As an interior designer, I’ve seen an endless array of homes and styles. There’s always a few things in common no matter the character of the house, and one of those is blank space. I’m not referring to large walls or an open-concept living room. I’m talking about the built-in shelves that mirror both sides of the fireplace, the beautiful big coffee table that sits bare with one wrongly sized tray atop, and the small corner table that has a beautiful story to it but has no purpose other than just being because it’s not used to display or store anything!

Another common thing I see is homeowners filling these spaces with trinkets of sorts with no real meaning to them and without much curation. This tends to cause the space to feel a bit thoughtless and out of place in comparison to an otherwise beautiful home.

While I love the idea of filling these spaces with treasures found at antique shops or while traveling, or perhaps something passed down from generations that could fill 30 minutes of a dinner with a good story, most people simply don’t have enough prized-possession pieces to furnish a house full of blank space (at least not right away). When styling surfaces in clients’ homes, I always aim to create interest by using different textures, shapes and heights and having a variety of functional and just plain pretty pieces. While there are thousands of things to choose from, I have my go-to’s that continue to do just the trick:

These glass hurricanes are a classic, and can match the style of any space by what you fill them with (or don’t fill them with). Plus, you can steal them from the shelf and use them for a tablescape when hosting friends!
The power of one (or 30) coffee table books can never be underestimated. They can truly set the tone for a space and be used to give height, to display other pieces or to fill an entire wall (or coffee table perhaps). My list of favorites lives here and I come back to this list again and again when designing homes. They also make the best housewarming gifts!
Picture frames won’t come with any surprise, but the shape of this Parkridge one definitely offers a bit of originality. It’s the perfect size to house a small photo or piece of artwork and provides good contrast with the square frame and round opening.
If you’re hoping to gain some storage from your blank spaces, a seagrass basket will always be the right choice, and I love this one from Pottery Barn. They’re great for hiding kids’ toys or your selection of random remotes and provide the most tidy front facing appearance. Plus, once they’re no longer needed on the shelf, they can go just about anywhere else!
Decorative boxes are another way to earn a little extra storage, and this McGee & Co. oval box set is oh so pretty. I find these to look best when styled on top of one or a few books to give them a little elevation.
Lastly, is a solid clay vase. I often use the Kynlee vase to provide a bit of contrast with its dark finish up against a light wall or wood. It also offers a vessel to add a pop of greenery if needed!

If you’re searching for styling pieces, this list is a great place to start and our Home With Hechart website can also be a source of inspiration! Happy hunting!