Dressing a table ideas
40+ Table Setting Decorations & Centerpieces – Best Tablescape Ideas
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New day, new table setting.
By Caroline Picard and Sienna Livermore
Mark D. Sikes
Whether it's an average weeknight dinner or a festive holiday feast, you're going to need to set your table, so make sure it's as chic as it could possibly be. You could go out and buy new themed linens and dinnerware, or just use some of these creative tips to make your old stuff look fresh. No matter what the occasion is, you'll find a tablescape on this list.
Emily Suvanvej
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Casual
Pretty up a spontaneous get-together with color, pattern, and crazy cool texture. Family dinners never looked so cool.
House Beautiful
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Jewel-Toned
Pick rich gemstone hues to balance out geometric elements. Graphic black-and-white stripes are grounding against the bright colors.
Francesco Lagnese
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Mix It Up
Try patterned tablecloths, palm leaves as placemats, and rattan chargers for layers of texture and color.
Robert Millman
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Fall Feels
William Brinson
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Back To Nature
Bring in the outdoors by pairing potted plants with fresh bouquets. It looks even more earthy against a wood table.
Amy Neunsinger
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Pattern Play
This room's Moroccan-style wallpaper inspired the patterned plates and textiles.
Alison Gootee
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Tropical Punch
Add gilded pineapples and palm baubles on your table and you can practically feel the island breeze.
Alanna Hale
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Industrial, But Still Formal
Swap kitchen chairs for colorful stools to give a dining space a cool, industrial vibe.
One Kings Lane
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Low-Key
This spring party is simultaneously casual and elegant. Showcase vintage bottles as bud vases and up the relaxed vibe by skipping napkin rings and stemmed wine glasses.
Kana Okada
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'merica
Emily Suvanvej
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Formal
If you're dressing up for the occasion, don't forget to deck out the table the same way. Pull out all the stops: stemmed glassware, elaborate centerpieces, and obvi, your fancy china.
Jeremy Harwell
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Secret Garden
Branch candlesticks, plants, and nature-inspired china, napkins and placemats bring a table to life.
Francesco Lagnese
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Vintage Vibes
Before splurging on contemporary place settings, look online (and in thrift shops) for unique sets of antique china and silver flatware.
Eric Piasecki
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Flower Power
Novice florists can nail a bouquet by choosing monochromatic blooms and a matching vase.
House Beautiful
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The Writings On The Wall
Writing your own place cards is a super quick and easy way to make your formal table feel inviting.
Kana Okada
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Such Great Heights
Go ahead and play up height, but keep anything tall thin so nobody's view is blocked.
Emily Suvanvej
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Colorful
Pack a visual punch without looking like a box of crayons threw up on your table. We've got all the inspo you need right here.
Alberto Bartolomei
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The Bold, The Blue, The Beautiful
This whimsical tablescape is colorful enough to wake everyone up for Sunday brunch.
STEPHEN KARLISCH
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Loving Him Was Red
Rattan chargers and clear blue goblets add some contrast to this bold red table setting.
TREVOR TONDRO
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Pretty in Pink
Here's how to set a table Elle Woods would die over.
Aimee Herring
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Orange Crush
This orange table is made for fall. To change it up, skip a multicolor bouquet and use single blossoms in several vases of different heights.
LUCY SCHAEFFER
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Purple People Eater
Ingalls Photography
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Pink & Patterned
All pink everything can feel a little too Pepto Bismal-esque, so choose patterned napkins and a tablecloth to add some dimension.
Emily Suvanvej
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Buffet
Hostessing is hard enough — cut out complicated serving rituals and have guests help themselves to whatever's on the menu.
Kana Okada
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Marble Marvel
Just when you thought a buffet could never be chic.
Beatriz da Costa
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Grab and Go
Nothing beats the simplicity of a help-yourself set-up.Stack cloth napkins and fill a caddy with silverware. Use white serving platters for an easy yet cohesive look.
Emily Suvanvej
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Outdoor
When the weather's right, alfresco dining beats the stuffy indoors any day.
Get inspired by these sunlit spaces.
Tec Petaja
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What Dreams Are Made Of
Woven placemats, blue-and-white dinnerware, and softly-lit bulbs overhead add to the dreaminess of this outdoor table setting.
