How to Decorate with Ceramics

Ceramics for your home can be as formal as an antique vase worth a fortune or as informal as a pasta container for your kitchen. Almost anything can be made from ceramics: vases, pots, picture frames, even clocks and umbrella stands. Ceramics accent pieces are added as the last layer of decor, after the furniture, walls, floors and window treatments, but the right ceramics piece can make all the difference.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Blue pot

   Determine what the room needs to enhance it. Most rooms look complete with the following elements: color, glass or metal to reflect light, something black for drama, something white, fabric for softness and texture, and a focal point. Ceramics pieces can provide the color, the black, the white or the focal point---or all four.

2. 
    
   Photo frame

   Keep in mind the style of your decor, such as contemporary, Victorian or country while you are deciding what ceramics pieces to use. Also consider the feeling you wish to convey in the room. For example, a ceramics tea set sitting on a tray on the coffee table conveys hospitality and warmth. The most important end result is that the room reflect your taste.

3. Look around in ceramics studios, decorating showrooms and stores to get some ideas for your own home and to get your creative juices flowing. Also look in your cupboards and closets to see what you might have on hand. You liked the ceramics pieces you stored away well enough to buy them once, so there's a good chance they still reflect your personal taste.

4. Select the pieces for your room for not only their form and decorative impact, but also for functionality. A lamp made of ceramics can address a need for light. A distinctive functional piece can even be the focal point of the room.