Accent furniture commands a special place in the home—and is prized by many home enthusiasts. The category runs the gamut from right-sized performance pieces that solve a problem—an étagère that tucks perfectly into a small reading nook, for instance—to the love-at-first-sight antique chest that simply calls to you: “I must be yours.”
Accent furniture is favored for its versatility, as any creative home decorator knows. Consider the end table that can double as a nightstand. The storage ottoman that conceals bedding textiles. Or, an upholstered bench, which can move from the foot of the master bed to the family room for extra seating when entertaining guests.
Upholstered benches, in fact, are especially popular right now, according to Liz Marusin, interior designer and owner of
Asparagus Interiors.
“Clients are asking for upholstered benches and high-back settees for entryways,” she said. “These pieces are inviting and cozy. Both upholstered pieces can be treated to fun patterns, bright colors and a soft finish. Settees invite guests to congregate, and they let guests know they’re welcome.”
Other popular accent furniture solutions that are winning favor today:
Console Tables
They stand higher than their matching mates, the end table and the cocktail table. Because of this, console tables can be used in more places throughout the home. For starters, try behind the sofa in a great room or open-plan family room. A console table is a smart TV stand in the master bedroom, where you need a media solution that will clear the height of the footboard. Or, there’s the statement console table— perhaps it has an ornate finish or elaborate carvings—which earns it a rightful place in the foyer or entryway.
Laptop Desks
The popularity of
laptops and tablets has turned the writing table into the new furniture standard for work-at-home professionals. Unencumbered by excessive cords and boxy equipment, the majority of wireless workers don’t want large-scale furniture solutions that relegate them to one room in the home. Rather, the open and airy design of a writing desk (read laptop desk) allows the at-home worker to
set up shop in the family room, living room or great room.
Ornate
Just as an upholstered chair, rather than the sofa or sectional, is where the homeowner is more daring with pattern and color, so, too, does accent furniture allow for more creative expression. Elaborate finishes, detailed carvings, unexpected color, surprising scale, one-of-a-kind markings, and provenance can make an ornate conversation piece just that…the talk of the room.
Extra Storage
Any accent furniture piece that offers extra storage is prized above others. Even an extra shelf on an end table (which can easily double as a nightstand in an eclectic bedroom!) can make a difference in a living room, where the homeowner may want to display multiple decorative boxes, glass vessels or stacks of design books.
Designer Tip
When it comes to occasional tables—end, cocktail and console tables—mix it up, according to Marusin. “These accent pieces add to the layers of color, shape and style in a room,” she added. “Mixed side tables allow your space to be influenced by different design styles, without stealing the show.”
