11/4/2015

Exhibits in Interiors
Lakshmi A.
Asst. Professor in Architecture
College of Engineering Trivandrum

A space without accessories / exhibits will be as uninteresting as a

book without Capital letters and punctuation marks.
Accessories add meaning, personality and individuality to a room.
Express the owners personality.
Choice of accessories is an individual matter of expression. They
should contribute towards the unity of the room.
Too many exhibits spell confusion and expression.
Accessories may:
1. have specific functions. Eg:- ashtrays, clocks, lamps.
2. be purely decorative. Eg:- pictures, sculptures, mirrors, flower
arrangements.

In both cases the line, shape, colour and texture should harmonise
with the spirit of the room.

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Guidelines for selection and arrangements of accessories

Accessories should be placed at important points in the rooms that the eye is led
to the focal point of interest. By choosing the same colour, shapes or period, the
decorator can create unity in a room.
Accessories need to be related to the furniture or furniture groupings.
Accessories are more interesting if they are not all placed in the same line.
Accessories need to be placed with space between individual items, so that they
can be enjoyed separately while still being part of a unit.
Groups of accessories are more interesting if the shapes and heights are varied.
Too many items of one shape may seem monotonous. For continuity, they should
e arranged so that the eye goes from one to another. However, if grouped
together, each one should have something in common with the rest either size,
shape, material or colour.
They can be enjoyed better if placed against a plain background.
Inexpensive ones can look important if grouped together and displayed well.

1. Books and Magazines

Books and Magazines are not actually accessories, but are
classified as such when used decoratively or in any large
quantities in a room.
Displaying books add depth and character to a room and
reveals the interests of the owner.
Books are often displayed in book shelves with space to
accommodate both tall and short books.

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1. Books and Magazines

Place heavier books in the bottom shelf.
Horizontal and vertical placement for
interest.

When arranged on shelves and tables, books and

magazines form striated patterns that enrich the room.

Group books according to size and colour. Books with same kind of
binding can be used together. This helps to unify the display. Any small
objects that are in the book shelves with the books should complement
each other and provide an attractive setting

2. Clocks
An interesting clock may not only
be a major accessory, but also a
real center of interest.

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2. Clocks
In traditional homes, a tall case or grandfathers clock is an
elegant note.
Clocks that chime have a special appeal for some, whereas
some consider them to be bothersome. However these
should be located away from bed rooms.
Some traditional clocks are extremely elaborate with hand
painted panels and ornate cases. Modern clocks tend
towards severe simplicity.

3. Collections
The collections can be anything ranging from tins, bins, antique pictures, trophies, awards,
newspaper clippings, baskets. Any collection that is arranged in an interesting manner.
The room will have an individual style that reflects the personality and interests of the
owner.
Should be displayed in an organized and significant fashion adding to the appearance of
the room, not distracting it.

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If the collection is inherently beautiful, it can act as the focus of

the room.
The collection should harmonise in colour and form with the room
background.
Can be grouped on walls or tables and shelves designed to display
them. Some interesting ways to display collections:
A small collection in a large picture frame.
A mirror-backed shadow box to display fragile items.
A glass-covered coffee table to arrange shells or butterflies.
An old fashioned barber shop rack to house old mugs.
Place a shelf over a door way.

Collection displayed in a picture frame which holds velvet covered plywood.

3. Collections

Collection displayed over a table

A shelf over a door way

Well-chosen lamps and lighting fixtures are

extremely important in determining the character
of the room.

4. Lamps

Functional aspects should be the primary

consideration. But it is also important that the
designs emphasize the spirit of the room.
For Formal rooms - lamps with certain amount of
elegance. These may be simple, but the colours
and textures should have richness associated with
formal treatment. Fine China, Glass, metals like
chrome, pewter, brass, and rattans are popular for
formal interiors

Brass lamps

Fine China lamps

Rattan lighting for

formal interiors

Chrome fixture.

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4. Lamps
Glass lighting fixtures.

Glass lighting fixtures

can be used both for
formal as well as
informal spaces.

For Informal rooms - lamps that are less

suggestive of luxury.
Materials with more home-spun character such
as wood, pottery, copper and pewter are more
suitable. Certain types of glass and some tole
base are also informal.
Polished woods with lovely colours and grain
patterns, metals, china, pottery, glass and
leather are all used in modern lamps.
When several lamps are chosen for use in the
same room it should harmonise with each
other. It would be monotonous to have all
lamps exactly alike, but there should be some
similarity of expressiveness.
It if often advisable to have all lamp shades of
same colour.

