7 Easy Steps to Create a Functional {& Stylish!} Tablescape
If you love creating a tablescape but struggling with how to do it while keeping a functional space, here’s help! Today I’ll show you how to do it so it’s a space that’s convenient, streamlined, and pretty, too! Just follow these 7 easy steps! Plug in the same formula for spring, fall, Christmas – any season!
The Dilemma of a Pretty Tablescape on a Table You Actually Use
One of my favorite things to decorate is my dining table. However, there is one problem. Since we do not have an eat-it kitchen, the dining table sees a lot of action on a daily basis. I’ve done pretty tablescapes in the past, but to be honest, it seems like it is destroyed in a matter of days (or minutes).
I have twin 6-year-old boys, and beyond the Legos and Hot Wheels that always find their way to the table, there’s the spills, the crumbs, and clearing it all away to do homework (yes. Homework. In first grade. Please – don’t get me started.).
I’ve really had to give some thought to how to make my dining table pretty and functional. I think it can be done.
Let me give you a few tips as to what worked for us.
How to Create a Simple and Functional (and Beautiful) Tablescape
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1| Use a Simple Table Runner – or skip it altogether.
I have to be honest – I have a love/hate relationship with table runners. I love, love, love how they look, but sometimes the stress it adds to my life is incalculable.
I’m on edge every time someone is eating or drinking on it because most of the time, they just aren’t able to be thrown in the washer that easily if someone spills on it.
This season, I opted for a very neutral table runner to start with… and in full disclosure, I ended up removing it after a few days.
I know so many people just can’t bear to part with it, so here’s my advice regarding a table runner:
If you love it and it doesn’t interfere with the ease or functionality of your table – or you don’t care that it does – then keep it.
If your table is wide enough where eating or drinking isn’t a problem, then you can certainly opt to keep it.
You also can think outside the box for an easy-to-wash table runner – such as a thin blanket or scarf, or a kitchen towel as an achor.
If it creates too much stress to keep it clean or it is just complicating things, get rid of it. Personally, I just pull it out for special occasions now and omit it for our everyday life.
Even if you choose to leave it out, you still can create a polished tablescape (see next steps! 😉)
2| Use placemats or charger plates (or both!) instead.
You might feel like your table won’t look put together without a runner, but using pretty placemats or charger plates can create a unified effect.
Generally, I like to have both – charger plates on top of a placemat (I have a neutral colored jute rope placemat set I purchased that work really well for every season), because it keeps the placemat somewhat protected from food and drinks.
Charger plates are typically easier to clean than placemats – just a quick wipe down – but they give your table a really polished look.
So, if I have to pick one or the other, I’ll go with a charger plate over a placemat. This season, I just went minimalist and just used large square white plates, to keep things simple.
Hobby Lobby has their usually 40-50% off sales on things like placemats and charger plates. You can also get them very inexpensively at places like Dollar Tree, so you can change them out easily for every season, if you’d like!
You also can use large white dishes as charger plates if you have them, and place a small plate on top.
3| Use fancy paper plates.
There. I said it. Yes – use paper plates! There are so many cute ones out there (think of stylish party sections in stores like Target or Home Goods or Hobby Lobby).
You can use those plates to add a little decor without having to leave ceramic or porcelain out on the table. And yes, such an easy dinner clean up after that, right?
I purchased these on clearance at Marshalls or Home Goods, but Amazon also has a wonderful selection if you want to fancy it up!
I also think these plates are especially pretty for spring or summer!
3| Place linen napkins or pretty dish towels under or next to the plates.
Don’t get me wrong – I keep paper napkins on the table. But I love using a linen napkin or what has become my favorite – dish towels from Target’s Bulleye’s Playground (this is my favorite dishtowel set right now, which is pictured below, but they have so many to choose from!) – to place under the plate to add some color and interest.
These are very handy to have around as well if you have spill you need to clean up quickly, but I love the look of them on a table!
5| Use a tray as an anchor for a centerpiece.
One thing that was always a struggle for me when creating a tablescape was having to move it all off when we needed to eat. There was the garland, the candles, the centerpiece itself… just so many pieces!
