10 Ideas for Affordable Decor Accessories

Use these 10 ideas for affordable decor accessories to add your own personal style to your home! Sprinkle these ideas in every room to add coziness, interest, and texture. 

home decor accessories plate wall

Adding accessories to your home is like putting on lipstick after you’ve applied your makeup…or tying on a scarf over a plain sweater. Home accessories are the finishing touch to your decor plan. They are also the perfect way to inject your own personal style into your spaces. Accessories can tell the story of your family. They can reflect your interests and passions. They are like the icing on a cake. Read on for 10 ideas for affordable decor accessories that you can use in your home.

*Affiliate links (Amazon & others) included. Click HERE for my disclosure statement.

Ideas for Affordable Decor Accessories

Update in no time with PILLOWS.

affordable decor accessories fall flowers

I’m starting with the most obvious…and the easiest! Switching out your pillow covers can completely change the look and feel of your space. If you have neutral furniture, the sky is the limit. Go all neutral like in the image above, or add a pop of color. If you have furniture with a pattern, or bold color, go neutral and plain with your pillows. Another idea is to mix patterns. Pair a small check with a lovely floral, or combine a stripe with a geometric pattern. Embellishments also add to the personality of a pillow. Tassels on the corners, or buttons on an envelope closure, add texture and interest. Click {HERE} for the ivory chairs.

Fall Living Room Decor

Use BASKETS for storage and layering.

 

simple affordable decor accessories for fall

Baskets are one of the most affordable decor accessories, and they can be used with any decor style. They are especially handy because they provide both form and function. They are the perfect room accessory for storage, and they provide amazing texture. They come in all sizes, and can be stored right in your space, because they are beautiful. Stack them in a corner, or under a table. There is a wide array of baskets online and in retail stores, but don’t forget to check thrift stores and flea markets. Baskets have been around for centuries, and in my humble opinion, you can never have too many!

Shopping Sources: ivory tufted chairs | tasseled pillow covers | blue and white lamp (similar) | hyacinth basket tray | set of round baskets | round coffee table and end table set | living room rug in beige/ivory | long dough bowl on shelf | velvet pumpkins

Gather items together, layer, and add interest with TRAYS.

lantern with eggs on white tray

I have two favorite affordable decor accessories that I use all the time. The first is trays, and I adore them. I love to use them on our coffee table, dining table, and entry chest, to add layers and extra texture. Trays can take a simple item like a lantern or stack of books, and with some basic layering, turn it into a real statement. Trays gather items together, so they can be displayed cohesively. Any vignette will be improved by simply adding a tray. Use just one, or layer multiple trays. Use wood, wicker, silver, copper…and the list goes on!

Round Coffee Table Tips

Use PITCHERS for fresh or faux flower arrangements.

pink roses in white pitcher

If you’re wondering about my second favorite decorating accessory, I’m sure it’s no surprise that it’s pitchers. I have a small collection of ironstone pitchers that move around our home. I use them mostly for flower arranging, but I also like to let the pitchers “speak for themselves.” Grouped together on our bookshelf, they become a collection, and can definitely stand on their own with no flowers needed.

Add softness to a dining table with TABLE RUNNERS.

dining room ready for summer meals

Table runners will soften the hard surface of a dining table, console table, or dresser. Along with the softening effect, they add color and seasonal interest. Don’t be afraid to think out of the box when it comes to table runners. The traditional way to use them is running the length of the table, in the middle. Try mixing it up by running two or three table runners across the width of your table. It’s unexpected, and makes the table look very cohesive.

Easy & Casual Summer Tablescape

Bring a room to life with FRESH FLOWERS.

limelight hydrangea and sunflowers

I’ve said this so many times that you’re probably tired of hearing it…but I believe that fresh flowers can instantly change the atmosphere of a room. They are a must-have decorating accessory. Adding a natural element always makes a room seem alive, and fresh flowers are the perfect way to achieve that. They add so many things…a fresh touch, color, and beauty, just to name a few.

