Splish Splash: it’s time to update the bath!

Photo: Pottery Barn Kids.

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida

We’ve all had one. A bathroom in our home that we try to ignore.

It’s the one that was left until last to renovate and the day never came. Or you moved into a home that had builder grade everything and you just never got around to ripping out that huge mirror and long bar of big glass lightbulbs that top it off. Or maybe you moved into a new home years ago and it’s time for a major bathroom refresh.

What I’ve learned from helping interior decorating clients in the Southwest Florida area for the last 20 years, is that bathrooms are often the last in line for attention. Like laundry rooms. But the truth is this: if you aren’t ready for a complete top to bottom renovation, there is a lot you can do to give this (important) room a mini redo. Whether it’s a primary bath, kid’s bath, guest bath or powder room. Here are a few of my tips from the small-on-a-budget bathroom refresh to more of an investment, depending on your time and budget.

Bathroom redux: from drab to fabulous

There was a time when the bathroom was the most unmentioned room in the home. No longer. Today, bathrooms, as much as any room in house, reflect the style of the owners. It’s the most personal space in your home. It’s typically the smallest room and yet you begin and end your day in your bathroom. Next to the kitchen, it’s the most important room in the home.

Have some fun with your bath makeover with this jelly fish bloom wall covering from Thibaut Design’s summer house collection. Photo: Thibaut Design.

And honestly, it’s the most fun room to redo and with a little creativity, it can be spectacular!

Come up with a plan

If you have a bath that you’ve been thinking about redoing, you first need to come up with a plan and answer a few questions.

How long do you plan to stay in your home?

Are you planning to sell soon?

Will you be in your home for 10 years or more?

These are important questions and will help you decide the following:

What is your budget?

Does your bathroom need a little refreshing? Maybe just new hardware? Or a complete makeover?

Think about these questions and consider the following tips for your own personal situation.

Quick refresh

This is a quick mini redo and can be done on a weekend. It will make the room pretty and you will be much happier with the space.

Wall treatments and accessories play a huge part in a bath refresh. From Serena and Lily, Sealife wallpaper sets a coastal tone in blue and white with a Larchmont rattan mirror. The look is comp-leted with two raffia wave sconces. Photo: Serena and Lily.

What to do: Paint the room or wallpaper. This is a game changer that will transform your bath. For something different, paint the walls a bright white, paint the ceiling a blue and accessorize with sea glass colors. Recommendation: Benjamin Moore’s Aura® Bath & Spa paint. It’s mildew-resistant and is Low VOC/ low odor so you can return to using your room quickly.

But there’s more: If you have a large (outdated) mirror across the vanity, remove it and hang a single mirror (or mirrors, depending upon the size). If it’s not possible to remove the mirror, frame it. My favorite go-to source to make a large mirror look better is mirrormate.com. Simply measure, order a custom frame and install it over the mirror. Easy.

Finishing touches: New rug, yes a rug, not the small bath mats, new shower curtain, new piece of artwork, update accessories on countertops (but not too many), repair caulking and have tile and caulking cleaned. Purchase a set of hotel-style bath towels. Add candles or aromatherapy and you are all set to enjoy. Welcome to your new bathroom.

Bathroom makeover

Beautiful Pottery Barn Miller double sink vanity made of mango wood with shaker fronts gives the look of a custom built-in. Accented with pops of matte black in drawer pulls, widespread faucets and mirrors for a modern edge. Top is white quartz. Photo: Pottery Barn

Maybe you have builder’s grade finishes and fixtures. Or perhaps you are planning to sell your home in a couple of years. You don’t want to go overboard but it’s time to spiff it up for eventual resale and for your enjoyment until that time comes. Remember: When it comes to resale, a bathroom gives a potential seller a hint about the condition of the rest of the home.

What to do: Depending upon budget, replace flooring, vanity, lighting, countertops, mirror, hardware, faucets, showerheads, hand shower (kids and pets, not to mention cleaning) light fixtures, tile around tub and shower. Paint walls and trim or add wallpaper. Replace showerhead. Replace toilets if needed. If possible, leave all plumbing in place to avoid additional expense. You are replacing what currently exists with all new and upgraded.