Abigail Bobo
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Picnic Goals
Logs from fallen trees form the chair backs for an outdoor brunch. It's maybe the most Insta-perfect picnic we've ever seen.
Bjorn Wallander
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Coastal Cool
The terrace at this Bahamian home is a favorite spot for dining with family and friends. The table is geared toward island life, with tropical plants, shells, and lots of blue and white.
Rhapsody in Blue and White
Caroline Picard Contributing Writer Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience.
Sienna Livermore Senior Editor Sienna is a senior editor at Hearst.
Makeover tips for a glamorous space |
(Image credit: Davide Lovatti/Future plc)
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, what are the fairest dressing table ideas of them all?
Arguably the most glamorous corner of any bedroom – or, if you’re lucky, walk-in closet – is the dressing table.
As a space dedicated to beautification, it deserves to get some serious aesthetic attention and to be placed high up your list of bedroom ideas.
Getting a dressing table right is really about balancing three key features: the table itself, the mirror, and the seat.
It’s easier to make these elements all tie together with a matching color scheme and style, but carefully balancing a more eclectic style will showcase your interior design artistry.
Dressing table ideas
Whether you’re looking for luxurious dressing room ideas that feature grand dressing tables, glistening mirrored furniture that channels vintage glamor, or simply a storage-first piece of functional furniture to hide your hairdryer, we've got you covered.
We spoke to design experts to get their tips and uncovered some spectacular inspiration to help give your dressing table a makeover.
1. Place a dressing table near a natural light source
(Image credit: Future/Paul Raeside)
Even more important than what your dressing table looks like, is where your dressing table is.
Having good light is essential when making sure you look your best, so set yourself up for success.
‘Locating a dressing table by a window or a source of natural light is always preferable for the best light quality’, explains Alexia Sheinman, Director at Pembrooke & Ives .
‘Where this is not possible, aim to use fixtures that cast an even light for the face, such as a vertical linear light.’
2. Get reflective with a mirrored table
(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)
Looking so good that one reflection isn’t enough?
Ramp up the vanity with a glamorous mirrored table. Accompanying an elaborate wall mirror, here is a simple two-drawer table, featuring bevelled mirror panels and reflective, curved metal legs.
Practically speaking, using mirrors is a clever small bedroom idea, as they are a great way to make smaller spaces feel bigger.
When thinking about walk-in closets, adding a mirrored table to the dressing area is a great way to get the workspace you need without adding a dominating piece of furniture into a compact area.
3. Go bespoke for personalized storage
(Image credit: Future / Anna Stathaki)
A tidy dressing table is essential to keeping the area chic. Internal bedroom storage ideas, like the one shown above, are also key if you want to hide items away neatly.
‘A bespoke fitted dressing table can be tailored to suit the specific daily needs of the homeowner,’ says Simon Tcherniak, Senior Furniture Designer at Neville Johnson .
‘Whether it is to display perfume bottles, store toiletries, jewellery and more, a custom built-in dressing table will include clever storage solutions that will enhance and streamline an overall dressing area.'
Going bespoke is also a route to consider for dressing rooms in general. A custom wardrobe will make sure the whole space stays spick and span.
4. Pick a chair for comfort, but a stool for space
(Image credit: Future / Jan Baldwin)
Every dressing table needs a perch. To choose the right one, work out where your priorities lie.
‘A dining chair style seat is often the preferred option as they are the most comfortable’, says Interior Designer Jenny Allan , ‘but upholstered mini stools are also a great choice when space is restricted.’
This luxury bedroom idea features a sleek, built-in dressing table, accompanied by a stool that combines simplicity and fun, thanks to a fluffy seat.
Crucially, the stool is small enough to slide easily under the worktop space, allowing easy access through the narrow gap between the table and the bed.
5. Turn an underused nook into a dressing area
(Image credit: Douglas Friedman)
Dressing areas come in many shapes and sizes.
If you don’t have the luxury of pondering how to turn a room into a walk-in closet, adding a dressing table to an awkward or otherwise unused nook in your bedroom can turn a dead space into a dedicated glamor zone.
In this room, a bay window is the perfect spot. Note the lamps either end of this long dressing table, which has been styled to work like a console would in a hallway, creating pools of welcoming light and a sense of occasion.
