Finishing Touches to Bring a Room Together
Creating a room that truly sings isn’t just about getting the big decisions right. Yes, the sofa matters, and of course the wall colour is important (especially when it’s a delicious jewel tone or a gutsy citrus shade). But what really gives a space its soul—the thing that makes friends walk in and say, “Oh, this feels so you”—are the finishing touches. These are the layers that shift a room from “nicely decorated” to “joyfully lived in”.
Whether you’re putting the final flourishes on a brand-new scheme or refreshing a room that’s become a little too familiar, here’s how to make every corner count.
Artwork: Your Personality on the Walls
Artwork is one of the easiest ways to inject personality, colour and story into a room—but it’s also the thing most people leave until last, then panic-buy from the nearest homeware aisle. Resist that urge. Bristol is bursting with brilliant artists, galleries and indie makers, so think of artwork as a treasure hunt rather than a checkbox.
For maximalists (hello, fellow colour lovers!), a gallery wall is your best friend. Mix bold prints, original pieces, vintage finds and even the odd quirky object. Think beyond frames: a woven piece, a colourful ceramic plate, or that weird-but-wonderful charity-shop discovery all count as visual art.
A good rule of thumb: if it makes you smile, it belongs on your wall.
Top tip: Hang art lower than you think. Many people accidentally position pieces at "giraffe height". Aim for eye level, and let the art feel connected to the furniture below it.
Rugs: Wrangling Space With Style
Rugs are interior design’s secret weapon—especially in open-plan homes or rooms that need a little definition. They anchor furniture, add warmth, and offer an easy way to play with pattern and colour.
If your home leans maximalist, consider a rug with a bold motif: geometric, floral, abstract—whatever makes your heart do a little jig. Just remember that size matters (and bigger is almost always better). A tiny postage-stamp rug floating under a coffee table won’t bring a room together; it will just make everything feel disconnected.
For period homes around Bristol—Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, old cottages—rugs are a brilliant way to soften original floorboards without hiding their charm. Layering rugs can also be a fun way to add texture and personality, especially if you’re the indecisive type who wants all the patterns.
Lighting: The Mood-Setter You Can’t Ignore
Lighting is like the punctuation in your interior design story. Without it, everything feels a bit… unfinished. Good lighting isn’t just functional; it creates atmosphere, zones a room, and highlights all those other finishing touches you’ve so thoughtfully chosen.
A well-designed room has multiple light sources:
Ambient lighting (your main ceiling light, preferably something fabulous)
Task lighting (table lamps, floor lamps, reading lights)
Accent lighting (picture lights, wall lights, LED strips—go on, embrace the drama)
Choose lamps and fixtures that feel like decorative objects in their own right. Colourful lampshades, sculptural bases, neon signage—if you’re already drawn to bold, joyful design, your lighting is another excuse to show it off.
And whatever you do, use warm bulbs. White-blue lighting will undo every ounce of chic you’ve worked for. We’re not running an operating theatre; we’re creating a home.
Personal Touches: The Bits That Make It Yours
The best interiors are full of stories—not just style. These are the pieces that spark conversation: a travel find, a handmade treasure, a childhood heirloom, a wonky pottery piece from that workshop you did on a whim.
Personal touches stop a maximalist home from feeling chaotic and instead make it curated, warm, and lived in. Scatter them thoughtfully: a colourful vase on a shelf, a quirky object on a side table, a joyful cushion that doesn’t “go” but somehow works.
And don’t forget books. A home without books feels strangely silent. Whether it’s interior design tomes, cookbooks, travel guides or gloriously trashy novels, they all add character—and make excellent styling props.
The “Red Thread”: Making Your Home Cohesive (Without Making It Matchy-Matchy)
You may have heard designers talk about a “red thread”—a recurring theme or element that runs through your home and ties everything together. It doesn’t have to be red (unless, of course, you want it to be). It could be a shared colour family, a favourite material, a pattern style, or even a mood.
For those of us who live boldly, colour is often the easiest red thread. Maybe your home has pops of teal, mustard or magenta recurring from room to room. Maybe it’s brass accents. Maybe it’s playful shapes or retro references.
The red thread isn’t about making every room match—perish the thought. It’s about creating continuity so your home feels intentional, not accidental.
Try this: stand in your hallway and look through to the adjoining rooms. Do they feel like they’re part of the same family? A cohesive thread doesn’t shout; it gently whispers, yes, this all belongs together.
Bringing It All Together
Finishing touches are your chance to be expressive, playful and creative. They’re what turn a house into a home with personality—and they’re especially powerful if you love colour, pattern and joy as much as I do.
If you’re feeling inspired but unsure where to start, I share regular styling tips, behind-the-scenes project updates and bold interior inspiration over on Instagram at @threewisemonkeysinteriors. And if you’re local to Bristol and want help giving your home its final flourish (or a full-scale colourful transformation), you’ll find everything you need at Three Wise Monkeys Interiors.
Your home should make you smile every time you walk in. With the right finishing touches, it will.