Extras: Again, depending upon budget. Floor to ceiling glass-enclosed shower (makes the room look larger). Freestanding bathtub is an option is space permits. White quartz countertops. Shimmering tiles as accent around tub and shower. New sinks. Artwork. Fan or ceiling light fixture. Accessories. Plants.

Finishing touches: Incorporate a piece of furniture such as a chair, vintage cabinet for storage or basket of shells on the floor. There is no limit to what is available on the market and your decorator or designer can help you select every element for the style that you select.

Quick tips and trends

Take a photo of the room before you begin and look at it with an open mind.

Make a vision board as you decide on walls and sources.

Frameless mirrors are a huge trend and offer a minimalist look.

If vanity is still good, paint it a color.

Add feet to a basic vanity to update the look.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on vanity lighting.

Black fixtures are having a big moment. Proceed with caution. Will you love it in 10 years?

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. Based in Bonita Springs with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and color palettes. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Love your home again: decorating ideas from the heart

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network Feb. 4, 2024

There’s a pretty townhome in Notting Hill with a bright pink door and a window just above that says “Love.” I read about it in a travel article and on my last trip to London, tracked it down because I will do just about anything to see a home so loved that its owners would install this window. And there it was. Just a simple window with a huge message to anyone walking by.

In a time when we need more love more than ever, we find ourselves welcoming February, a month that’s all about hearts, love and showing a little extra kindness to others, ourselves and to our homes. With the holidays well behind us, it’s the perfect time to make a few changes to make you love your home again. And to do that by refreshing some spaces in your home.

Our homes are our sanctuary. A place that we return to shake off the day and find peace and comfort. It’s also a good time to think about what your home means to you. Is it a place to pass through and sleep with a busy schedule that keeps you on the run? Is it your happy place surrounded by things that you love? A place of love, warmth and happy memories?

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I help my clients decide what is most important and how to best create a space that makes them love their home the minute they open the door. No two homes are the same and the relationship with our homes can be complicated. With some thought and a solid plan, you can soon be on your way to creating a home that you love and one that’s in step with your lifestyle.

Throw a teddy faux fur heart-shaped pillow on Pottery Barn’s curved silhouette swivel to round out any space. Photo: Pottery Barn

Love really is the operative word when you refresh. Love what you surround yourself with. Love it or don’t buy it. If you don’t love it, donate it.

Four rules to keep in mind to love your home again

Find your inspiration. Is it a new color, light, mirror, piece of furniture? If you need a change but don’t know where to begin, it may be time to call a professional to help.

Classics never go out of style. Trends some and go and can be fun to sprinkle here and there but you can’t go wrong with the classics.

Stop scrolling. I call this one “facebook envy.” We are bombarded daily with the latest and greatest, most gorgeous ideas for our homes. Before you go off the deep end making a pile of changes, take a deep breath and think about what really matters. To you. No one else.

Purchase mindfully. Before you buy, think carefully about what would make you love your space. Do your research, go on a few shopping trips to look. Take your time. And take photos.

Refresh old pendants with something fresh and new. Shown: Scallop rattan suspended from an antique bracelet chain. Photo: Serena and Lily

A few ways to give your home a loving refresh!

• Make home repairs that you have been putting off.

• Set a pretty table.

• Give your entry a new look with a dramatic color.

• Paint your front door.

• Wallpaper a powder room. Something outrageously beautiful.

• Add some sparkle: a chandelier in the living room or bedroom (you really don’t need a ceiling fan in every room in the house). Or hang one in the master closet. It will make you happy every time you walk in.

• Soften the harsh, recessed lighting in the kitchen with a lamp on the counter or island. You won’t believe the change.

February, a month that’s all about hearts, love and showing a little extra kindness to others, ourselves and to our homes. Shown: Benjamin Moore’s Valentine color favorites. Photo: Benjamin Moore

• Hang something colorful in your laundry room.

• Change your drapes or drapery panels over the sliders. Make sure you hang them high: just below the ceiling or molding.

• Delete what is no longer working in your home. I do this seasonally as things do tend to accumulate no matter how hard we try.

• Add a little glam to each room: a tufted sofa or a chaise lounge. Pick a color that you love. Or a new mirror or a few glass accessories for some sparkle.

