Expressing your style with elegant and simple table tops and mantels. I think you should look at your tables and your mantel as a mini stages that both tell a story and invite the eye to wonder over your personal design. Keep in mind that the pieces you choose should not only showcase your personality but should also make sense to the over all scheme and design. Balance the functional with the decorative. The first thing you want to consider is leaving room for people to be able to put things on your tables. Spreading items out and keeping it simple. Never overdo- you need to balance heavily laden tables with one or two that are sparsely arranged. I have a few ideas and suggestions for you to use as a guide. This again is not an absolute rule, just a guide.
The Line Up is a great way to create a bold silhouette against a patterned wall. Place like items together in a single file line. By like items you can connect them by shape, design, color, or general material of the pieces.
Check and balance is a great place to start with the coffee table. When coffee tables sit low give them presence with a generous mass of flowers or a single tall flowering plant.
Group unexpected pieces to give you and your guests interesting objects to examine and pick up. When you place these items with purpose in symmetrical patterns they will make sense as a grouping.
Now that we have touched on the art of "tablescapes" let us turn our attention to the mantel.
In many homes the fireplace mantel is one of the best places to showcase your art, personal belongings, and more. There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to display on a mantel. Often times it all relates to the scale of the object in comparison to the mantel. There is also a large risk of turning that showcase into a cluttered mess.
Balance and Harmony is the most important aspect to design. Symmetry works well, but even if you prefer an asymmetrical look, balance is key to a well styled mantel. By placing objects at various heights and weights on it you create interest. If you are decorating with similar objects, point them in the same direction keeping angles identical. Place wide ones and heavy pieces with less substantial ones. It is important to place objects that relate to one another whether it they are connected them with a thread of color, material, or theme.
Keep the mantel itself in mind. What looks right on the mantel has a lot to do with the style, depth, and height of your mantel. It is important to consider its level of prominence in the room while choosing items to put on it. You would not want to place an old beat up rustic watering can on a mantel that surrounds marble tile and crown molding. The scheme of the look just does not flow cohesively. In the same respect you wouldn't place three crystal candle sticks on a log mantel with a river rock fireplace as it's backdrop. So pay attention to the design and style of the mantel, as a focal point the fireplace could set the entire scheme of the design.
Common thread is a mantel that has pieces that share a common interest. Such as color, style, theme, or material. The trick is to pair unexpected objects with those with contrasting shapes and textures. Nature is a terrific element to bring into the "mantel-scape." Objects from the outdoors can inspire simple and inexpensive mantels. Use shells, rocks, and driftwood, branches, or anything that will bring out the organic feel.
Always start with a focal point that has a distinctive shape. Then fill in the empty spaces with smaller finds. I add pieces in threes and follow a line from tallest to shortest. Look for the triangle in the grouping. Books make great building blocks to help.
The Line Up is a great way to create a bold silhouette against a patterned wall. Place like items together in a single file line. By like items you can connect them by shape, design, color, or general material of the pieces.
Check and balance is a great place to start with the coffee table. When coffee tables sit low give them presence with a generous mass of flowers or a single tall flowering plant.
Group unexpected pieces to give you and your guests interesting objects to examine and pick up. When you place these items with purpose in symmetrical patterns they will make sense as a grouping.
Now that we have touched on the art of "tablescapes" let us turn our attention to the mantel.
In many homes the fireplace mantel is one of the best places to showcase your art, personal belongings, and more. There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to display on a mantel. Often times it all relates to the scale of the object in comparison to the mantel. There is also a large risk of turning that showcase into a cluttered mess.
Balance and Harmony is the most important aspect to design. Symmetry works well, but even if you prefer an asymmetrical look, balance is key to a well styled mantel. By placing objects at various heights and weights on it you create interest. If you are decorating with similar objects, point them in the same direction keeping angles identical. Place wide ones and heavy pieces with less substantial ones. It is important to place objects that relate to one another whether it they are connected them with a thread of color, material, or theme.
Keep the mantel itself in mind. What looks right on the mantel has a lot to do with the style, depth, and height of your mantel. It is important to consider its level of prominence in the room while choosing items to put on it. You would not want to place an old beat up rustic watering can on a mantel that surrounds marble tile and crown molding. The scheme of the look just does not flow cohesively. In the same respect you wouldn't place three crystal candle sticks on a log mantel with a river rock fireplace as it's backdrop. So pay attention to the design and style of the mantel, as a focal point the fireplace could set the entire scheme of the design.
Common thread is a mantel that has pieces that share a common interest. Such as color, style, theme, or material. The trick is to pair unexpected objects with those with contrasting shapes and textures. Nature is a terrific element to bring into the "mantel-scape." Objects from the outdoors can inspire simple and inexpensive mantels. Use shells, rocks, and driftwood, branches, or anything that will bring out the organic feel.
Always start with a focal point that has a distinctive shape. Then fill in the empty spaces with smaller finds. I add pieces in threes and follow a line from tallest to shortest. Look for the triangle in the grouping. Books make great building blocks to help.
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