4. Lamps

It is advisable to have all lamp shades of same colour

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5. Mirrors

Space is maximized by a mirrored wall visually expanding the view.

Mirrors are essential in areas like bedrooms and dressing

rooms. In other rooms they are more decorative than
functional.
Increase apparent spaciousness of the area. Hence
suitable for use in small rooms. Sometimes a whole wall
is covered with a mirror to make the room look more
spacious or for decorative purposes.

5. Mirrors
Mirrors vary in quality. Best grades are made
of plate glass, less expensive ones are made of
window glass. In plate-glass mirrors, the
silvered surface of the back is protected with
copper coating, which prevents
discolouration. It is then treated with a coat of
shellac and another coat of protective paint.
Different techniques are available for
decorating mirrors. But these mirrors may
have low reflective qualities.
Designs may be cut or etched into a glass.
Antique finish provides a mottled, aged
appearance.
A tint of some colour in the mirror backing
may be used in decorative mirrors.

Design cut into the glass for decorative purpose.

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5. Mirrors
In modern interiors mirrors are often used without frames. Traditional styles often have a
frame of wood or metal. The girandole mirror popular during the eighteenth century has
holders for candle sticks attached to the frame.

A traditional style mirror with

wooden frame.

Girandole mirror with candle

sticks attached to the frame.

Mirror without frame in a modern

interior

5. Mirrors
Mirrors should be selected with respect to wall area and furniture. Because a mirror is
often placed over a mantel, a couch, a chest, or a table, the size and shape should be
chosen to create a unified grouping that has pleasing spatial relationships.

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6. Pictures
Hanging pictures on the walls is purely a matter of
taste. They are not necessary, but they can add
considerably to the personality of the room.
Following guidelines may be followed while deciding
the position of pictures in a space:
Picture placing should be
planned and arranged in a
orderly fashion.
Hang pictures at eye level. In
childrens room, pictures should
be hung at their eye level.
Hang pictures where they will be
enjoyed.
When hanging a picture over a
sofa, it should be low enough to
be part of the grouping and high
enough to avoid contact with a
persons head when leaning
back or sitting on a sofa.

6. Pictures
Vertical wall spaces are enhanced by vertical pictures.
Avoid hanging pictures in a stair-step fashion. The eye is
carried away from the picture and the composition.
A large picture may be hung alone. But it should relate to
a large piece of furniture.
A pair of smaller pictures may be used instead of larger
ones.
A horizontal row of pictures may be used over any long,
low furniture grouping.
Pictures hung in groups should be similar in character,
medium, colour, frame and mats.
A picture may seem to float in space if there is no
furniture underneath.
A painting should hang alone only if it is large and
important enough to hold interest.

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6. Pictures
Choosing the right picture frame
Consider the frame as an actual part of the
picture.
The frame should compliment the theme and
technique of the picture.
Do not chose a wide, massive frame for a delicate
floral print.
A large dark frame will over power a picture that
is painted in delicate tones.
The frame material should blend with the
furniture of the room.

7. Plants and Indoor trees

Plants and indoor trees may be placed almost anywhere provided
they receive adequate light and the environment is favourable
for their growth.
Plants grow profusely in bathrooms because of high humidity.

The common Money plant may be used in wash rooms

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Plants can be used to fill a window space and double as

window treatments.
Plants can be used as room dividers. There are many
different ways of using them as dividers.
Plants should be chosen based on their variety, shape
and interest. They should be placed in containers that
compliment the colour scheme of the room.
Use natural plants and trees instead of artificial ones,
wherever possible.

7. Plants and Indoor trees

Plants used for window treatment

Different ways of using plants as room dividers

8. Sculpture
Sculpture has always had an important place in the home as well as in civic buildings.
Reproductions of historic sculpture are effective and they are available from museums and
retail stores and artist showrooms.

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9. Miscellaneous Accessories

Throw pillows can add a dramatic accent tone

to the colour scheme in a living room or bed
room

A Folding screen may be used as an

area divider or for purely decorative
purposes. An inexpensive screen
covered with wall paper or fabric may
be used as a background for a
particular arrangement of furniture or
accessories.

Trays

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