5 Bold Pieces That Will Instantly Amp Up Your Style

Nancy Mitchell
Nancy Mitchell
As a former Senior Writer at Apartment Therapy, Nancy split her time among looking at beautiful pictures, writing about design, and photographing stylish apartments in and around NYC.
updated Oct 12, 2022
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Perhaps you’ve been playing it safe, decor-wise, your whole life, and are ready to do something wild. Or perhaps you have a room that you feel is finished, but you’re still just a little bit bored with it. Either way, here are five different pieces that will take your space to the next level, that will have your friends (and yourself) convinced that you are a person of taste, refinement and aesthetic derring-do.

1. A really bold piece of wallpaper.

Wallpaper is back, and it’s back in a big way, and there’s no better way to add a little pizzazz to a boring space than with a bold pattern. Start with just an accent wall (like the vignette above from Vogue), and treat your wallpaper almost as if it were a very large scale piece of art. Even if you’re renting, there are lots of great removable wallpapers out there, so this is something that’s within reach of pretty much any homeowner.

(Image credit: Riazzoli)

2. A really big plant.

Plants are all the rage these days, but you need not have a forest of plants to create the impression that your finger is on the pulse. All you need is one very large plant á la the sprawling tree above (via Riazzoli), which will (hopefully) create a big impression while requiring minimal maintenance.

(Image credit: Cover)

3. A brightly colored (or wildly patterned) rug.

Often rugs wind up a being a bit of an afterthought, which is unfortunate because no other piece has the same power to make or break a room. A super colorful or boldly patterned rug (like the Moroccan Boucherouite rug shown here, spotted on Cover) can instantly add life and excitement to a boring room.

4. An oversized piece of art.

An oversized artwork (like this wall hanging from Fine Little Day) instantly draws the eye, and creates a focal point within the room. It’s really the only accessory you need.

5. Something that contrasts completely with your existing style.

Never underestimate the power of contrast. If everything in your room is the same color, or style, or comes from the same era, try shaking things up with a single contrasting piece. (Image via My Domaine)

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