How to Create Tabletop Vignettes

While nice furniture and quality flooring can add style to your home, it is also the smaller details that matter. Perhaps one of the most effortless ways to add sophistication to your home’s decor is by stylishly arranging vignettes on the tabletops and shelves. Creating such grouping is a form of art that, when done correctly, can be eye-catching.

You can use all kinds of accessories to form eye-catching vignettes. Plus, vignettes can be reinvented as the season changes or when you find a new piece or simply at your whim. To help you master vignettes, here are some tips for putting together great arrangements?:

Select an Anchor Piece

Start off by selecting an anchor piece. Your anchor piece is what makes a bold statement. Since this will serves as the center of interest, you must select an item that has value to you. Choose an item that has some visual width and height. Mix up the texture of the items as well. That means hard and soft, shiny textured items can all be displayed together.

Give Consideration to Visual Structure

Visual structure is everything; therefore, arrange items into a form. This type of structure will prevent things from looking thrown together. The shorter objects should be positioned at the outer edges. Linear arrangements only work if there is a relationship between the selected pieces. There should also be a hint of contrast.

Use Odd Groupings

To make a dramatic impact, try arranging similar objects in odd number groupings. For instance, objects arranged in groups of three and fives are more visually appealing.

Do Not Forget the Background

The background plays a vital role in the display. Busy wallpaper can cause the arrangement to look chaotic. It is vital that the background complements and unify the vignette. White walls are a neutral background. If you want to dress things up a bit, mirrored backgrounds can increase visual interest by magnifying light and color.

Build Around a Lighting Source

Your vignette will likely go unnoticed if you build it in a dark corner. Therefore, it is best to select a location that is well-lit so that your guests will be able to get the full effect of your arrangement.

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Ideal Measurements for the Perfect Dining Room Layout

Are you in the midst of decorating your dining room? The key to creating the perfect dining area that is both highly functional and well designed is having the appropriate measurements for the space. In fact, taking the ideal measurements for the dining room ensures that you do not form a layout that is uncomfortable and awkward to navigate. Keep in mind that you will be having meals with your family and entertaining in this area, thus understanding the dimensions of the room will help you create an enjoyable dining experience.

Understanding Dimensions

Planning for the perfect dining area requires that you are aware of the dimensions of the dining area. You will need to select furnishings that allow for clearances to maneuver, and you should also focus on purchasing pieces that are proportionate to the size of the dining room. Here are some standard measurements for the average dining table:

  • Rectangular Dining Table: Of course, the contour and size of the dining area should determine what type of table that you select. Rectangular-shaped dining tables will fill up narrow dining areas. If you desire a rectangular dining table, then you should consider one that goes with the dimensions of the room. Start off by measuring the length and width of the table. A standard size rectangular dining table measures about “36-40” inches wide. Depending on how many people you want to seat, it measures as much as 60” inches long to seat up to six people.
  • Round Dining Table: Round dining tables are a space-saving option because they often lack square corners. Round dining tables are ideal for smaller-scaled spaces. An average round table is approximately 48 inches in diameter. If you are considering adding a round table to your dining room, you will want to select something that can accommodate your desired amount of diners.

Walking Room

Whatever type of table you select, to furnish your table, be sure to leave at least 36 inches between the table area and the walls. This will give you enough space to move throughout the room.

Place Setting

What about the diners? When eating at the table, it is essential to make sure that there is enough space between each place setting. Each place settings should be at least 24 inches apart. This gives the diner elbow room and at least 20 inches of legroom underneath the table.

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Casual Dining Room

A casual dining room is not about table shape or size or whether chairs are padded or not. It’s the style of table and chairs, lighting and accessories that define a dining room as casual or more formal.

Take a look at the two dining rooms to the left. Both circular tables seat six comfortably. The dining chairs are padded and both have a chandelier hanging overhead. Let’s compare the two rooms to define casual dining spaces.

Table style: The formal table has a wood top and legs, with a top that needs to be protected from heat and water. The casual table allows both warm foods and wet glasses on it without damage. Notice that the chairs are also wipe-off in the casual room.