• Want color but afraid to commit to an entire room? Fine. Paint the ceiling that color that you have always wanted to try. Yes, the ceiling!

• Create a gallery-style wall with your favorite art.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces, color palettes and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Selling a home? Design tips to close the deal

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network August 5, 2023

The weather and real estate seem to be the current hot topics in Southwest Florida.

With many homeowners preparing to sell or buy, even in this uncertain market, everyone wants to sell fast and that means doing a little work to make homes attractive to buyers. And to get top dollar.

Candice Olson-designed living room is neutral, uncluttered and allows buyers to visualize living in the space. Shown: Denison chairs, Deal sofa, Cuddle Up ottomans, Jemson coffee table. Photo: Candice Olson for Kravet

As a Bonita Springs-based interior decorator, I work with sellers all over our area to prepare their homes for resale. This involves ensuring that from the moment a prospective buyer enters the front door, they can envision their life in your home. To say that you only get one chance to make a first impression is an understatement when it comes to capturing a buyer’s attention.

Whether you’re selling now or in the future. Or if you just want to refresh your home until you do sell it down the road, you may find a few of these tips useful.

My go-to real estate professional, Gina Goodrich with Cypress Realty, has 24 years of experience working with clients to get their homes ready to sell. And she has a unique approach. I asked her to share her thoughts from a realtor’s perspective.

Goodrich suggests that you tour your exterior and interior as a buyer would and ask yourself: If you were the buyer, what do you see? A few of her questions to ask yourself:

Make sure to style a beautiful and inviting entry that says “welcome home” to buyers who preview your home. Photo: Pottery Barn.

• Is it clean, maintained, updated, neutral and spacious?

• Make sure garbage, trash, pet foods and refrigerator are all free of odors. Don't mask odors with air fresheners. Buyers will notice. Clean with fresh scents.

• Is it tidy, organized and functional in all rooms and spaces? A buyer should easily be able to navigate through the home and evaluate their potential lifestyle becoming reality.

• Less is more. Clear counters and floors. Take up throw rugs, excess towels, furnishings, knick-knacks, photos, collections and any unnecessary items. Remove trash cans, pet bowls and waste receptacles.

• Clean the garage. Not fun but they will look.

• When they pull up to your home you want them to be excited versus hesitating with disappointment. This feeling should continue as they enter each room. The longer they linger, the more likely they are considering. And that’s the goal!

When helping a client prepare a home for resale, I use a checklist that includes the following:

• Clean the house like company is coming (it is). And wash the windows. Inside and out. As Gina Goodrich says, “Make it sparkle.”

• Declutter. You will be moving anyway. Do it now. Clear out as much space as possible. This includes closets and cabinets! And clear everything off the kitchen counters except for a bouquet of fresh flowers.

• Put the toilet seats down. This should not have to be said, but it happens all the time.

• Depersonalize the house. The animal heads hanging on the walls from a safari may have special meaning to a homeowner but may offend a possible buyer. Remember: the buyer wants to visualize their own stuff in your space and this is easier to do if yours is not taking up space.

• Remember how it feels to walk into a model home? You can visualize your furniture, in the space because it's not stuffed. If you have too much furniture or it is too heavy and bulky, you may want to put some in storage or even style the main living areas with pieces that show off the space.

• Lighten up. Say goodbye to the heavy window treatments. Let the buyer see your home by bringing in light. At the least, if your drapes are heavy and dated, just take them down.

• Paint baseboards and window sills. Get rid of scuff marks and give the room a fresh look. Something good to do even if you are staying in your home.

• Faux finishes and murals may be great for your tastes but the thought of redoing these may make the buyer run the other way.

• Make sure the baths are squeaky clean. There is nothing worse than looking at a home with dated bathrooms. And this is the room that you may need to repaint. If the tub and shower are looking a little dated, hang a bright new shower curtain and invest in new rugs and towels.

• Tuscan is out. It’s worth the investment to have a designer help you with ways to minimize this outdated look that is no longer popular.

• Remove all fake plants and replace with a few real ones. Or at least remove all fake plants. Please.

