10 Minimalist Decorating Essentials for All Seasons
Keep your room decor stylish and uncluttered with these basic accessories
It’s easy to fill up on seasonal decor: A turkey platter here, a Christmas pillow there, and pretty soon you’ve got enough to fill a garage (or storage unit). If you’re ready to create a clean slate — whether you’re starting from scratch or paring back — consider leaning on these 10 core decorating pieces that can transition effortlessly from season to season, and enjoy the breathing space.
3. Clear Glass Hurricanes
Hurricane candleholders are a smart investment of your decorating dollars, because they can be used indoors or out and can make a simple pillar candle look special. Leave them plain and simple or, for a seasonal touch, surround the bases of the candles with greenery in winter and sand in summer. You can even remove the candles entirely and fill the vessels with finds from nature, like pine cones or seashells.
Find glass hurricanes in the Houzz Shop
Hurricane candleholders are a smart investment of your decorating dollars, because they can be used indoors or out and can make a simple pillar candle look special. Leave them plain and simple or, for a seasonal touch, surround the bases of the candles with greenery in winter and sand in summer. You can even remove the candles entirely and fill the vessels with finds from nature, like pine cones or seashells.
Find glass hurricanes in the Houzz Shop
4. Wire Basket
In winter, a wire basket makes a stylish home for cut firewood. Use the same basket to corral colorful beach gear in summer and stacks of quilts or throws in fall. It can also be called into duty in the playroom to hold wooden blocks or picture books.
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In winter, a wire basket makes a stylish home for cut firewood. Use the same basket to corral colorful beach gear in summer and stacks of quilts or throws in fall. It can also be called into duty in the playroom to hold wooden blocks or picture books.
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5. Neutral Throw
A soft throw in cream, gray or beige is a welcome touch year-round and can easily be moved from the living room to the bedroom to the porch and back again. You’ll even want to reach for it in summer when the air conditioning gets a little too chilly, or when the spirit moves you to stargaze in the backyard.
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A soft throw in cream, gray or beige is a welcome touch year-round and can easily be moved from the living room to the bedroom to the porch and back again. You’ll even want to reach for it in summer when the air conditioning gets a little too chilly, or when the spirit moves you to stargaze in the backyard.
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6. Faux Sheepskin
Whether you use it draped over the back of a chair, warming a bench or layered atop another rug on the floor, a faux sheepskin is ready to warm up any space you put it in.
7. Serving Tray
A round or rectangular tray with handles can be used as a bar setup for a party, a mobile coffee or hot-cocoa station, or a platform for displaying books and favorite objects on the coffee table.
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Whether you use it draped over the back of a chair, warming a bench or layered atop another rug on the floor, a faux sheepskin is ready to warm up any space you put it in.
7. Serving Tray
A round or rectangular tray with handles can be used as a bar setup for a party, a mobile coffee or hot-cocoa station, or a platform for displaying books and favorite objects on the coffee table.
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8. Upholstered Bench
Does everyone need a bench? Probably not. But I think there’s a strong case for including one in your home: You can put it at the foot of your bed (of course), but you can also move it in front of the fire in winter, warmed up with a faux sheepskin on top, or even pull it up to the dining table when you need to squeeze in a few extra seats.
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Does everyone need a bench? Probably not. But I think there’s a strong case for including one in your home: You can put it at the foot of your bed (of course), but you can also move it in front of the fire in winter, warmed up with a faux sheepskin on top, or even pull it up to the dining table when you need to squeeze in a few extra seats.
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9. Sculptural Bud Vase
In addition to a tall glass vase (see number two), it’s worth adding a few small, sculptural bud vases to your flower-arranging setup. These little vessels can be tucked in just about anywhere, and look just as good empty as filled.
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In addition to a tall glass vase (see number two), it’s worth adding a few small, sculptural bud vases to your flower-arranging setup. These little vessels can be tucked in just about anywhere, and look just as good empty as filled.
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10. String Lights
String lights are magical mood-makers. Pick up a strand or two of indoor-outdoor string lights, and you’ll always have somewhere to put them: above the dining table for a cozy dinner party, draped over a full-length mirror in the bedroom or illuminating the patio on a warm summer evening.
Find string lights in the Houzz Shop
Share: What are your decorating essentials? Please tell us in the Comments.
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Get That Calming, Minimalist Feel With Any Decor Style
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String lights are magical mood-makers. Pick up a strand or two of indoor-outdoor string lights, and you’ll always have somewhere to put them: above the dining table for a cozy dinner party, draped over a full-length mirror in the bedroom or illuminating the patio on a warm summer evening.
Find string lights in the Houzz Shop
Share: What are your decorating essentials? Please tell us in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Get That Calming, Minimalist Feel With Any Decor Style
Find an interior designer or decorator near you
Shop for home decor
Fill a decorative bowl with pine cones or nuts in the shell in the fall, ornaments around the holidays and fresh fruit at any time of the year. The most versatile bowls are wide and relatively shallow, and in white or another neutral hue.
2. Tall Glass Vase
Displaying freshly cut flowers or foliage is one of the quickest ways to help your decor reflect the seasons. A glass cylinder works equally well for bouquets of cut flowers and taller spring branches.
Find vases in the Houzz Shop