There’s something not quite right about a dining room that isn’t adorned with visual interest on the walls or a centerpiece in the middle of the table.
Thankfully, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding that winning piece that elevates the whole space as well as the mood of your guests.
In fact, some of the best ideas don’t even need to be complex to make a grand statement, 16 of which are detailed below in case you had any doubts.
Collection of vases for a formal look
For dinner parties with esteemed guests, your table centerpiece mustn’t stray too far from convention. Vases come with an abundance of refined elegance, which is why they’re a safe bet for setting a formal tone.
With the right design, one vase can rise to the occasion as the focal point of the tablescape, but there’s no reason not to go all out and create a feast for the eyes with a collection of beautiful vases in different heights and contrasting colors so that it never gets boring to stare at.
Dried blooms for something natural and lasting
There are people who relish the chance to rotate their table decor with the changing seasons and there are those who don’t.
If you’re firmly in the latter camp and want a centerpiece that sings all year round, dried blooms may be the answer to your prayers.
Unlike flowers which eventually die and need replacing, dried plants will spruce up your tablescape for the long-haul, and you can raise the styling stakes a bit more by displaying them in a pretty vessel.
Leaning art for an informal vibe
There’s nothing wrong with hanging up a large-scale piece of striking artwork, but these days it’s somewhat old-fashioned to decorate in a manner that involves hammering nails to the walls.
Start getting into the habit of leaning rather than hanging to give your dining room an air of casual elegance about it.
You can experiment at first by leaning small artwork from a shelf or go all out with a supersized piece that sits on the floor.
Wall clock for a timeless accent piece
Sure, digital clocks are everywhere these days, and it’s not an exaggeration to say that every single device in your home probably has a time function, and so you can be forgiven for thinking that clocks are a waste of space.
However, the fact that traditional analogue clocks serve little to no practical use makes them all the more intriguing – when it comes to decor, intrigue is like gold dust! Go big and bold with a roman numeral wall clock and your dining room will never become uninteresting.
Cow hide rug to anchor the table
When you place furniture in the middle of the room, you need to visually anchor it otherwise it looks a little lost.
You often see this in action in living rooms, whereby the sofa and coffee table are anchored by a rug to please the eye, and the dining table deserves the same treatment.
Don’t settle for a basic floor covering – faux cowhide rugs are a chance to introduce irregular shapes and natural animal patterns to your dining room, which will no doubt leave a lasting impression on guests.
A bowl of fruit for that homey feel
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best and this is particularly true when you want to be seated at a dining table that feels homey and lived-in.
Consider that first-time guests are always on the lookout for signs of life and want to feel welcomed, and what better way to help them settle down than displaying food in the form of a bowl of fruit?
And besides, fruit bowls can be curated to weave in some interesting accent colors if a neutral palette isn’t doing it for you.
Wine rack to showcase your collection
A dining area that wants to be taken seriously as a space for fun gatherings and romantic evening meals needs to have at least a year’s supply of wine on hand.
Furthermore, wine bottles have a lot of aesthetic value to offer, so it would be a real waste of decorating potential if you keep your collection behind closed floors.
This is where wine racks come into play, and if you go with a wall-mounted wine rack you should find that you can spread your bottles over a large surface area to create a truly eye-catching feature.
Lanterns for a cozy aura
Whether unlit or illuminated, it’s hard to catch a glance of a lantern and not be overcome with a warm sense of comfort, especially on a cold winter’s night.
Usually they are found on the outside of the home but now lanterns are leaving their mark on dining tables up and down the land – and we’re all for it.
Go with a whitewashed lantern if you want to commit to a farmhouse theme, or maybe you’re looking for that contemporary touch, in which case a stainless steel finish is a must.
Gallery walls for a feast for the eyes
You’d be hard-pressed to find one or two pieces of decor that can handle the pressure of being the focal point of a space, which is why more and more homeowners are betting on an amalgamation of pieces to do all the decorative talking.
In other words, they’re turning to gallery walls, and when you see how well they work above the sofa you will be fully behind them.
For the uninitiated, a gallery wall showcases a collection of items packed tightly together on the wall – it’s as simple as it is ambitious.
Wall textiles for that soft touch
If you have yourself a modern table with a smooth, solid surface, you’re basically left with no choice but to search for types of decor that provide visual and tactile interest in equal measure, otherwise the space will feel somewhat flat.
This search becomes a whole lot easier when you have an affinity for textiles. Think along the lines of patterned wall tapestry, in various lengths and colors, and you’re well on your way toward a dining atmosphere to die for.
Potted plants to connect with nature
Studies have long shown that going outside and interacting with nature has a positive impact on your health and wellbeing, which explains why houseplants have spread to every space and surface in the home – and the dining table is no exception.
Better still, even when you’re eating alone at the table, with a potted plant as the centerpiece you’ll actually be in the company of another living organism – one that enhances your health and adds a splash of greenery to the tablescape.
A floor mirror to enhance lighting
Because the reflected space looks like actual space, mirrors have an uncanny ability to make you believe a room is twice as large as it really is, and that’s just one reason to decorate your dining room with a sizeable floor mirror.
The other reason relates to lighting, whereby a mirror will help light bounce around the room, which will allow your amazing dining room decorations to shine in all their glory.
Trays to corral clutter
Functional items that look the absolute business as a table centerpiece are few and far between, so you should embrace them with both hands when the opportunity arises.
Trays are the perfect example of how you can decorate a tablescape with practical pieces – simply get hold of one that looks fabulous and not only will you have something to center the eye, it can be relied upon to wrangle any clutter that risks spoiling the overall aesthetic.
Exposed bulb light for simple elegance
No dining room is complete without a statement-making light fixture above the table.
While posh restaurants with lofty interiors can go with something ‘loud’ like a chandelier, homeowners have to be more realistic about size or they risk throwing their dining room aesthetic off-balance.
Fixtures with exposed bulbs offer a nice dose of decorative appeal without encroaching upon that open and airy feel above the tablescape.
A table runner to set the foundation
When setting out to make dinner a special occasion or perhaps even a celebration, one decor choice isn’t going to fit the bill.
Expectations will be high and therefore the centerpiece needs to be loud, and one of the best ways to dial up the aesthetics is by laying down a runner and filling it with all manner of decorative pieces.
This approach works like a charm every time because the runner itself adequately fills the center of the table and helps draw the eye to your eclectic display.
Cute signage for a warm welcome
As you’ve seen throughout this guide, there are many different options available to you for adorning the dining room with a talking piece, but has it ever crossed your mind to go with a piece that literally talks?
All jokes aside, plaques and novelty signs are invaluable for using the written word to arouse our emotions.
For a space as intimate as the dining room, it’s always a good idea to decorate the wall with signage that emphasizes togetherness and reminds you of the simple joy of being at home.