Lighting: Both of these rooms have plenty of natural light. The formal dining room has its chandelier hanging lower, making for a more intimate dining experience. The sconces on the back wall provide additional lighting if needed when you use the buffet. The style is also dressy, with a graceful and involved shape and candle-shaped light bulbs. Take a look at the casual chandelier. It is set higher to brighten the entire room rather than just the table and the little shades create a more casual feeling. Its lines are also much simpler.

Accessories: The large mirror, floor-to-ceiling curtains and the items on the windowsill all add to the formality and style of the dining room. In the casual room, accessories are much more limited. This may be because of the position of the room as part of the traffic pattern of the home, and a casual dining space may be used in many ways such as a place to pay bills or do homework. This makes it inconvenient to deal with too many accessories.

When deciding whether to have a formal or casual dining space, make plans based on the type and amount of use it will have, and then decorate it to suit your functional requirements. And remember, with a few candles and fresh flowers, you can make even the most casual dining room something special.

Warm Up your Dining Table

With autumn bringing family holidays, adding some special touches to your dining table or buffet can turn a simple dinner into something special. A fall-themed centerpiece or other elements also provide additional warmth to your home. Here are a few ideas.

Table runners: Catalogs, home shops and even discount stores all can be great resources for lovely table runners. Place a runner on your table and add a couple of candlesticks and brighten up your dining room very simply. Add placemats and dinner is ready. Table runners also work well to embellish simple tablecloths. Switching a runner is one of the fastest ways to change a room’s mood.

Flowers: Chrysanthemums – either in a pot or a vase – say fall easily and inexpensively. Place a few pots on either side of your buffet or one large vase in the center of your dining table. For a simpler and easy look, cut flowers shorter and put in a series of juice glasses. Use rubber bands to hold the stems together – making the small flower arrangements appealing and organized.

Centerpieces: Don’t limit your ideas to flowers and candles. Gourds, a bowl of mixed nuts, fall leaves – real or silk – and some apples or pears can be combined with baskets or pottery bowls and platters to create a tablescape that catches the eye. Just add place settings and you’re ready for a party or family gathering.

Candles: Whether you choose tall tapers or small votives, candlelight adds warmth and charm to any room. if you are concerned about fire and small children, look for battery-powered LED lights that mimic flames.

With just a few minutes and a little thought, you can turn your dining room from a place to eat to an inviting and appealing space. Take the time to make your dining table special and your family and friends will appreciate the result.

A Dining Room that is Functional and Appealing

Some smart decisions help make this dining room work particularly well.

When you have the space, a buffet is always an asset. Depending upon the event, it’s nice to have the top of the buffet available for appetizers or self-help desserts. With a larger party, the chairs can be pulled toward the walls, enabling you to use both the buffet and the table for food presentation.

It’s convenient to have the dining room accessible to the backyard for indoor-outdoor entertaining. Because this dining room, from Fulton Home’s Harmonique model at Ashcreek, has access to the back patio, it can be used during a barbeque as a place to stage cold food. Or you can set it up for people who prefer to eat inside and they will still feel like part of the group.

The dramatic chandelier is hung perfectly – at 30-34 inches above the dining table. Notice that the table, chandelier and lamp on the buffet all have similar metal elements. This helps keep the room in balance given the amount of wood present.

When it comes to draperies, adding a wide border of contrasting or patterned fabric to either the top or bottom of each panel creates a striking look. This drapery length is smart. It provides some of the luxurious feeling of pooling at the floor while staying short enough to make it easy to get in and out of the sliding glass doors. The weight of the fabric is also important. A lighter panel would be difficult to manage on windy days.

Choosing wood rather than carpeting for the flooring is also a smart decision. With people coming in from outside, wood is easier to keep clean. With the right finish, once-over with a dust mop will pick up most dirt quickly.

Altogether, this room was designed for entertaining, whether you’re talking about a formal dinner for eight, or a casual pot-luck supper for several families.