Table Decor: How to Enhance Your Dining Experience!

As a color expert and interior color consultant, I sometimes paint a picture of grandiose color changes homeowners can make. But there are so many near-instantaneous, less-demanding color changes that can significantly impact design without much expense or time needed!

If you’re entertaining, we all know that the dining table will be the center of attention at some point in the evening. Let’s start there and discuss some options for enhancing your dining experience! 

It’s More Than Utilitarian 

So, why get excited about table decor? Why get excited about tableware, stemware, and silverware? Well, depending on the circumstances of the gathering, table decor has the power to change the entire space’s tone, aura, design orientation, and ambiance! By adding different table decor, a dining room or patio suddenly has a completely different expression of colors, patterns, and textures; a whole different vibe!

Let’s discuss how table decor can help improve your dining experiences and what methods you can adopt today to inspire your next gathering!

Table Decor – The Minimalist Approach 

Sometimes less is more, and while I think minimalism can be a tad overdone with today’s design trends, some tableware deserves the spotlight, and the results are fantastic. If you invest in handcrafted tableware, you’ll want it to stand out against the table’s backdrop and let the art speak for itself. 

I greatly appreciate the modern trend of using handcrafted ceramic and other natural stone materials for dishware. It’s about simplifying the presentation and marveling at the timeless craftsmanship that goes into making the dishes, bowls, and other dining peripherals. 

This simplistic approach also lets the focus be on what is being served. Are the meals you are serving colorful and aromatic? It’s a perfect example of what is most visually pleasing. With understated dishes, this approach features the meal you are about to enjoy.

How can this approach be accomplished? Picture an outdoor dining table with beautifully aged natural wood. There are places set with muted green, beige, pink, and blue handcrafted ceramic dishware. The only accompanying decor is the white napkins at each place setting and some silverware. The elegance of this presentation comes from its revealing simplicity, and it follows a similar design philosophy as a farmhouse design orientation.  

Table Decor – Getting Festive

Now, as we’re in the midst of the holiday season, I cannot skip the opportunity to discuss table decor contributing to the festive activities! 

Table decor is not just dishware; there are many beautiful and fun additions to the table that enhance the dining experience. Of course, it’s ok to have table decor intended for only certain occasions. For example, Williams Sonoma has a reputation for beautiful holiday dinnerware, glassware, and even candles and table sculptures. 

Whether it’s Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve, Christmas, or Kwanzaa, I suggest having one dedicated assortment of holiday table decor. Typically, these holiday sets have the core holiday colors as their foundational palette. The beauty is that you can build upon that color theme in the rest of your dining room or even the whole house! 

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Table Decor – Elaborate and Eye-catching

It’s not only the holidays that get an excuse to use eye-catching, elaborate, and even dramatic colors on the dining table. You can use table decor that takes center stage all year long! A large piece, such as a salad or fruit bowl with ornate patterning and lively colors, can make all the difference in the world and liven up an otherwise uninspired presentation! 

Need Help figuring out Where to Begin? 

I’m sure some of you are thinking, “Amy, that’s all well and good, but how can I determine which table decor or dishware set is right for my space? It’s not a small expense!” I get it; investing in new dishware or an entire dining room set is not trivial, and you want to ensure it will work with your surrounding dining space(s)/get the most use out of it. I suggest, as a first step, deciding what your priority is. Do you want understated dishes? Colorful dishes and glassware that make a statement? Or festive holiday table decor? 

Are you looking for color direction or guidance? Great news, my color app is here to help! The color911 app lets you capture the color arrangements you see daily and determine whether they will work for your interior or exterior spaces. You can also match the colors of your dishes to the decor of the room, bringing your design together, whether you are using tableware in holiday colors or matching the colors of dishes and linens that you will be using all year long. 

I love helping people discover color inspiration, and the color911 app is my most helpful tool yet!