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5 Amazing Decor Essentials for Your Space – Part I

Feb 19, 2019 | Designer's Picks, Home Improvement, Home Tips

With an indefinite amount of uniquely designed pieces to choose from, shopping Decor and Accessories has become a tedious task, especially if you’re trying to include just the essentials and keep your space free of clutter. Having the perfectly decorated interior is about mixing things up and buying items that are visually appealing as well as functional.  

In Part I of this two-part series, we’ve compiled a list of the most essential décor pieces and accessories that will help you get started on revamping your space. At the end of the article, we’ve also got a downloadable checklist of décor essentials that will help you personalize your space like a professional interior designer.  

Here are the five amazing décor essentials that you’ll want to get your hands on:  

 

1. A Bench 

 

Probably one of the most versatile décor creations of the industry, benches deserve to be on this list not only for their visual contribution but also for their exceptional functionality. In addition to being used as extra seating, a bench can be used as a side table or as a footrest. They can be placed in entryways, in bedrooms at the foot of a bed and in dining rooms as seating to complement the table.  

Once you’re convinced that you need a bench, you’ll need to find the right one for your space. From leather covered ones to intricately detailed fabric benches, the Mercana Marketplace is home to hundreds of designs that we’re sure you’ll love. Check them out here.  

 

 

2. Statement Lighting  

 

Believe it or not, the right kind of lighting makes a significant difference in the way people perceive a room. Your room may be decorated to perfection, but a missing light will take away from its beauty. When determining lighting options for a room, make sure you have at least one statement piece. For example, a living or dining room could use a striking chandelier – one that not only provides ambient lighting but is also an instant conversation starter.   

Statement pieces need not always be large hanging chandeliers. A uniquely designed, exceptionally crafted pendant light or wall sconce can be just as impactful as a chandelier.  

Need one? Find the right statement piece for your home, here.    

 

3. A Tray 

 

A tray is a great investment for any room of the house. In addition to moving multiple items around conveniently, a tray can be used to confine similar décor items or small succulents on a table or flat surface for an organized look. If you have an entryway table, keeping a tray atop one of those for keys and spare quarters can be a game-changer.   

Ranging from industrially inspired to hand-crafted jute-lined trays, we’ve got hundreds of stunning options to choose from on the Mercana marketplace. Find the perfect one for your home, here. 

 

4. Books 

 

If we look hard enough, we’ve got so many books lying around – books from our childhood, ones from when we were still in school and those that we received as gifts. Gathering these books and using them as decorative pieces will help you add a touch of ‘you’ to your space. Place your favorite books on coffee tables, shelves, and display units, so you and your guests have something to flip through if you’re bored.  

Wondering how to use books as decor items? Pair them with bookends or store them in magazine racks that align with your home's design style. Visit the Mercana marketplace to view our vast collection of bookends and magazine racks to showcase your favorite reads.  

 

5. Curtains and Drapes 

 

Curtains and drapes may not be the number one décor item you’d think of investing in but in our opinion, appropriate curtains, blinds or drapes are the difference between a personalized space and an unfinished room. Whatever your style, we recommend choosing curtains, drapes, blinds or shades for your windows before you set out to buy any décor pieces or accessories.    

If you’re falling short of inspiration and ideas for your windows, check out these posts on Pinterest that may help you find the perfect curtain or shade for your windows.   

 

Now that you’ve got an idea of what must be prioritized in terms of décor items, we’ve got a little something for you to help you keep track of your purchases – A Checklist!  

The Mercana Team has put together a handy checklist to help you plan out your purchases to perfection. Scroll below to download a free, printable version of the Decor Essentials Checklist!Click here 

Want more décor inspiration? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for your daily dose of interior décor inspiration and don't forget to watch out for Part 2 of this series coming out on Thursday, February 21.  

Decor Essentials Checklist

In association with some of our long-term clients, the Sales and Merchandising team at Mercana have put together a checklist exclusively for you - one that will help buy the right decor pieces, in the right quantities.

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The short answer

Neither shape is better on its own; the right one depends on your seating layout, your traffic flow and how you use the room. A round coffee table suits compact rooms, sectionals and busy households, while a rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa and rooms that need extra surface.

Shape is one of the first decisions our design team makes when a coffee table moves from sketch to sample, because it sets how a seating group feels and functions. Below is how we think it through, and how designers and stagers can apply it to a real floor plan.

