Wall Decor Tricks: Decorating in Threes
Grab a trio of items for a quick and cheap (even free) way to freshen up your decor.

If you're stumped about how to fill a large or small space, such as a bookshelf or an empty wall, three items may add just the charm you need.

Christopher Oquendo
Filling a large, blank wall can be daunting. But when you have that much space, three oversized photographs can do the trick, as designer Suzanne Williams used in an Atlanta condo.
"I think using three accessories on a book shelf or wall art in decorating can make a statement, especially with art," says Perry Walter, owner of Walter Studio Interior Design in Atlanta.
Group several prints in rows of threes to make a impact in a room. For example, in the formal dining room of an Atlanta home, Walter used a trio of framed bird prints to draw the eye upward and create more interest.

Christopher Oquendo
Bye, Bye Boring
Sometimes items are unexpected. Georgia design firm Trinity Mercantile Co. used three vintage Indian cart wheels with iron supports to give an artistic, sculptural touch to a living room.
To give her home the mid-century vibe she wanted, DIY blogger Dena Stormer decorated her metro Atlanta home with retro treasures. She hung license plates, a Chinese checkers board and an old TV screen on the walls of the guest bedroom to create a nostalgic space.

Christopher Oquendo
Another idea is to use stacked books, a framed photo and an accessory to create a bookshelf vignette. When using accessories in groups of three, always have a high-low scale, Walter says. Use one small bowl or decorative object, a medium height item and a tall piece to complete the vignette and make the grouping visually interesting.
On a tabletop, it's best to keep accessories to a height limit so that you don't distract from other design elements in a room, he adds.
Succinct Style
When you items with the same color, play around with textured and smooth surfaces. For example, add flowers to one vase and surround it with two interesting vases in different scales.
In the open shelves above a banquette in her renovated Atlanta Craftsman home, Eryn Houck of Bellwether Design Co. found the recipe for kitchen style with white dishes, often displayed as a trio.

Christopher Oquendo
DIY blogger Alaya Sheardon of Behind the Big Green Door brought a variety of shapes and materials to the walls of her Georgia home by hanging a trio of small circular mirrors beside a larger rectangular one. The wallhangings lend a modern feeling to the room.

Christopher Oquendo
Walter suggests that you work with similar color tones and hues, and then add different shapes to make your decorations pop.
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