6. Go for a mirror shape that suits your decor
(Image credit: Douglas Friedman)
Whether it’s connected to the table or a separate addition, choosing a mirror carefully is important to the finished look.
‘If the room is contemporary, a mirror with clean lines and rectangular in shape could be a great option,’ says Allan. ‘Alternatively, if the room is more traditional, a curved top mirror with some decorative detailing may suit best.’
‘The size of the mirror is also very important as proportion is such a fundamental element of a design. Typically a dressing table mirror should be half to two thirds of the length of the dressing table.’
7. Create separation for a dressing table that's also a study space
(Image credit: Neptune)
It's likely that your bedroom – or your children's – is doubling up as a study space, or perhaps just somewhere to pen a note to a friend or do some late night online shopping.
If so, it's ideal to create separation between your sleep space and your dressing table/desk.
In this master bedroom, a curtain creates a soft separation between two rooms knocked into one. You can create a similar effect with a floor-standing screen.
8. Be selective with your vintage items
(Image credit: Future/David Lovatti)
‘Buying vintage or antique pieces for an interior can really create that homely feel,’ says Allan, ‘but it’s important to be selective so the room doesn’t feel cluttered with random objects.’
The bathroom idea shown above features a dressing area that allows a select few standout vintage pieces to take the lead, namely a richly grained antique dressing table and spectacular Italian-style gold mirrors, while the background decor fades into white, marble and paler wood.
‘We sometimes add one or two high quality vintage items per space, which give the rooms that extra character and charm,’ adds Allan.
9. Whisk yourself away with a mural backdrop
(Image credit: Future/Katya de Grunwald)
A dressing table is a space for anticipation and escapism, so make its backdrop one that inspires.
In this room, the dressing table is backed with a tropical mural wallpaper, surrounding the sitter in the haze of a glowing sunset settling on a rainforest far away.
The faded, vintage-style color scheme of this wallpaper idea nods to 1950s elegance, updated with contemporary details, such as the slim, marble-effect table.
10. Complement or contrast with your chair choice
(Image credit: Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler/Boz Gavoski)
‘When choosing a dressing table seat, the fabric must complement the whole room but also be practical,’ says Allan.
‘Adding a pop of color with the dressing table chair or upholstered stool is a chic way to add interest to the room.’
In this room, the color of the stool takes the blue-green tones from across the bedroom and dials them up to a brighter, bolder shade.
What should be on a dressing table?
Quite simply, as little as possible. If you’ve chosen a really beautiful statement piece, let it do the talking, and move as much clutter down below as possible to keep the space serene.
If you want to add character to the top of the table, do it through useful but beautiful objects.
A vase of flowers and selected trinket boxes are infinitely preferable to hairdryers and toiletries. One key addition you may need to consider is a lamp, as good bedroom lighting ideas are essential, day and night.
‘Either adding a slim lamp with a delicate shade – nothing too overpowering – or adding wall lights are ideal options when looking at providing adequate lighting for a dressing table,’ says Allan.
How can I make my dressing table look nice?
Tidiness really is crucial when styling a dressing table.
‘Have a home for everything,’ suggests Sheinman. ‘Find the right kind and sized containers to keep everything you may need so that everything has a place to go back to.’
Internal storage is really important to consider when choosing a dressing table. If you’re inclined to need lots of products on a daily basis, then ensure you have ample concealed storage.
Ailis started out at British GQ, where a month of work experience turned into 18 months of working on all sorts of projects, writing about everything from motorsport to interiors, and helping to put together the GQ Food & Drink Awards. She then spent three years at the London Evening Standard, covering restaurants and bars. After a period of freelancing, writing about food, drink and homes for publications including Conde Nast Traveller, Luxury London and Departures, she started at Homes & Gardens as a Digital Writer, allowing her to fully indulge her love of good interior design. She is now a fully fledged food PR but still writes for Homes & Gardens as a contributing editor.
Festive table setting: ideas, rules, trends
Many people will like the first advice: decorate the New Year's table according to your own taste. With such a variety of dishes, textiles and decor, it is difficult, and not necessary, to meet the strict rules. Interior fashion, including New Year's table setting, says: experiment by combining objects of different styles and colors on the table, or choose classic proven options for yourself.
But when it comes to the basic principles of serving, it is useful to keep in mind some rules for the arrangement and combination of dishes and cutlery. nine0003
Some general serving rules:
- The distance between the chairs should be 50-80 cm so that each guest feels at ease at the table.