Wrenda Goodwyn is an ASID associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit her blog at spectacularspaces.com/blog

Tips for a joyful holiday home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Dec. 4, 2021

Don’t you love it when someone reminds you that Christmas is only 21 days away?

It’s true. And this year, from what I can tell, we are making our homes more festive than ever. Maybe trying to make up for the last two holiday seasons where we were all feeling less like celebrating.

Set a pretty table vignette that you can leave up during the holiday season. Keep it simple with fresh flowers, greenery and a few timeless table decorations that you will enjoy each Christmas for years to come. Photo: The Riviera Collection from Serena & Lily.

Decorating my home for the holidays is one of my favorite things. I think it really is the most wonderful time of year and that we should create an environment that brings us joy. And each year is different. And it should be less like work and more like fun.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I tell my clients not to be pressured by magazine photos or Hallmark Christmas movies where homes are decked out from ceiling to floor with every square inch stuffed with something red and green. You will not be happy.

Instead, decorate mindfully. Try to find that perfect balance that is just enough and not too much.

My process for holiday decorating is to put something in each room. A small table tree. Wrapped presents. Fresh flowers. Ornaments in a glass bowl. Holiday music. Then I go back and see if I need or want more. Hardly ever.

A tray with greenery, candles and some favorite holiday ornaments makes a pretty vignette for dining or coffee table. Photo: Pottery Barn.

Keep it simple.

If it’s not too late, don’t go crazy with the decorating. Remember: it all has to come down and it gets stored in a few weeks.

Use what you have.

Skip a year of buying anything new and go with what you already have. Rearrange and find new ways of displaying your decorations. Put the tree in a different room. Use a different color for your lights. Decorate the kitchen pendants with greenery and ribbons. Mix real scented candles with faux.

Think timeless.

Just as with any purchase for your home, when adding new declarations go for items that are timeless that you will use for several years to come.

Start at the front door.

A new holiday welcome mat sets the tone. I have clients who paint their front door red for the holidays. Why not? Happy, easy and fun. A wreath for the door. Twinkling lights go a long way toward holiday happiness and they are inexpensive so use them generously. Potted plants at the door.

Set a pretty table.

Even if you’re not having guests this year. Create a beautiful vignette for the holidays. A few small trees down the center, garland garnished with your favorite ornaments. Colorful placemats and napkins. I like white plates that I can use all year with any color and at Christmas, I pull out the red napkins and runner. I try to change that color each year depending on my decorations.

Set a pretty table for the holidays with colorful placemats and napkins. Photo: Pottery Barn.

If you don’t have a fireplace mantle.

Create a similar vignette on a couple of bookshelves with items that you already have and a few lights. You can also hang stockings from a shelf.

If you don’t have plans for a tree this year.

No problem. Hang a few ornaments from mirrors, doorways, stair rails. Or arrange a collection of trees (bottle brush trees are popular this year in all colors) on a mantle or desk.

Chair wreaths for your dining chairs.

Or barstools. These are so much fun. You will need small wreathes, ribbon and a few ornaments that you already have on hand. OR you can hang stocking on the back of each chair. If you are like me, you have lots of those stored away.

A tree in every room.

This is my favorite and if this is all you do, it’s enough. Start with your entry table (collection of small trees and greenery), office (medium on desk), each bathroom (small), living room (large), bedrooms and kitchen (as space permits). You can coordinate colors and design with each room OR you can put a small, green tree with a bow in each room. Some can have lights, decorations, or not. Last year I discovered pencil trees and they allow for lights and decorations and also fit into space-saving corners. Don’t forget the lanai or porch.

Don’t forget yourself.

A little something in each room. For the bedroom, fresh greenery, a wreath and a wrapped package. And don’t forget fresh, new linens to sink into at the end of a long day. Easy and pretty. Décor and furnishing from Ballard Designs. Photo: Ballard Designs.

This is a perfect month to invest into new linens for your bed. Sheets, a few new pillows, a throw. Then enjoy relaxing into a blissful bed at the end of day of holiday fun.

However you decorate your home this holiday season, let it be enough and enjoy every moment. This is my last column for 2021. See you in 2022. Merry Christmas!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

You've Got (design) Style!

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • Aug. 21, 2021

What’s your interior design style?

