Do you mind sharing?