I grew up in a home where the furniture was arranged, and rearranged again, several times a year. The accents were carefully placed and colors specifically chosen to create an atmosphere that was comfortable, yet beautiful.  My mom knew (and still knows) how to style her home.

It kinda rubbed off on me.

My favorite class in high school?  Interior design.

Then came the time for me to have my own home to decorate. As I watched my husband and his friends carry in furniture into our tiny first apartment, I sat on the floor by my coffee table and styled a centerpiece out of what I had. I was surrounded by boxes and yet I couldn’t just leave that coffee table sitting there empty for one minute longer. He walked past me while carrying a heavy mattress,  shook his head, smiled and asked what I was doing. “Ummm… decorating?”

Four kids and four homes later, styling our home has become one of my greatest joys, and I want to share it with you.

Some questions you may be asking yourself: What does it mean to style your table?  Why go to the effort of being creative with my table?  Isn’t it expensive and time consuming?  How do I start?

What does it mean to style my table?

Styling your table can be as simple or elaborate as you choose. There is no right or wrong way to style your table and your style may change from one month to the next. In basic terms it means to decorate your dining/kitchen table to add a little fun, seasonal decor and/or ambience .

 

Why go to the effort of being creative with my table?

 Dinnertime is a special time because for lots of families it may be the first time all day that everyone has been in the same room at the same time. It’s a time to recover from our day apart and catch up by telling stories, asking questions and sharing a meal. Being creative in decorating your table adds an element of fun to dinnertime and makes dinner feel more like an event. It feels special to bring out the lighter and light candles for the first time all day, allowing yourself to take a deep breath and smile at the faces around you as they glow in the candlelight.

Candles add a warmth to your dinnertime, like this centerpiece from Lehman lane.

Isn’t it expensive and time consuming?

Styling your table doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. It can be as simple as putting a tablecloth on the dinner table with one candle in the center (don’t forget to light it at dinner!). If you have children, you can send them outside while you are making dinner with the task of bringing in a few pieces of nature to add to the dinner table centerpiece- leaves, rocks they find fascinating or flowers. I will encourage you to shop your home before going out and buying anything to decorate your table to both save you time and money.

 

How do I start?

I want you to think in layers.

 

Craft paper and plaid blankets give this table some layers at this city farmhouse.

• First layer: Fabric/Tablecovering

  • Tablecloths
  • Place mats
  • Table Runners
  • Fabric Napkins

Crushing on everything in this photo from By Dawn Nicole. Love the Kraft paper tablecloth (did you see the written names?!), simple dishes and fun surprise pumpkin on each plate.

• Second layer: Dishes and Silverware

  • Charger- This is a large round looking place mat or plate which can be used to dress the table up for holidays but not necessary for everyday.
  • Add your plates, bowls, glasses and silverware

I love the simplicity of this centerpiece from little green notebook.

• Third Layer: Style

  • Style the center of your table with a centerpiece. There are endless options for centerpieces and I will be sharing some ideas with you in future posts. For today start with a candle, a vase of flowers or your kid’s latest Lego creation (what a great family topic at dinnertime!)
  • Add place cards. Normally this would only need to be done for formal events, but when my kids set the table, they create place cards out of index cards to put on each plate. In all honesty, they only do this so that they can reserve the seat next to mom or dad. HaHa!
  • Finishing Touches- wrap the silverware in twine or ribbon, add fabric napkins or a little surprise on each plate.

 

Do I use all of these elements of table decorating every time we sit down to a meal?

No way.

Do I use some of these elements on a daily basis?

I try.

The point is this–> treat dinnertime as a time worth celebrating; a time that can feed your soul and your senses as much as your tummy!

 

Watch for another Style your Table post coming next week:

Styling your Thanksgiving Table.

 

Also…

If you haven’t entered Alisha’s Yasso Bar Giveaway yet, it ends today at 4:00 pm!

Be sure to enter today!