We all know that the interior of our homes impacts our mood, work, health and how we react to others. And nothing is more important than the style of your home and the way it makes you feel when you walk in the door.

This room styled by Pottery Barn has a mix of farmhouse, coastal and a little boho style. Pearce roll-up arm, upholstery, chase sectional; farmhouse end and coffee tables; a sprinkling of accessories and artwork. www.potterybarn.com

As a Fort Myers interior decorator, I tell my clients to select a design style that they can afford and one that suits their lifestyle. It’s often not quite as simple as it sounds. That’s why I want to share a few tips.

Before meeting with a new client, I have them answer a few questions. I give them a list of styles and ask them to pick the ones that describe their current decorating scheme. And I ask what style they would like to see in their home.

Some homeowners know their style and others only know what they don’t like (which is fine). Some tell me they have no style and they need help finding one (also fine).

Most of us hold on to our style and don’t change it over the years unless we are making a major change like downsizing or moving to a completely different part of the country. Even then we tend to take our style with us because it’s what gives us comfort in our homes. My own look in my home style is coastal with a lot of primitive pieces incorporated into the mix.

Why should you know your style?

Well, you don’t have to know your style but it will help keep you on track and eliminate expensive mistakes. It’s about making smart choices. And it’s a good guideline.

It takes time to curate your own style so have patience and have fun with the process.

I look at it like this: would you go into a clothing store and randomly begin to try on clothes without any thought whatsoever as to what would look best on your body type? Not likely.

And you would not begin putting a room together without giving some though as to what you like and what works with the layout of the home. Unless you want to end up with a hodgepodge of stuff. Not a good idea.

What do we mean by “design style?”

The short answer: features that define your home’s character and create harmony in a particular style that you love.

Hint: most homes have a combination of two styles. Which I find much more interesting than one style. And the best combination of all is the one that mixes old with new pieces.

First steps

Take a look at your furniture. See any patterns?

Notice what you really love and what can be eliminated.

Look for common characteristics: color, shape, materials.

Visit model homes. Here, designer’s follow a specific style throughout the home. Take notes.

Look at furniture showrooms. But don’t let the salesperson decide your style.

Create a vignette with magazine photos or digitally. Visualizing helps determine what you like.

If the various styles have you a bit confused, this is a very brief summary of a few. There are many more.

Transitional

This style is a “happy medium.” A mix of traditional and contemporary design. Here you have the freedom to mix and match styles for a cohesive style. It’s a no stress style.

Traditional

From 18th and 19th century England and France, you will see pieces that have stayed true to their period with little change. Velvet, lines, patterned fabrics, glamorous chandeliers, oil paintings, florals.

Modern

Time period is from the early to mid-20th century. Clean lines. Sleek. You won’t find extra embellishments and generally has a more neutral color palette with bold pops of color. No fuss. Clean lines, geometric form, clear spaces, function and storage. Love the 50’s and 60’s? This is your style.

Contemporary

Always changing and a bit hard to describe because it’s what is happening “now” in interior design. It borrows from current styles and trends without focusing on any one particular style.

Coastal

Reflects the natural environment and brings it indoors. Uses neutrals with blues and greens (jewel/sea glass tones). The indoors extends into the outdoors enlarging the living space. Minimal window treatments. Jute, wicker, indoor plants. Bright and breezy.

Eclectic

Eclectic rooms could be filled with iconic pieces from just about every style, and when done correctly, it can work together. Somewhat tricky to pull off but when it does, it is cozy, interesting and reflects the homeowner’s interests. Often combines traditional and modern.

Boho

This style is having its moment with a sudden gain in popularity. Maybe it’s reflective about how we are feeling these days. Free spirit meets different cultures for a look that can be spectacular and fun. Pieces from travels, different cultures, color, and patterns all combine for a totally unconventional and totally fun look. Exotic and layered with bright colors.

Modern Farmhouse

A modern twist on rustic. You know this style if you have watched the HGTV show Fixer Upper. It takes salvaged objects and puts them together in a modern way. Sleek lighting, wide plank flooring combine with blues, greens, lots of black are used to design a comfortable style. Think rustic yet refined with a little traditional.

