Small accessories and other details in a room can make a house feel like a home. If you’ve installed Talavera tiles, a copper sink, or copper bathtub, some matching towels and a few ceramic accessories can add a needed hint of personality to any room.

To contribute to an American Southwest aesthetic you could add a colorful ceramic lizard or a brightly painted toothbrush holder to match a bathroom composed of Talavera tiles and a copper sink. A lizard or a ceramic sun with a face can also make a bathroom more kid-friendly.

Another decoration that will add personality to any room in your house is an oil painting of a pastoral landscape or a different traditional subject. For renters and younger home owners who don’t have an extensive collection of objects that add a sense of age and class to your home, an oil painting creates a sense of permanence.

The difference between the accessories mentioned previously and the decorations you have laying around your house is that a ceramic toothbrush holder will match a copper sink and a wall of Talavera tiles.

Copper and ceramic are both very old Mexican art forms that have been passed down through generations of artisans. Buying a ceramic painted lizard may seem no different from a decoration you could pick up at any retail store but the craftsmanship and tradition of ceramics made in Mexico will bring more personality to your home.

Other accessory options include ceramic pull knobs, which can be a great way to help a cabinet or cupboard to match surrounding tile. The knobs are often colorfully painted and even if you don’t have a copper tile wall for them to match, ceramic pull knobs are a colorful accent for any room.

An easy way to help the room you are renovating have an appealing aesthetic is to purchase a package of matching ceramic accessories. Buying a group of accessories like this is also a great way to save money by buying in bulk.

Think about how many sinks you have in your house. They’re all over the place! Adding a copper sink to your kitchen, bathroom, or another part of your house is a great way to add style and class to your decorations. Now we’ll look at how to effectively care for a copper sink so that it will maintain its good look and last longer.

Copper sinks can add an attractive accent to any room, in a place where people often expect dull porcelain or brushed metal. Copper evolves with time as it reacts with its surroundings. You will notice that with time, your copper sink will look even more beautiful (or worse) depending on how you treat it. Ensuring that your sink improves its attractiveness with age requires proper cleaning techniques.

Copper sinks come into a variety of finishes, the most common finish colors are clear, dark brown, or a custom natural-red. The colors are created as a result of accelerating the aging process of the sink. To maintain that beautiful look of your copper sink, follow these instructions:

• Cleaners You do not need to have any specific cleaners. In fact, if you use hard cleaners on a copper sink with a patina (weathered finish), chances are that you will hurt the surface of your sink. Use a soft cotton cloth to clean your sink. Avoid using hard chemicals too as they will damage your sink’s finish.
• Hard water If you happen to have hard water running through your tap, do your best to keep your copper clean. Dry it with a soft cloth after washing. Hard water gives copper sinks a spotty, unattractive appearance, especially on hammered copper sinks. To prevent this further, apply wax on your sink periodically. This will allow your sink maintain its luster.
• Acid foods Avoid leaving acidic foods on your sink surface for a prolonged period of time. Foods like tomatoes, oranges, lemons contain acids that leave a shiny spot on the finish of your copper sink. If this happens accidentally, just wash the sink with soap and water and wait for the finish to recover its patina. The copper will age with time and the spot will gradually blend in with the rest of the sink.

For custom copper sinks with natural reddish color, the maintenance process remains the same as it is for dark and clear brown finished sinks. However, you are advised to apply lacquer regularly to help protect it and slow the aging process.

To maintain shiny and washed finishes on your custom sink, you will need to consistently care for your sink. An acid wash also helps in obtaining a beautiful bright look. Remember to rebuff and clean your sink with a copper cleaner regularly. If your sink is in a kitchen or another place where you don’t want to use copper cleaner, you can also make an organic copper cleaning product with equal parts lemon juice and salt. After cleaning your sink, protect it’s surface with wax coating. If you adhere to these instructions, your copper sink will continue looking beautiful and new.