Sunflower & Hydrangea Arrangement

Use ACCENT LAMPS to add low lighting.

affordable decor accessories covered books

Accent lamps can be any size, and they work best placed in an out-of-the-way spot in your room. They are perfect for highlighting a corner sitting area, or an end of a room that would otherwise be dark. They are also a great way to add shine and color. Other unexpected places to use accent lamps (if an outlet is close) are in a hallway, on your kitchen counter, on a mantel, or in a bathroom.

Add PLATES to your walls. Mix up colors, sizes, and shapes

affordable decor accessories plates on wall

I have been decorating with plates since my husband and I moved into our first home. My dad helped me install a colonial style plate rail in our dining room soon after we moved in. Not only did I love plates in general, but they were a budget-friendly way to fill a blank wall. Over the years, I have continued hanging plates in almost every room in our home. Use plates to complete a gallery wall, or to flank an architectural feature like bookshelves, or a mantel. My favorite way to hang plates is with wire hangers like {THESE.} They don’t damage the plates, and they are easy to hang with a simple nail.

Tips for an Asymmetrical Plate Wall

Use BOOKS in vignettes to add height and interest.

stack of books and pitcher of tulips

Beautiful books should be displayed, and not hidden away. Use your larger books in coffee table vignettes, and use smaller books to accessorize bookshelves. Leave the book covers alone, or for a more cohesive look, cover several books in the same paper.

Affordable decor accessories: use BOWLS to display natural elements and collections.

pumpkins and bittersweet in ironstone bowl

Bowls fall in the same category as trays and baskets. They help contain a group of items, and they make that group of items more noticeable and cohesive. However, they are a completely different look than a tray, so using bowls instead of a trays adds variety and charm. Bowls are a timeless decor accessory that will never go out of style. My very favorite bowl, pictured above, was a gift many years ago from a good friend. Even though my decor tastes have changed over the years, this bowl is still an integral part of my accessory collection. Investing in a large, neutral bowl, with a transitional style, will be a purchase you will never regret.

Bonus Tips for Affordable Decor Accessories:

  • Mix TEXTURES and COLORS: to give a neutral collection a differ
  • ent look, add wood tones. Another idea is to combine a neutral collection with silver or gold.
  • Clear the clutter: your decor accessories will display better if they are featured in a tidy area. Clear the clutter out of your spaces so your accessories are the star of the show.
  • Add seasonal scents: although not mentioned above, candles make a wonderful decor accessory. It’s an added bonus if the candles are scented!

faux greenery eucalyptus in wood dough bowl on shelf

Sources for Favorite Faux Greenery

Now that you have an abundant list of affordable home accessories, take a look around your home to see what you already have. Then make a short list of items you would like to add. Take it slow, and be patient. You will definitely achieve your own signature style, and you will love where you dwell.

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29 Comments

  1. Barb'ry Allen says:

    Love Pitchers! Recently found and purchased a vintage brass one that is holding Faux Autumn Leaves. I love items that have a duel purpose, serving ice cold lemonade or holding a bouquet of flowers. Keep the inspiring ideas coming Ann!

  2. Dear Ann,
    I love every one of your photos today. I have used some of these ideas already but, want to do my two white bookcases over without books and items that are there now. I want a more light and airy feeling and love to shop your Amazon site!
    Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home, DIY, and remodels!

  3. Lynne Ferguson says:

    Hello Ann, Greetings from New Zealand. I had never purchased faux flowers before, but I found some gorgeous hydrangeas recently, that are silk, and they are so real looking. They take me back to my childhood, when my Grandmother had them. Do you think it is ok to have faux flowers? I feel a bit guilty for some reason. Like there is something wrong with using something that is fake. Your thoughts would be appreciated, thank you. I do love them, and I will display them, but there is still that feeling…

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Lynne…there is absolutely nothing wrong with using faux flowers. If you love them, and they remind you of someone you love, use them and don’t feel guilty! One way to make faux flowers look more real is to mix them with something fresh…like eucalyptus or any kind of greenery. Enjoy!

