As we are in full holiday season right now it is time to acknowledge how to decorate one of the most used spaces in our homes and that is your dining room. Dining Rooms are a place where families and/or friends gather together to share a meal, conversation and laughter. It is a time where a house truly feels like a home. There are many factors that make a space feel warm and welcoming, and an inviting table design opens the space to exactly this. Take a look at how we want to help you achieve a cozy entertaining space for you and your guests.
Your first step is to start with a table runner. This can help to “anchor” the table the same way a rug anchors furniture in a room. For a table runner, it is best to decide if you decorate seasonally or if you generally keep your decor the same year round. A quick design tip is that if you have kids make sure that your table runner is machine washable. You do not need to sacrifice on design, it just needs to work for your lifestyle. My suggestion would be a table runner with a pattern that can easily hide stains. Think about adding one that has grey in the pattern and a mix of other darker colours to hide stains more easily. If you are not concerned about needing to wash the runner often or hiding stains then you have more flexibility for what can work best for your space. Make sure to choose a table runner that incorporates colours that are already in the space so that your space still has the same cohesive design flow.
The next piece in bringing your table design together is by incorporating a tray or a vase. This will be a great starting point to bring all of the elements that will be on your table together in a cohesive way. It is also a great opportunity to tie in different finishes (ie. metal tray, mirrored tray, glass vase etc) and give your table more interest which helps to elevate your design. Keep in mind that your tray or vase will need to be proportionate to the size of your table. I would suggest a long and narrow tray to still make room for dishes and keep the vase to a base width of no more than one third of your table width. Your tray or vase is a great way to reflect your own character so have some fun when you are choosing which style to incorporate.
When you think about bringing the outdoors inside this is achieved by introducing greenery to your space. You have two options for greenery, the first is that you can opt for real greenery and change it out each season as you see fit. The second is to go to your local craft store and purchase faux greenery stems. By purchasing faux greenery it will save you money in the long run but it is a more expensive cost up front. The positive about purchasing faux greenery is that it is a one time purchase and you will be able to mix and match your purchased stems for years to come. After choosing if you are purchasing real or faux greenery your next step will be deciding how you want to place your greenery on the table. If you are going for a dramatic look and are not worried about the greenery getting in the way of plates or platters,then you can choose to have the greenery laid flat going down the middle of the table in a more slim design. However, if you are planning to use the table then I suggest placing the greenery in a vase. You can choose to have a lower or higher option depending on your style as long as it is not blocking the view of anyone sitting at the table.
The final element to bring a tablescape together is to incorporate candles. Candles help create the sense of warmth in your space that reminds us of the coziness of winter. You have two options for candle styles, the first is having candles of the same thickness and height for a more unified feel. A second option is to have candles differing in thickness and height. The second option will create a more dramatic feel to your space whereas the first option is a more classic design. Either way there is no wrong decision so choose which look you want to achieve for your home.
Those are our tips to bring your wintery tablescape to life. Something to remember is that design is a way to give yourself an opportunity to let your creativity shine. Most importantly, have fun with styling and make it your own!
