I have been noticing naked mannequins in every store I go to—and these aren’t clothing stores. Small wooden or wire mannequins are being sold as decorative objects through all the home decor manufacturers and I don’t really know how I feel about it.

I know these ceramic balls from Williams-Sonoma Home may just look like “decorative spheres” but their original fate wasn’t just to sit in a bowl-it was to bowl. In the Victorian era, carpet bowling was all the rage.

I love to page through the catalogs that come into our office and imagine which new items I'd choose for my apartment. But if you're anything like me, making plans to switch up your decor can induce panic.

Have you ever been doodling, half paying attention during a phone conversation, and stop and think, hey that drawing is pretty good . . . maybe even frame-able!

I was doing some after-Christmas shopping at the Bryant Park Holiday Shops yesterday and came across these literal book shelves at the Parable Ink clothing stall.

When it comes to holiday decorating, I love a nutcracker and a reindeer or two, but the best buy is the decor you don’t have to put away in January.

This fanciful lighting fixture might have you counting the spoons after your next dinner party. A tongue-in-cheek conceptual cross between a pot rack and a silverware drawer, it was designed by Ali Siahvoshi.

I'm just a sucker for Chinese Chippendale. And these handcrafted pedestals are so chic with their geometric fretwork highlighted against the silver-leafed glass. They're stand-alone beautiful but give importance and presence to anything you place on them.

I was going through my “pretty file” the other day and found page 53 from last summer’s VivaTerra catalog.

As a teenager, I stored piles upon piles of fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle magazines beneath my bed, my burgeoning pack-rat tendencies fueled by my love of gorgeous photography, innovative design, and the well-written word.

At first glace this may look like just another pretty printed tray, but look a little closer. The pattern is actually laminated fabric.

Your alarm is the first thing you look at in the morning—so it better be cute. I like my clocks simple, timeless, cordless and in a nickel plated brass—even better.

By the looks of Thomas Paul’s designs, you’d think the man never had a bad day in his life. They are always bright and cheery, and his new pillow collection is no exception.

When I think of trivets, flattened iron roosters or ducks with ribbons around their necks are what unfortunately come to mind. But thanks to Alessi, my mental picture is morphing.

Who would think faux mounted animal heads would ever be a hot trend? Hard to believe, but it’s true. I have been seeing them in wood, papier-mâché, metal, and everything but animal. That is the good news, Humane Society. But Decor Lovers, what do you think?

When the weather starts to cool down, I like to bring summery things inside with me. But this is no tea light—the Arabesque lantern is big, beautiful, and commands attention.

Wow . . . is all I have to say. These brass lily of the valley sconces get my decorating juices flowing. One on each side of the fireplace would frame a living room perfectly. Or just one at the end of the hall, would be a stunning focal point.

I always wanted a piece of John Derian decoupage, but never actually bought one because each was a blooming fortune!

I like everything about this mirror. It is made in the United States, by a family-run company with reclaimed and recycled wood. Those qualities, in addition to the piece being pretty, aren’t easy to come by for $250.

Summer is nearly over and we’ve seen enough hammocks, tree lanterns, and BBQ tongs to last us through next June, but we couldn’t resist this one last coastal accessory.

I love the surprise factor of these lamps. When off, they are a near-neutral white, but every time you turn one on, it is like a modern fabric dyed with light. Handpainted on fiberglass resin, the series is inspired by lamps the British team saw on a trip to the Philippines.

To appease my fickle decorating sense, I have a solid navy sofa. Since my 490-square-foot New York apartment doesn’t give me much room for impulse buys, my plain sofa is my outlet for all my colorful finds. Reupholstering on a regular basis is out of the question so I swap out my pillows and throws whenever I need a fresh fix. The Tatami throw from Designer’s Guild is my latest splurge.

It’s good to have a stash of presents handy. You never know when you may get that invite to a friend’s beach house or to a catered dinner party—but you want to be ready when you do. These frames from Fringe Studio are like the "break glass in case of emergency" of gift giving.

These Ikea lamps have multiple personalities. They can be so sophisticated against a white wall or very fun in a playroom. Or since this plastic silhouette lamp has a built-in diode with 50 times the life span of a regular light bulb, it could also be a chic little nightlight in your bathroom.

Pillows are the best way to give your room a quick makeover, but if you’re going to take that shortcut, you’d better get quality pillows. Enter the Sandor Collection. Their appliqué is just impeccable, their felt- work redefines the medium, and their patterns have “‘fresh start” written all over them!

I miss the sound of my first jewelry box. Though the pink upholstery and the pirouetting Barbie may have been doomed to the yard sale long ago, I find I long to have the music back. This windup from MoMA’s Destination Berlin collection lets you be a kid again—in a totally sophisticated, grown-up kind of way.

It is time I give my walls some dimension. I have a lot of paintings in my apartment (I am obsessed with my friend Roni Feldman ’s art ), and as gorgeous as the oils are, walls need varied texture.

This Kenneth Wingard lamp is a shortcut to good decorating. The bold pattern and color pack such punch, you don’t have to think so hard about accessorizing the rest of the room. Some simple fabrics, streamlined furniture, and a touch of yellow in a pillow or a rug are all you need to give the area attitude.

Antiques of the Future ($30; Stewart, Tabori & Chang) amasses six dozen products that the author bets will become the collectibles of tomorrow.