Some things in life are best when they are small, like your credit-card bill, your to-do list and your thighs. But sometimes, bigger is definitely better. Case in point: supersize accents that instantly boost a home's wow factor.

• Lamps: To add a charge to your rooms, amp up the size of your lamps. Replace that skinny buffet lamp on your end table with something more substantial, like a large ceramic lamp in a peppy accent color.

I've fallen in love with the transitional lamps I've seen at market in recent years. These simple, sleek pieces come in every size, color and style imaginable. You can find them in glass, wood and metal, shaped like circles, rectangles and squares.

When I ordered some of these beauties for my store, I couldn't resist getting a few for my home. Even though my historic house is as traditional as they come, I love how these chunky side lamps add bulk to my seating arrangements, bringing a new dimension to the mixed-up look I adore.

Once you've found a lamp you love, accessorize it with care. Don't add lots of clutter that will be dwarfed by the light fixture. Instead, pick bigger accessories to balance it, like a topiary in front of a platter propped up in an easel.

• Accessories: While I'll never go for a bare-bones, minimalist look in home design, I adore today's trend toward attention- grabbing but edited displays. Instead of a tabletop covered in tiny trinkets, opt for a few larger accents that will make a bold statement. Pottery pieces like urns and vases, twiggy baskets and vintage boxes are some of my favorite accessories to supersize. I'm also crazy about huge apothecary jars, which I fill with anything from forced bulbs to dog food to wash cloths.

One large-scale accent I can't get enough of now is a tall, clear- glass cylinder vase. I like to use this 2-foot-tall towering beauty to hold seasonal displays in my home's entryway. In the fall, you'll likely find one filled with a few long, leggy branches dotted with autumn foliage and berries.

• Furniture: When I arrange furniture in a room, I scout for one large piece to anchor the space. Whether it's a mammoth bookcase, an armoire or a sideboard topped by a mirror, this big boy adds oomph to the space, giving it the visual interest every room must have.

If your room is not endowed with interesting architectural elements, like a gorgeous fireplace or stunning windows, it's even more important to add a bulky, show-stealing piece of large-scale furniture. But even if your space is blessed with beautiful bones, I still recommend adding a hefty piece of furniture on the opposite side of the fireplace or bank of windows to lend balance to the room.

• Artwork: Awesome art is one of the best ways to take your spaces from average to out-of- this-world. Instead of placing a standard-size painting above your sofa, shake things up by hanging a huge piece of art. In my home, a gigantic painting my husband, Dan, found on one of his buying trips to Europe spans the space above our sofa. Another vast canvas piece throws its weight around in my stairwell.

To achieve the same effect, make a grid out of medium-size pieces of art. I filled the small wall in our guestroom with a block of botanical studies by school children in the 19th century.

While big is beautiful, be careful not to go crazy when you supersize your interior décor. As in all good design, balance and harmony are the keys to success.

Mary Carol Garrity is proprietor of three home-furnishings stores in Atchison, Kan., and author of several books on home decorating. nellhills@mail.lvnworth.com