Finishing touches are not afterthoughts; they need to be thoughtfully planned when you decorate your space. Even the most interesting design can look bland and basic without the appropriate finishing touches. However, random decorations added last minute can sometimes look even worse, so some consideration must be given to final touches that enhance the design. Here are three easy ways to give your design a more polished look.

1. Cut Flowers and Plants

Adding some greenery, whether it’s cut flowers, living plants, or fake plants, can bring life to any space and create a welcoming environment. Plants add a pop of color and a lovely scent to fill your space with beauty. The best places to include greenery are cut flowers on the dining table, and a big tall plant next to the couch. If your plants happen to die, don’t worry, they fulfilled their purpose and you can take the opportunity to pick some new plants!

2. Artwork

Artwork of any type is a great way to add a meaningful and personal touch to your space. The most important thing to think about when choosing artwork is the scale. The bigger the wall, the bigger the artwork should be. The artwork should also be in proportion to the furnishings. Original artwork from professional artists can add a personal touch to your space. Make sure all the artwork is professionally framed. Even a basic poster can look nice if it’s in a good frame.

3. Accessories

Accessories are a broad category with a lot of room for variation to add to a design. Just like how you would pick out jewelry, belts, hats, or shoes to go with your outfit, picking out some objects adds the finishing touch to a space. Which items you pick will vary on your design, but think about the colors and textures already in your home and try to complement or contrast those. Books, vases, picture frames, throws, accent pillows, small statues, geometric objects, figurines, and more can all enhance your design. Try to pick a variety of objects to keep the room interesting, but don’t overwhelm the space with too many in one area.

The critical element that makes or breaks a design is not each individual “thing”, but the combination of items working together in your space. A few additional items can interact with the existing design elements in a meaningful way and add a polished and finished look to your entire home.

*Featured image credit: Architectural Digest.