9 brilliant accent furniture ideas to refresh your space

Written by

23 July 2023

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5 min read

If you're looking for a way to enhance your living room, or any space in the house for that matter, then acquiring a piece of accent furniture is an excellent strategy to consider. It can be a quick and easy thing to do and there are plenty of great ideas to take inspiration from, some of which may surprise you.

Accent furniture is fantastic for adding a bit of depth and dynamism to a space. The choices you make also reflect your own passions and interests so can be quite personal too. These accent furniture ideas will give you a taste of what's possible to guide you in your efforts to make your space just that little bit more special.

1. Choose an accent chair that takes texture to the extreme

The great thing about accent furniture is that there are many different ways they can stand out from the crowd and one of those ways is through texture. Texture is a sorely underrated quality when it comes to accent pieces yet they can bring so much to a space. Accent chairs are perfect for amplifying textures as they bring both aesthetic and tactile qualities. The opportunities to create a dramatic contrast of, for example, raw natural fabrics against hard-surfaced walls and flooring are plentiful and exciting.

The beautiful Bollo Armchair in Sheepskin is a perfect example of a textural accent chair for a space.

2. Find a coffee table of real substance

Coffee tables are an important piece of furniture in a living room with both functional and decorative roles to play. While modern trends point towards a sleek and slender choice, another idea to try is to think big and find one of real substance. Heavy materials like stone and concrete personify this approach perfectly and will act as great accent pieces in your space.

A bold approach to accent furniture with the Concrete Tuba Coffee Table.

3. Pick pop and plush poufs and ottomans

Some things were just made to be accent furniture pieces and poufs and ottomans, without question, fall into that category. The wide range of styles, colours and materials available gives you a great chance to showcase the interior designer within you. A vibrant colour coupled with a super plush finish is our recommendation for a bit of fun but in truth, there are many directions you can go with this as a quick way of making a style statement.

A pop colour and a plush surface, the perfect accent furniture traits showcased with the Togo® Ottoman by Michel Ducaroy.

4. Be daring with your dining table

For many, the dining table will be the conventional four-legged version that will do what's required and when. However, this isn't the only way it has to be. There are some beautiful designer dining tables on the market with reinterpreted forms that make exceptional accent furniture pieces. This may be a bold choice of material or a unique design feature like a rounded base. Additions and traits like these can make a big difference and a bold impression on a space if you have the courage to give it a go.

The combination of a spherical base and marble table top make for a compelling furnishing with the Circus Dining Table by Bonaldo.

5. Let a side table steal the show

A side table is another humble furnishing that doesn't often get the spotlight but it can absolutely be a focal point of visual interest in its own right. As a smaller item, it is usually done through a colour accent but you can also achieve the same impact through finish too. For example, a polished side table with a glossy finish is a great way to draw the eye, especially when placed on a rug or carpet of contrasting texture.

They don't get more glamourous and glossy than the Pli Side Table by Classicon

6. Pile on the patterns with your cupboard cabinetry

Another way to highlight a space in an aesthetically pleasing way is to pick something with a pattern, like a cupboard. The cabinetry of a cupboard provides the perfect canvas for a pattern to shine. Patterns themselves are unique, captivating and expressive and can add a personal element to your decor that can be very welcoming. It's another trick that interior designers love and something that can quickly elevate your own space too.

The beautiful patterned panels of the Echo Cupboard by Marcel Wanders are completely captivating.

7. Make marble your medium

There's something about the allure of marble that makes it a perfect material for accent furniture. The robust, permanent quality at its core, the delicate and unique veining, the variations in colour — the list goes on. No matter how it's used in a space, be it through a tabletop or otherwise, you can be sure that it will draw the eye in a stunning way.

The beautiful Italian marble plinth of the Calacatta Viola Cube or Side Table will instantly create be the highlight of a room.

8. Be inspired by a designer bookcase

The bookcase is probably not the first place you'd look to when thinking about accent furniture but it's something that may just surprise you. Like many items of furniture, more and more talented designers are reimagining the look of these items, especially those that have previously been more functional in nature. Bookcases are no exception and you'll find some stunning designer options that will easily be the most captivating furnishing in your home.

A designer bookcase like the MHC.2 Bookcase by Molteni&C is a rare and unique find.

9. Indulge in a luxurious leather armchair

Just in case you were short on reasons to invest in a leather armchair, here's another. They have the potential to make the perfect accent chair for your living room. The cumulative qualities of shade, colour, texture and sheen combine magnificently to make them stand out and shine. They work very well as accents in contemporary and minimalist-styled interiors and they're also incredibly comfortable to sit on, as many of you will already know.

Leather is a great material for accent furniture, showcased superbly here with the Bensen U Turn Chair.

Some superb ways to use accent furniture in your home

As you can see, there are some ingenious ways you can use accent furniture in your home, be it pop colour accent chairs, an oversized coffee table or a stylish small side table (just to name a few). They work wonders in living rooms and can easily applied to other spaces in your house too, elevating from ordinary to extraordinary in no time at all.