- The ends of the tablecloth should fall 20-25 cm below the tabletop, and the corners should cover the legs.
- A set of tableware for one guest consists of a lower front plate, a main plate, cutlery, a glass for water and glasses for drinks. The knife is placed to the right of the plate with the blade towards it, the forks are placed to the left with the cloves up, the tablespoon next to the knife with the wide part up. nine0010
- Napkins are placed to the left of the plate or on the snack plate. To make the napkin look neatly folded, you can use a special ring.
- Don't forget your serving utensils: salad spoons, tongs, cake shovels.
A properly served table already looks festive. And additional decor elements will help to stylize it under the chosen concept: candles and candlesticks, decorative vases, napkin holders, place mats, candy racks, compositions from Christmas tree branches, garlands, decorations, natural flowers and dried flowers, dried fruits and berries. nine0003
Eco-style table setting is in trend. Single color linen tablecloth and matching napkins, minimalist ceramics, decor from live plants, berries and craft items. Decorated in this way, the table looks unobtrusive but tasteful, and gives the impression that you spent literally ten minutes serving it. Either serve several meals or set a second table nearby for food - in the Scandinavian tradition. After all, a buffet is nothing more than a way of serving. Such a presentation assumes that the guests themselves come to the table, put food on plates, and have dinner and chat at another table. nine0003 The serving concept is based not so much on service items and decor, but on color combinations. The combination of red and white is always on trend. Reminds me of old Christmas movies and reindeer sweaters. For a classic New Year's table setting, use bright accents: candles, runners, napkins, glasses, and white table textiles serve as the basis. White and green will form the basis of serving in the style of a snowy forest. A natural combination will help create a white tablecloth with green napkins and decor from fresh spruce branches. By the way, it is this combination that is recommended for those who check the Chinese calendar when choosing New Year's decor. White and gold - an exquisite combination and a guarantee of a festive mood. As usual, white textiles are the base, and gold sparkles in accents: vases, napkin rings, candlesticks, decorative balls and trays. nine0003 The noble combination of white and blue attracts attention with its contrast. A table laid in this style serves as the center and decoration of the room. For those who are looking for one festive service that will always be relevant, there is an ageless classic. This is white porcelain without styling. It will always be appropriate and will be a good base for combinations with other kits. If you want the dishes to last a long time, choose restaurant grade porcelain. It is distinguished by reinforced edges of dishes, a thickened coating layer, reinforcing additives. nine0003 Thematic series in the collections of brands belong to the classics, but already New Year's. For example, the Toy´s Delight collection from the famous brand Villeroy & Boch will bring magic and a nostalgic Christmas mood to the table decorations. You can take variations and shades of white porcelain, for example, a warm milky shade, delicate vanilla, ivory, original processing of the edge. But then it will be a little more difficult to combine it with other sets and different textiles And for those who follow the trends, there is a huge range of interesting tableware from well-known factories and very small productions. Placemats will also help to make the table trendy. Instead of textile coasters for appliances, use eco-leather or nubuck models. Ready-made services give way to sets assembled from several series. In one set there are objects of different colors that are combined with each other: gray and turquoise, beige and light gray, terracotta and blue. Different colors can be mixed in one serving, or you can change it according to your mood. nine0003 Minimalistic ceramics is also in trend, and with it hand-made decoration, craft, drawing with imitation of a potter's wheel. Accidental or intentional irregularity, non-ideal shapes is a prime example of sympathy for something that did not meet the standards before. Such a service is relevant and useful if you are planning a large high-class home reception. Balloons are not just for the Christmas tree – decorate the festive table with them too. For decor, choose small balls that match the chosen style in color. Simply place a ball next to each guest's cards, fill a glass container with them, or place them on a shelf mixed with sweets. Use your name cards as a small but meaningful piece of decor. They can be pre-printed on thick paper in a beautiful font with vignettes. nine0003 Focus on textiles for special occasions: a thick tablecloth, a New Year's printed runner and textile napkins for each guest. Next to the plates, put a Christmas gingerbread, a Christmas toy, a cone or a