An easy way to add style and a bit of smartness to your rooms is to consider a table decorating feature.  This can be done on your dinning room table or kitchen table, your coffee table or sideboard.  Anywhere you can find space!  More everything off the tops of your surfaces and replace with pretty, well-grouped objects to create charm as well as conveying your personal style.  I prefer to include useful objects as well as my personal favourites.  I collect antiques but these are often heavy, dark and old-fashioned.  However they can group well in certain settings if you include modern vases, flower arrangements, pictures and other nick-nacks (nick-nacks (plural noun) – 1. small worthless objects, especially household ornaments.)  Don’t think of ‘nick-nacks’ as worthless-if they mean something to you, they will bring joy and calm into your life.  Just, however don’t allow yourself to be surrounded with clutter (no matter how much you love it).

In order not to clutter, you have to arrange your objects so that they are pleasing to the eye.  A display of 3/4 grouped objects work well.  Think:  a vase, a box, a figurine and a candle of various size and shapes.  I like to use a simple tray or large flat bowl to arrange my objects in as this will contain and define them, plus it is so easy to swap them over when you feel like displaying a new or pre-loved objects.  Below is my simple tray and various arrangements of my favourite objects for my coffee table.  I like to keep a couple of small colourful bowls in the tray (for t-bags or olive pip collection) and coasters; they look pretty but also have their uses!  The flowers and doves are just pretty!  Here are three different looks using the same tray and changing out the objects.

Try re-arranging the objects on your tray till you get a good look.

Another arrangement of objects – the box could contain coasters or toothpicks or notepaper.

books are a great way to add height to a display. Choose similar types of books.

I also like to use bowls and apply the same design ideas.  Small groups of objects; useful objects, beautiful or trendy or just personal items.  Keep moving them around until they look correct and feel pleasing to the eye.  Don’t forget you can include your favourite mug or cup and saucer, they will add a personal touch as well as giving you pleasure.  Try out different ones.

I always like the look of wicker/rattan baskets and they are so useful to keep your odds and ends in one place.  This wicker platter is perfect on my coffee table with a collection of useful and pretty objects.  I love the handy container (in a later post, I will show how you can make your own fabric container) for my remotes, the coasters are colourful and so is the pretty t-towel.  You know that T-towel which is too nice to use and just sits in the cupboard – now you can show it off and add colour and texture to your display.  A few flowers in a low vase completes the look.  You can never have enough vases.  The one is the picture below is earthenware at top and gold at bottom.  It’s actually a toothbrush holder I bought at a bathroom shop on sale for $5…..yep, I’ll have that and use it as a vase!

Large round and light wicker platter can hold lots of lovely objects

Another idea with the basket is to collect foliage and/or natural objects and include them.  I know, bird’s nests and pine cones are completely useless BUT they are charming and peaceful. Personally I have to add some natural items even if just leaves or flowers to enhance the display.  In the first picture, the same wicker bowl was used as centerpiece for my dinning room table, and I added napkins, coasters and my favourite T-towels in ‘creatures of the forest prints’.  Then finished it off with a bunch of lavender which I crushed to give off the scent.  Don’t be afraid to try out different items but do iron your T-towels, don’t leave them crumpled as I have!  I love my ethnic salt and pepper woman.  I don’t put pepper – instead I fill with pink and white salt and my guests can help themselves.  A candle and box of toothpicks completes the display.  If you like my metallic gold rose serviette rings – they were on special for 50 cents each at K-Mart!

Side tables or sideboards are again a space where you can arrange your favourite objects.  Remember the objects that you have collected, loved and kept all these years will reflect your personality.  You don’t have to rush off to the Decorator shop and buy all new stuff.  On a sideboard with a wall at the back, you can line your objects up and concentrate on the shape and heights.  Again I like to use books to add height and to display my favourite titles!  Below are some of my favourite objects.  An antique clock I picked up years ago which doesn’t work and a old Flemish tile with a gold frame.  Play around with the arrangement until it feels right.  Sometimes you have to remove an object as it draws too much attention.  The objects much compliment each other.

I like to shop for vases (you can never have enough) at the Light Box in Glenelg.  They are online as well so check them out soon and as they often have specials.  They have great framed art work too.  One or two pieces on a wall could really enhance the look of a boring wall space.

Here are some other people’s examples.  A bowl of fruit, particularly apples or lemons which are bright and fresh looking, are a good addition as well as a picture on the wall behind if there is room.  Send me your examples and I will display them here!  Good luck and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Next blog post will be DYI easy home décor – don’t spend a fortune on cushions, trays or curtains.  Check out my next blog on how to create your own furnishings using next to nothing items from Op shops. 🙂