Art of the Table!

We’re officially in the season of giving, sharing and entertaining! Speaking of which, on behalf of everyone here at Change of Space, we hope everyone celebrated a fantastic Thanksgiving this past week! Being around family and friends at my Thanksgiving table is what sparked this blog for me – table design. We can bring the same amount of interest and detail that we put in our interior space, into this concept; and why not when it seems to be the place that people naturally tend to gather around? Of course, you can choose to have a basic display for every day of the year, but I’m going to give you some helpful hints when it comes to decorating a bit more extravagantly for those special occasions such as holidays, birthdays or a romantic dinner at home.

When it comes to table design, the first thing I like to do is determine the event and decide on a theme. For example, I recently designed a table for Thanksgiving and decided on a natural theme. Christmas will be the next occasion and some great theme ideas to get you started could range anywhere from a rustic theme to a red and white peppermint one! It’s easy to get carried away with ideas, so I find that it helps to limit yourself to one theme that fits in with your other décor motif before you even start shopping around for accessories.

The next step is determining your main attraction; the centerpiece. The centerpiece is going to act as your focal point – similar to the concept of a fireplace; you want it to draw all the attention. An important design element to focus on here is scale; you want your centerpiece to be horizontally and vertically proportionate. For example, if you have a long rectangular table, you are going to want something that mimics the length; otherwise the ends are going to look pretty bare and only the people sitting in the middle get to enjoy the centerpiece. When it comes to the height of your centerpiece you have to be careful that you don’t make things too tall. Nothing is worse than hosting a dinner party, sitting down to eat or socialize and realizing that you can’t see the people across from you. Long and low is the concept that I find usually wins every time – that and an array of tea light candles down the table.

Next we move to the plate area and I really like to emphasize the technique of layering here. Underneath your plate should be some sort of mat, whether that be a plate charger, place mat, or my personal favorite, BOTH! There are so many options here, you could use a rectangular place mat and a square charger turned to make a diamond shape, you could use a square place mat and a circular charger, the options are endless. I like to use something underneath the plate to ‘ground’ the plate. Similar to how an area rug defines an area, so does a charger or mat; without it, your plate can look lost on the table. Plus, what a great way to bring some texture to the table! For instance, with my Thanksgiving natural theme, I used a jute place mat with a slate charger – both natural elements.

Speaking of layering, the next layer would be the plate itself. I like to think of the plate the same way I think of big furniture pieces – keep them neutral and accessorize them with color. This is why in most restaurants, you will find you are served a white plate. If you had to change your dishes to fit in with every design idea you had, you’d spend a small fortune in dishware. White plates allow your food to be the star of the plate and are guaranteed to go with any table theme. You’ll thank yourself when the only thing you have to change up are the small accessories.

Yes, small accessories are the next thing on the list. On this list should be place holders, fabric napkins and napkin rings - unless you use the napkin origami methods or fold the napkin between the salad and dinner plate. Place holders are a small way to make a big impact; nobody likes to guess where they are sitting and it definitely personalizes their area. I also recommend using handwriting instead of typography for their name. Something about the handmade touch adds some warmth to the table. An added bonus of place holders? They’re a great way to push your theme to the next level. Fabric napkins are an instantaneous way of making the affair a formal one and they’re also a great way to bring some softness and color to the table. A lot of times I like to layer two napkins; a white and a colored or patterned one to stick out of the bottom. Don’t forget those napkin rings! Sometimes I even like to use two different sets and alternate them every other setting.

Of course there are even more things you can do to make your table your own! Like I said, the possibilities are endless, and it’s hard to go wrong! Be sure to accompany your setting with the proper placement of flatware and stemware and you are all set to host a beautiful evening!