ACCESSORIZING WITH TABLESCAPES

Ideas for accessory vignettes to complete a room’s total picture

By Nan Harris

Look at a natural landscape and you will notice that groupings of trees, grasses, hills and water against the backdrop of the sky make up nature’s total picture. The same visual concept can be applied to interior design elements we might refer to as tablescapes, displays of décor items on horizontal surfaces in a room. These décor vignettes bring personality to the room and add the eye-pleasing finishing touches that complete your decorated space.

Tablescapes should contain items of varying heights and sizes. Groupings of odd numbers (threes and fives) are most visually appealing. In your planned grouping, create a triangle; a tall vase can be placed next to a small stack of books or a decorative box and completed with a treasured collectible or sculpture. A lamp may be accompanied by a framed family photo and accented with a colorful ceramic bowl or shiny pot containing greenery. On the coffee table start with a metal or basket-weave tray and arrange pillar candles of various heights and widths for your grouping.

Create a tablescape of your favorite collectibles. Collections of figurines, boxes, dolls, antiques, etc., are often over-displayed by their collectors. They are much more attractive when grouped in smaller numbers in vignettes. Rotating the pieces of a collection throughout the year avoids boredom and creates interest.

Try composing a tablescape of same-colored glass items together on a shelf. Start with a plate on a holder to serve as an anchor for the grouping. Then allow varying sizes of vases and bottles to fill in the spaces in front of and next to the plate. Overlapping the edges of two out of three of the items adds dimension and helps to avoid the monotony of equal spacing. The variety of sizes and shapes of a single-colored theme is an eye-catching feature.

As you accessorize your room, remember that not all horizontal surfaces need to be occupied. If every surface is covered, there can be a feeling of uncomfortable busyness. Intentionally leaving some vacant horizontal space is a practical and artistic element of your room’s total picture.
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Nan Harris, Design Consultant and Décor Stylist, is the owner of Decorative Expressions, LLC in Geneva, IL, specializing in affordable home décor solutions for everyday living.
Phone: 630-715-3771
e-mail: decor2please@yahoo.com
http://www.decorativeexpressions.net/