fresh pine branch. Satin ribbon can be used instead of napkin rings. For serving in a minimalist, Scandinavian and eco-style, twine is suitable, which can be used to tie up cutlery and a napkin. You can't do without candles on New Year's Eve. From a huge assortment, choose those that will be in harmony with other decor: tall candles in candelabra or minimalistic heavy candlesticks, compositions of shaped candles on a tray, heating pill candles placed all over the table. Empty bottles with a narrow neck can also serve as an original candlestick. nine0003 Don't forget about the main table decoration: gourmet or simple and hearty dishes that are destined to fill the carefully prepared table space. Nevertheless, serving helps to get aesthetic pleasure, and dishes will give gastronomic pleasure. We offer two options for the New Year's menu, if you want to diversify the table and cook something special. Cold snacks: Salad with pear and Gorgonzola tuna fillet in panic Hot snakes: Pars from salmon Bruscetta with crab The main dish: stewed thigh with a vegetable pillow of Pales cauliflower Dessert: Curd soufflé with strawberry confit Coffee mousse with chocolate sauce Cold appetizers: Glavrax Kish with spinach and ricotta Hot appetizers: Seafood jumper Warm potato salad Main dish: Mitbols and baked potatoes with rosemarin RIM cauliflower Dessert: Fruit Cheese Christmas Cake Sign up for our monthly newsletter about the latest trends in design, home improvement and our special offers. Do you know this childish joyful expectation of the New Year? Pre-holiday fuss, choosing gifts, preparing for New Year's Eve... I want everything to be perfect, including the festive table. But let's still bet not on the number of dishes, but on aesthetics - a stylish table setting that sets the right wave. Go! They will find a place not only on the Christmas tree - they will be just as useful for serving. Sprinkle glitter on the table, decorate a candy bowl with toys, put a balloon on each guest's plate, or use them as name card holders. nine0003 Five classic color combinations for the New Year's table
For such a serving, a lot of decor is not required - only beautiful dishes, textiles and candles. Tableware: trends and classics
The trend is vintage style, deliberately uneven outlines, craquelure effect (a network of small cracks in the glaze), asymmetry, small specks, edging, relief structure and protrusions on a smooth surface. 
For such evenings, dishes and textiles can be rented if you do not plan to use all this in the future. nine0003 Ideas for decorating
Food as table decoration
Menu 1
Menu 2
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nine0003 10 ideas that are easy to repeat - INMYROOM
1. Christmas decorations
2. Some more details
With name cards, the serving will look complete, and there will be no awkward seating situations. In addition to the name, write individual wishes on the card - guests will be pleasantly surprised. Or you can put a bonbonniere with a little surprise next to each plate. What to hide inside it - a New Year's gingerbread or a Christmas tree toy - is up to you.
3. New Year's composition
On a round table, it is best to make a decorative New Year's composition in the form of a circle. For its base, you can use thin dry branches or needles, and put several candles of different heights inside. nine0003
Rectangular fit elongated composition. Decorate a long planter or wooden box with fir branches, winter berries, beads, candles and sparkles. Experiment!
4. The right choice of dishes
Place the plates you use every day away. Bet on a classic white service or with a themed New Year's pattern - both will be winning options. The most important thing is to prepare plates and glasses “for a spectacular exit”: polish them to a shine with paper towels: they perfectly absorb moisture. nine0003
5. Emphasis on textiles
You will need: a tablecloth, a New Year print runner and textile napkins for each guest. And keep disposable paper towels at the ready: if necessary, they will be able to quickly wipe up spilled champagne.
6. Decor for plates and cutlery
If you don't have napkin rings in your house (didn't have time or forgot to buy), a good solution is to use a satin ribbon. If you're going eco-friendly, twine might work too: wrap your cutlery in a disposable serving napkin and tie it with twine. Nearby you can put a New Year's gingerbread, a Christmas tree toy and even a dry twig. nine0003
7. More candles
Candles have long been perceived by us as an obligatory attribute of the New Year - on a festive night you cannot do without them. Tall candelabra or small perforated candlesticks will make the New Year's dinner truly magical. And if you want something uncomplicated, place candle-tablets all over the table - these little ones will set the right mood.
8. The theme of nature
Arrange animal figurines on the table (it can be a symbol of the coming year, owls, reindeer), decorate the candy bowl with cones and winter berries. And do not forget about the needles - its unique smell will allow you to fully feel the approach of the New Year.
