Hard To Resist Blog
Choosing a Table Centrepiece: A Complete Guide
Thursday 19th December 2024
When decorating your home, table centrepieces can often be overlooked in favour of other decorations, such as wall art or even hanging decorations.
However, table centrepieces have their own charm, and can even become the focal point of the room.
From large glass bowls and dishes to elegant pieces of art, a table centrepiece can elevate any room and create a wonderful ambience within the room.
Why Do You Need a Table Centrepiece?
You may be questioning why you need a table centrepiece - will anybody look at it, or will it just sit there gathering dust?
Well, when chosen correctly, a suitable table centrepiece will be the talk of the room, and can even work as a good conversation starter when having a dinner party.
The larger the table, the larger the centrepiece can be, meaning that you could opt for an item such as a large plate, which can make for the perfect centrepiece.
Additionally, large glass bowls can double up as fruit bowls or even bread baskets if you are hosting a dinner party.
Smaller tables should not be excluded, though - while larger tables such as dining tables which can seat upwards of six or even eight people can accommodate larger centrepieces, smaller tables can also have their own charm.
For example, tall, thin glass vases complement smaller tables incredibly well.
For something more subtle and minimalistic, a glass candle holder can help create a warming vibe in the room, and we all love a candlelit meal for two, don't we?
Complement Your Home Decor
Of course, there's no point in choosing the ideal table centrepiece without taking into account the decor in your home. Colour schemes are incredibly important when it comes to choosing the right table centrepiece, as well as the furniture that you have.
For example, if your home is fairly neutrally-coloured, or a classic colour scheme such as magnolia, then neutral-coloured ornaments and table centrepieces can work, but perhaps something a little brighter might be more up your street.
This is because, with neutral-coloured homes, neutrally-coloured decorations can sometimes go unnoticed, and when you're buying a table centrepiece, you do not want it to go unnoticed.
Instead, you should opt for something colourful, such as this orange dish, which can really bring out the colours in your home. It's even better when the sun catches it, and lovely hues of sparkling orange and citrus colours dance around the room.
On the other hand, if your home is quite vibrantly coloured, a neutrally-designed table centrepiece may work in your favour instead. Of course, it's not to take away from the vibrant nature of your home, and nor will it disappear amongst the bright colours, but it will instead create a calming ambience.
For some inspiration, how about something like this Metro dish?
Seasonal Decorations
This is always a great excuse to buy more decorations - and let's face it - we rarely need an excuse to buy more table centrepieces!
For celebrations such as Easter, why not go with the spring theme? Many people around the country, and in fact, the world, have Easter dinners on Easter Sunday or Easter Monday, and sticking with the spring theme, items such as light blues or light green ornaments fit perfectly for the season.
Later in the year, in autumn, reds, oranges and yellows go perfectly as a table centrepiece. Pumpkins are a popular theme, but if you're not into Halloween, or prefer something more autumnal without going all-out, then take the colours in mind and pick an ornament that just says autumn - something like our Autumn Tree works as the perfect table centrepiece for the cooler months.
The beauty of winter decorations is that they can be used from about October to March without anyone claiming that they were still used over the Christmas period. Icy whites or blues work incredibly well, such as these Art Deco-style vases, which have a wintry theme, contributing to the cold yet charming feel of contemporary winter decoration.
Of course, the festive season is a fantastic time to get some specialist table centrepieces out - and we're not just talking about your great-grandmother's bowl of potpourri which has been covered in dust and had no scent since 1982! Christmas-coloured ornaments and decorations in rich reds, dark greens and sparkling golds help to add that festive feel to your home, and the beauty of having a traditional-themed Christmas means that you can get more than one of these ornaments - one for your dining table, perhaps another for your coffee table, and maybe even one for your desk in the office?
Measurements Matter
It's important to take the dimensions of table centrepieces into account. As mentioned earlier, while larger tables have more scope for larger decorative pieces and table centrepieces, this should not necessarily always be the case. It's also important to bear in mind the size of the piece itself.
For instance, smaller areas should have smaller decorations, so something such as a large round vase - while not necessarily tall - can take over too much of the table, while a taller vase can actually look perfectly placed on a small table, provided it is thin enough that both parties can see each other at the table.
On the other hand, a tall decoration can occasionally look out of place on a long table, especially if there are lots of people seated at the table, or if there are multiple dishes on the table, such as a Christmas dinner, for example.
On the contrary, a longer but shallower piece would work wonders as a table centrepiece, such as a large dish.
As mentioned earlier in the article, this could even double up as a bowl to place bread rolls in, or even string lighting to add a warming glow to the table.
Table Centrepiece Inspiration
Of course, this would not be a complete guide to choosing the perfect table centrepiece without providing some ideas of our own, to inspire your next table centrepiece choice.
Functional Pieces
For those who like multi-use ornaments, then it is important to choose a table centrepiece which can be used for multiple different functions but still looks just as good on its own.
Examples of this type of ornament include vases - whether you opt for a round vase, or a square vase (and whether it is small or large), you can place flowers in it to create the most stunning floral display as your centrepiece.
Our advice is always to go with seasonal flowers, and flowers that match the colour of the vase, and the decor in the room, to complement them both and elevate them to the next level.
Alternatively, you could opt for a large bowl which could be used as a fruit bowl.
Candles
Candles make for a wonderful table centrepiece. Whether you opt for a tall glass candle holder or something fit for a tealight, there are numerous ways in which candle holders can be used to decorate rooms in your home and be used as table centrepieces. Read our article on candle holders for more inspiration and ideas.
Special Occasions
How can you decorate for special occasions? Surprisingly, you do not need to be a wedding co-ordinator or a professional florist in order to create stunning table centrepieces for super special occasions.
Using clear glass ornaments can help to create the perfect ambience for something such as a wedding celebration, an anniversary get-together or even an engagement party.
Similarly, these vases, bowls and other table centrepieces can be surrounded with natural or dried flowers, leaves and more, and, depending on the season, can create the most beautiful displays regardless of the season.
So if you're hosting a special birthday, party, or any other type of celebration, you can rest easy knowing that your table centrepiece will be the least of your worries.
Looking After Your Table Centrepiece
The primary advantage that glass has over other materials is that it is so easy to maintain.
Glass vases and bowls which have been used for foodstuffs can be cleaned with neutral soaps and warm water.
Other glass table centrepieces which are left as they are can simply be dusted with a clean cloth.
Glass does not scratch or become damaged in the same way that other materials do, which is why you should opt for a glass decoration for your next table centrepiece.
Finally, glass is 100% recyclable and makes for an environmentally-friendly decoration - perfect for those who are conscious about their impact on the natural world.
Conclusion
Overall, there are many different types of table centrepieces to choose from. Large vases, long bowls, square plates and more all have their own individual appeals and charms, but ultimately, the choice rests on you.
It's important to bear in mind the design and colour schemes in your home, so that the table centrepieces complement rather than contrast them, and you should make sure that you take care of them so that they can last for years to come.
If you would like any more decoration inspiration, feel free to check out the rest of the blogs on our website here.