Accessories are what turn a bland bedroom into a designer show piece! Accessorizing your bedroom is a very important aspect in the decorating process. When you buy a new outfit it is greatly enhanced with jewelery, scarves and purses for women and ties or watches for men. A bedroom is no different! You can add character and beauty to a home in many ways just by following a few inexpensive changes.

First off, you must decide on a bedroom theme. Is it a victorian, modern, southwest, traditional or safari style that would suit your personality? Look in magazines, books or the internet to get a flavor of the accessories you would like to see in your home. Purchase accessories that go with the theme and color of your bedroom. Color choices should compliment the main color in the room.

Sometimes you might find that you already have all the accessories that you need but you just need to display them differently. It is recommended to group your accessories in odd numbers rather than even numbers. Different heights and textures are also attractive. For example, a night side table can have a lamp, picture frame and small pot of flowers as a grouping.

Hanging prints or pictures in your bedroom is a great way to make boring walls come to life. But most people dont know how to properly hang wall art. Often times, pictures and artwork are hung too high on the wall giving it an awkward appearance. The rule of thumb is the picture should be hung so that the middle of the picture is at eye level. Art work should be placed no more than five to eight inches above the sofa or seven to ten inches above a table. Try to align pictures in different geometric shapes (vertical, circular, triangular or rectangular groupings) in various sizes for a different effect.

In the bedroom, night tables and bookcases are often found to be too cluttered and full of small knickknacks. Try to vary the size of the shelves vertically for interest. Vary the heights of books with the tallest in the middle. Don't put small books next to tall books. Take off dust covers from books to show their often rich colors. The upper shelves can be used for candles, family pictures, fancy bowls or larger ornaments in odd number groupings of 1, 3 or 5 pieces. You can also mix and match books with ornaments, but make the books the focal point. Don't leave a gap between the ceiling and the top of the bookcase. Place a plant on the top shelf for balance.

Lighting is key in the bedroom. You want to be able to set different moods. You might want subtle lighting for those romantic times, then you will also want bright lighting for getting ready to go to work. Accent a large picture with a spot light to enhance a focal point in a room. Lighting creates ambiance and should coordinate with the theme you want to create. Get creative with an old lamp by adding tassels, beads or decorative finials. Use faux paint or wrap funky fabric around the base to give it a new lift.

Area rugs can define a space and pull a bedroom together. Place furniture completely on the rug for a warmer effect. Area rugs used under a dining room table should be large enough to also accommodate the chairs when fully pulled out.

Use many pillows on the bed as this can add a splash of color in a bedroom. Vary the colors and patterns of the pillows and graduate the sizes from large to small. Pillows are also great on a sofa and will add tremendous character to a dull living room.

Mirrors are great to expand a smaller space. Try leaning a tall mirror behind a bed as a head board for a dramatic look! These mirrors can be five to six feet tall. It has an amazing effect!

You can give your master bedroom attached bath a spa appeal by placing clear glass bowls filled with colored soaps, bath salts or bubble bath beads on the bathroom counter. Candles are also nice on a bathtub. Low lighting with lit candles will sooth all your troubles away!

Have fun trying out new things. Shop around for different accessories for your bedroom. Try antique stores, consignment shops or flea markets for ideas. There are many craft books available that you can also explore. First impressions are lasting. Do not mix beautiful furniture with cheap accessories. Accessories can make or break the ambiance of your home. Be creative and trust your instincts!