  4. 5 stars
    Ann,
    I really enjoyed your five top posts. Your home is so appealing and inviting. Simple designs with a ton of personality and style.
    Thank you for always providing inspiration.
    Karen

  5. Linda Mittleider says:

    Great post. Wonderful ideas.
    I would like to see a post of just the many different ways you have arranged the shelves in the dining room. Those in this post are great…but I want to see more.
    Thanks

  6. Great post; and what I liked the most was we really don’t need to go out and buy a lot to upgrade our homes. We already have a lot of these things. Rearranging them, dragging them out of closets, making a seasonal vignette only takes a bit of thought and time! We can impress the rest of our family without breaking the budget. I love to thrift and often find treasures at a fraction of the original price or are improved with a bit of paint, a ribbon, or just a good scrub!

  7. Hi Ann,
    I never get tired of anything you say! A wanted to let you know that I ordered the set of 3 baskets from your Amazon site. My daughter and I love them! Thank you for featuring some of your favorite things!

  8. Marsha Daubenmire says:

    I love all your great ideas.

    I especially love the round coffee table. Could you tell me where
    that came from?

    Thanks,
    Marsha

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Marsha! I added a link to the post. Thank you!

  9. Awesome ideas. I have been following you for quite awhile and Surprise!!! I have mostly everyone of your ideas in my house.😀Imitation is a great form of flattery.
    Thank you for all your ideas.

  10. I enjoyed browsing your list of decor accessories. I loved every bowl you offered shopping links to purchase and was anxious to shop… I was disappointed to find how expensive they are…certainly not my kind of affordable!

    1. Ann Drake says:

      Hi Judith…I’m sorry you were disappointed. I included bowls that started at around $40 and went up from there. A large bowl is an investment for sure, which is why I chose neutral colors. It’s something you can use and enjoy for a lifetime. Thank you!

  11. Cecilia from Georgia says:

    I love your blog with so many ideas and tips that help utilize items I already have stuck in cabinets. Your are the bomb when it comes to decorating bookshelves! Your home is lovely.

  12. What a fabulous list, Ann! I’m a big fan of trays too!! And of pretty much everything on your list… :-)

  13. Marian Pendleton Medine says:

    Can you tell me where you purchased your tufted wing back chairs?

  14. Glenda Shottland says:

    Thanks again, Anne for some great tips. I love plates as well!
    Glenda Shottland

  15. Love all of the above.I always shop my home, you never know how little changes can make a room new again.

  16. shelly bartz says:

    Hello!
    I loved this ! The pics are all so pretty and motivating! May o ask where you got the baskets? I esp love the one on your shelves . Do you have links to these?

    Thank you!

  17. Carol Heartfelt Whimsies says:

    5 stars
    Always love seeing your beautiful home and all the inviting decor vignettes you create! Great tips!

  18. Kerri Tillquist says:

    Ann,
    I want to share another use for Table Runners… years ago i was searching for Fabric for a Valance for over my large kitchen window. When walking thru Pottery Barn, i found the Perfect fabric design on a Table Runner. I took the runner and added clips to it and used it as the Valance! I had SO many comments over the years- I started buying beautiful runners post season to save money, and rotated various ones every season. Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma always have post season ones marked down, which take no alterations to hang as a valance for any room.

    1. Ann Drake says:

      This is such a good idea…thank you so much for taking the time to share!

  19. Christine says:

    Thank you Ann for your continued posts and simple but refreshing ideas. I was wondering where you purchased the navy and white lamp featured in the above article. Have a perfect spot for it in my home.
    Christine.

  20. Love all these ideas! We have just moved and, even though most of these ideas I use all the time, it’s helpful to have the reminders.

  21. Laure Schaerr says:

    Thanks Ann for a very practical, beautiful post. I’m excited to implement some of these ideas into our home.

  22. Great. Great ideas. We need to learn to use what we have. That is an art in itself.

    Thanks Ann

    Sandi