Instead, I started to use a tray as an anchor for my centerpiece and other decor. Then, at dinnertime, it’s removing one single tray, not all of this decor in different pieces.
You can make this all pretty and stylish or you can also…
6| Make a pretty display of dining necessities on a tiered tray.
Another thing that always bothered me was that we actually needed napkins and salt and pepper on the table. But that isn’t really a pretty Instagram picture, is it?
What I decided to do was take a small, inexpensive tiered tray I got from Target and make a someone what pretty display with all the necessary items.
I bought pretty salt and pepper shakes from Target, made a cute rustic napkin holder -and then I placed those things along with some small decor on the tiered tray. I included a small bud vase, a little sign, and that added a little decor while still remaining functional.
That way, we had what we needed already at the dining table, but it still looked a little pretty, too.
I actually used the tiered tray as part of my anchored centerpiece because dinnertime can be chaotic enough. I just wanted to streamline things.
You certainly could opt to have the tiered tray on a kitchen counter and swap it out the anchor tray at dinner time. But I really just wanted to have a functional table for all hours of the day because someone is always coming or going, needs a napkin, etc.
That was why I chose to make it kind of pretty – so I could just keep it out all the time.
Here are some tiered trays you can check out if you don’t have one already! A two-level tray works best for a functional table!
7| Add in fancier items for the holiday or party itself.
Sometimes, you do want your table to be a little fancier for a special occasion, more than it is for everyday use. You can do that, too!
If you want to dress up your tablescape for a brunch or holiday, just add in those pieces before the main event. You can add a table runner, throw in some garland and votive candles. You can swap out a tray for a beautifully decorated dough bowl.
The tablescape I described is for your everyday life – to have something pretty to add to your decor day in and day out. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
You can add in more decor and accents as you are hosting parties or entertaining, and keep it simple for the every day.
Below you can see my entire display for spring, but of course, this works like magic for any season.
An Easy & Functional Tablescape to Keep Life Simple (and Pretty)
And there you have it. It truly doesn’t need to be complicated to look stylish and it doesn’t need to look boring to be functional. You can easily combine style with function, without sacrificing either. Here’s a few pictures of the entire look together:
Are there times when I wish I could fancy it up? Sure, but that’s my whole house. If you have kids, you know hopes like that is living in a dreamworld. Those days will come for sure, but by then, I’m sure I’d wish for a less styled house and just some more time with my kids.
Homes are really the background for our families, for our lives. Yes, I think they should bring us joy to look at them, they should be orderly and contribute to a feeling of peace and relaxation and respite for our tired souls instead of contributing to unrest and chaos.
But whatever you choose, you need to make it work for you and your family. If too much styling is stressing you out, come up with ways to simplify while keeping it stylish and functional.
More Examples of Simple and Functional Tablescapes
As I create more of these simple tablescapes for each season, I’ll add some photos here – often, a few versions of the same setup!
Below is just a bare bones table set up, with no placemats or place settings. The cakestand has some decor, but you can easily add salt and pepper shakers to keep it functional.
Here it is with a runner and some place settings – but as I said, you can put all of your functional items on the cakestand. You also could remove the runner and use a dish towel as anchor (or nothing at all!).
More Home Decor Ideas
If you need a little more inspiration for your home – for tablescapes, seasonal decor, pretty much everything, take a look below or search for what you’re looking for in in the search box on the right sidebar!
30 Breathtaking Spring Tablescapes and Centerpiece Ideas
30 Breathtaking Valentine’s Day Table Decor: Centerpieces & More!
Soft, Pretty, Elegant Farmhouse Valentine Tablescape Idea
How to Decorate Your House on a Tight Budget {Farmhouse Style!}
Simple, Clean, Classy Valentine Vignette Decorating Ideas
Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape + Free Printable Place Cards
30 Rustic Farmhouse Thanksgiving Place Settings for a Stunning Holiday Table
If you try any of these ideas, I’d love to see them! Tag me on Instagram or leave a comment on Pinterest!
Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!
