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When it comes to decorating a dining table I’ve always stuck to a simple formula. One thing in the center of the table.
Sometimes it’s a large platter. Sometimes it’s a simple candle. Sometimes it’s a huge clam shell (which by now you’ve probably noticed is our new kitchen’s fruit bowl). I guess I never really thought about my table decorating technique until I started seeing cute little dining table vignettes in every publication from Domino to Pottery Barn (here’s an example from PB pictured below). You know what I’m talking about, those perfectly asymmetrical arrangements with some plates and a cup full or spoons- or a casual stack of napkins and a collection of glasses like this:
Well, I never thought I could pull of such a breezy “accidental” look, but when I actually thought about it there was nothing particularly difficult about the execution. So yesterday morning when my momma-in-law and I went on a mini-shipping spree, I decided to recreate the look on a budget. First we hit up Target, where I grabbed a $14 linen runner that’s identical to a spendier version I saw at Pottery Barn a few weeks ago. Next we ventured into Sur La Table, where I enthusiastically snatched up some gorgeous beachy glasses with woven straw sleeves (that slide off for easy dishwashing). Did I mention the glasses were originally $5.99 each but I got 6 of them for $12 since they were on sale for $1.99? Go team! Then I picked up two glass Pellegrino bottles at the grocery store for around $3.
So for less than 30 beans (plus an old vase, some free backyard greenery, and three mercury candle holders I already had) I ended up with this:
What do you think? I love it because it just seems so fresh and unexpected, especially to a girl who used to have a bare table with one measly candle in the middle.
I’m sure most of you already have everything you need to create this look for absolutely nothing. Try a stack of plates with some linen napkins, or a bottle of wine with some wine glasses and a bowl of apples. I even think a few bottles of Tang would be super cute grouped with some glassware and a few branches from outside in a vase (or even a ceramic pitcher). So go ahead and make a little vignette of your own. But don’t forget to send us the pics!
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I like it!
We have done the “accidental” arrangement for a while since the peanut butter jar MUST live on the table. So, it found a nice basket to live with the honey in. And the pepper grinder found a home beside the basket. Not as cute as yours, but still accidental!
Mmmmm, peanut butter. I’ll have to work that into my arrangement as well. A table just isn’t complete without it. Thanks for the cute story, and I’m glad to hear someone else is into “accidental” decorating!
xo
Sherry
I love all those dining table vignettes I see in magazines and websites, and yours is super cute! Ever since I moved into the new house that my fiance and I bought a couple months ago, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can pull off something like this. My biggest problem though, is that our dining room table tends to double as a computer/catch all desk, since we don’t have any sort of office space set up. But thanks for your great ideas, I absolutely love your blog!