These hardworking decor items are just what every home needs! No matter your decorating style, these seven items are a great investment and are the workhorses of any home.

Okay, I admit, the title of this post might be a bit of an exaggeration, but these versatile items are true workhorses of any home and help create a cozy, lived-in space.  

1. A Large Vase

A large glass vase is a great addition to any room with its simple shape and delicate glass. This could be a hurricane vase, a pickling jar, or even a demijohn.

These vases are so versatile and can be used for fresh flowers, candles, dressed up for the holidays, or even left empty to speak for themselves!

trumeau mirror above entry table flanked by french sconces with demijohn and basket underneath the table
Style Guides

Beautiful Vase Options

2. A Great Table Lamp

Ambient lighting is so important to creating a sense of warmth in a room. A great lamp that looks beautiful during the day and provides cozy light in the evening is a win-win for any home. 

And lighting isn’t just practical, but it also helps to create texture in a room.

TIDBITS&TWINE French style master bedroom

3. A Fabulous Accent Chair

Admittedly, I have a love of chairs, but an accent chair is more than just an additional seat when company arrives. A great chair is not only comfortable, but also tells a story about your style, personality, and taste.

4. A Lush Plant

I am a true believer that no room is complete without the addition of a plant. Plants – whether flowers or foliage – bring a bit of the outdoors in and add an organic feel to our homes.

And if you don’t have much luck keeping them alive, you can check out my favorite faux plants and fake flowers to get a real look but without the upkeep!

Faux fiddle leaf fig in an antique French market basket
Pink roses and white stock centerpiece

5. A Versatile Tray

A hard-working, versatile tray is one thing I can’t do without! Whether corralling dishes for a buffet, bringing snacks to the kids, containing decor on the coffee table, or just looking stylish in the home, a tray is one of those items from which you’ll get your money’s worth.

TIDBITS&TWINE – Christmas Kitchen 2015 with Boxwood, Pomegranates and Oranges
TIDBITS & TWINE Kitchen 2014

6. A Great Basket

Like a tray, a basket’s functionality allows it to serve many different purposes, but above all, it adds texture and an organic touch to any room.

french family room with white slipcovered sectional and french style coffee table with book press on top and large black cabinet against wall
Design Tips
closeup of antique french basket holding a beige pillow and white pom throw on the side of sofa

 7. Beautiful Books

Aside from their literary function, books also create great “filler” in vignettes and work well to add height to other objects.  Plus, they can bring in color and/or texture with their covers and well-loved pages.

french coffee table styled with antique dough bowl full of old books with two brass candlesticks in background
{via Alidad Interiors}
{via Alidad Interiors}

Are there other decor items your home can’t live without?  Let me know!

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23 Comments

  1. Agree and may I add: A great mirror and and a wonderful piece of art work.

  2. I Like the A Versatile Tray Idea, Thnkyou for the ideas.

  3. Kim, as I go back and look at some of your posts, I’m struck with how much I learn from your in-depth explanations and discussion. I always learn from your details. Thanks so much for sharing.

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      HI Barbara – Thank you so much! I am so glad you are enjoying the posts and I really appreciate your reading and commenting! :)

  4. Thanks so much for the great tips, Kim. I think sometimes we forget about some of these.
    Have a great week.
    \Mary

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      I agree! Beautiful!

  5. I agree and have all these elements in my house too! I love, love to decorate and texture is SO important to me. Thanks for the tiops!

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      I’m glad you like this list, Karen!! :)

  6. Candles! I need candles. Love all the other elements you mentioned. They definitely add to one’s decor!

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Candles are a great addition!

  7. Happy to say I have all of these elements!!!

  8. Yay! I think I have it covered! Do you mind sharing where you found that cute round basket tray on your counter?

    XO,
    Jane

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Hi Jane! The round basket is from Pottery Barn, but I saw one almost identical at HomeGoods last week for half the price (it was in the kitchen area of the store, not the decor area).

  9. Thanks for all the tips and the pictures you showed are all gorgeous. It is amazing what one little piece can make a big impact in the room. Thanks for sharing this.
    Kris

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      I’m so glad you liked it, Kris!

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      Marty – I fell in love with that picture with the baskets when I first saw it in the catalog and eventually, purchased one for my home. To this day, it’s still my favorite basket! :)

  10. Yes, most definitely, especially on the books, the plants (green life, even in a long winter!), baskets, and some great prints for the wall. Also, I think that every home with kids should have a real slate blackboard in it. They’re wonderful entertainment and if you’re schooling kids at home, make a great place to work out math problems or sentence diagramming (do kids do that anymore?)

    1. Tidbits&Twine says:

      I don’t have one but now you’ve got me wanting one!!! :)

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