 

  • When a round coffee table works best

    Choose round when the room needs softness, easy movement or a centre point for seating on several sides.

    • Sectionals and L-shaped seating. A circle reaches every seat equally, so no one sits facing a corner.
    • Compact or square rooms. With no corners to walk around, a round top keeps pathways open in condos, dens and reading nooks.
    • Busy households. Rounded edges are kinder to shins in high-traffic rooms.
    • Rooms full of straight lines. A circle breaks up a rectilinear sofa, rug and media console.

    The Shima Round Coffee Table brings this idea to a generous 45-inch circle in solid wood, with arched cut-out legs that keep the base visually light. For a smaller footprint with natural stone, the Rumer Coffee Table sets a 36-inch round of veined white marble on dark brown hardwood legs.

When a rectangular coffee table works best

Choose rectangular when a long sofa anchors the room or when the table has to work hard.

  • A standard three-seat sofa. A rectangle echoes the sofa's length, so every seat can reach the surface.
  • Long, narrow living rooms. The shape follows the room's proportions instead of fighting them.
  • Function first. More usable surface for trays, books, games and serving, plus room for shelves or storage below.
  • Formal or symmetrical plans. A rectangle reads as structured and balanced, ideal for facing sofas.

The Tabor Coffee Table wraps recycled pine in a black oak veneer waterfall frame for a clean, architectural rectangle. For collectors, the Arelius Rectangular Display Coffee Table pairs a glass-topped shadowbox with a black metal base, turning the centre of the room into a place to show treasured objects.

Oval and square: the in-between shapes

If you want the reach of a rectangle with the ease of a circle, choose oval; if your seating forms a square, choose square.

Oval gives a long sofa full coverage while removing the corners, which makes it a strong choice for families and tight walkways. The Shima Oval Coffee Table measures 48 by 28 inches in solid mango wood and arrives fully assembled. The Terra Oval Coffee Table adds a fluted base that conceals a lift top and storage.

Square suits a deep sectional or four chairs arranged around a central table. At 48 inches square with a 3-inch reclaimed wood top, the McArthur Coffee Table anchors large seating groups. The Lucas Coffee Table scales white marble down to 30 inches square for condos and paired-chair corners.

Sizing and clearance guidelines

Whatever the shape, scale matters more than style: a well-sized table makes a seating group feel intentional.

Guideline

Rule of thumb

Length (rectangular or oval)

About two-thirds the length of the sofa

Diameter (round)

About half to two-thirds of the sofa length; larger for a sectional's corner

Distance from seating

14 to 18 inches, close enough to reach a cup

Height

Level with the seat cushion or 1 to 2 inches lower

Walkways around the table

30 to 36 inches where people pass

When a room is between sizes, a round or oval table usually gives back more circulation space than a rectangle of the same surface area.

Pairing shape and material with your sofa

Contrast is the simplest rule: pair a heavy, square-armed sofa with a softer shape, and a curved sofa with cleaner lines.

With a dark brown or leather sofa, avoid matching the tone exactly. White marble, light wood or a metal base adds the contrast that keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy. The Rumer and Lucas coffee tables both bring white marble into that palette.

Is marble still in style? Yes. Natural stone continues to anchor both modern and transitional rooms, and veining means no two tops are alike. Look for surface-tested finishes if the table will see daily cups and glasses.

With a light or curved sofa, a darker table in wood or blackened metal grounds the room, and an oval or rectangle adds structure.

Explore the collection

Browse Mercana coffee tables in round, oval, square and rectangular shapes, across Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Transitional, Industrial and Farmhouse styles. Each piece is designed in-house and specified with full dimensions, materials and clearance details.

For interior designers, stagers and retailers: register for a trade account to view wholesale pricing and availability. Shopping for your own home? Find a Mercana retailer near you.

Is it better to have a round or rectangular coffee table?

Round is better for sectionals, compact rooms and high-traffic homes. Rectangular is better for a long sofa, narrow rooms and when you need more surface or storage.

Does a round coffee table work with an L-shaped sectional?

Yes. A round table reaches every seat in an L-shaped layout and leaves an open path around the corner.

What size coffee table do I need?

Aim for about two-thirds the length of your sofa, 14 to 18 inches from the seat, and level with or slightly below the cushion height.

What coffee table goes with a dark brown sofa?

Choose contrast: white marble, light wood or a metal base keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy.

Is an oval coffee table a good compromise?

Yes. An oval offers the reach of a rectangle along a long sofa without hard corners.

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