Minimalist

This one is last for a reason. I rarely see it. For all the talk about minimalism, most homeowners are reluctant to part with their “stuff” to create an uncomplicated, clean and simple design. And I must admit, it takes a lot to pull it off for everyday living. Japanese-inspired, empty spaces with attention to hidden storage and neutral accents.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solves decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

How to add sparkle to your home with accessories

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • June 5, 2021

Accessories.

Without them, a room is just a box of furniture. They add the sizzle to our homes. Give the room its personality. Tell us about the person who lives there. Accessories are the frosting on the cake. The jewelry in a room. The sparkle. They make the home complete. They bring us joy.

Done well, they make us happy. Done badly, they can look like a hodgepodge of clutter. And there are some ways to make them work for you without a lot of expense and stress. There is a bit of an art to the process which you may find helpful.

Whether you’re a minimalist or a maximalist, have contemporary, coastal, eclectic or traditional décor, there are elements that accessorizing any home all have in common.

As a Fort Myers interior decorator, I go into a lot of homes. Within a few minutes, I usually know a lot about the people who live there. And it’s because of the accessories. Those rare times that I have been into a home and just haven’t been able to get a feel for the people who live there, it’s because they have just moved in and are sorting out their things or they have not yet accessorized.

The use of accessories give this room a light and easy look with tone and textures: plants, baskets, artwork, rug and light fixture. Shown: Summit slipcovered sectional and Anguilla rattan coffee table from Serena and Lily. Photo: Serena and Lilly. www.serenaandlily.com

If you came into my home you will immediately know a lot about me. I love nature, the water, contemporary mixed with vintage, the beach, driftwood, plants, traveling, antique market finds, animals and that I have a lovingly restored, old boat that is the focal point of my lanai. These all bring me joy.

What would your home tell me about you?

What are accessories?

Plants and flowers. Window treatments. Lamps and other lighting. Artwork. Rugs. Baskets, pottery. Mirrors. Collections. Books. Candles. Shells. Pillows. Flea market finds. Antiques. Statement pieces. Objects from your travels. Backsplash. Bath towels. Fixtures. Anything that brings to mind a happy memory.

Where do you accessorize?

Coffee table. Dining table. Walls. Shelves. Bookcases. Fireplace mantle. Desk. On a tray. Outdoor spaces. Even the welcome mat at your front door is an accessory because it says something about you.

Do this first.

Take a walk through your home. Say goodbye to anything that you don’t love. If it’s old and without charm, ugly or something that you don’t like, get rid of it.

Accessories shouldn’t be complicated. The Captiva console in light dune from Serena and Lily makes you want to stay a while with accessories that include a pretty plant, bowl of citrus fruit, pretty barware and a shell. Photo: Serena and Lily. www.serenaandlily.com

Plan to update outdated fixtures such as knobs, handles, drawer pulls. Replace old switch plates.

If budget allows, plan to add crown molding. It makes any room pretty.

Accessorizing tips.

Think quality rather than quantity. Have too many things that you love? Rotate them. Seasonally is a good plan.

Chances are that your best accessories are pieces that you already own.

Use three items. Designers love odd numbers. You can use more than three: five, seven. But you only need three. Example: On a coffee table: a tray, a small plant, and a book or two or three. Add a few shells or glass beads.

Set a pretty table. Put a runner down the middle of your dining table. Add a plant or two, some glass vases. Pretty dishes. Candles. Twigs. Glass beads. Pick three. Or five.

Tablescapes are a great way to accessorize with items that you already have on hand. Shown: Pottery Barn’s Mendocino dinnerware collection, faux Hydrangea, Carolina paisley table runner and rattan placemats. Photo: www.Potterybarn.com

Group like objects together rather than scattering them around the house. They will have more visual impact.

Use large pieces of artwork, especially in Southwest Florida’s open spaces.

Consider colors in the room and add pops of it to your accessories.

Decorating with books? Perfect. Add a few accessories to the shelves.

My favorite accessory tip:

Accessories are the final step in refreshing a room. Be mindful about what you use. Invest the time to curate your own personal collection of accessories. It’s usually not the item that is most important but how you display it. Most important: have fun!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solves decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog