5 tips for a great dining space

It’s only been about 2.5 months since we finished our major kitchen remodel (see all of the details here).  If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that we LOVE our space.  It gets used heavily all hours of the day, and it’s just a dream to have such an amazing kitchen! 

Remember how my husband built us an 8 foot long farmhouse table?  It’s beautiful, but we were majorly lacking some color on this awesome table.  I teamed up with World Market to solve that problem, and now the top of our table is just as beautiful as the rest of the room! Come take a look:

 

 

Yep.  Kind of in love with all of the colors and patterns! 

I notoriously have a pretty plain table for our day-to-day use.  But I love being able to welcome guests over with a table that shows that I really put thought into their visit.  Although I would be equally as happy to visit someone and eat off of paper plates, it’s also really fun to play with some fun colors and patterns in a table setting!

Here’s the mood board I started with before I went shopping at World Market ( could only shop online because there’s no World Market near me – I so neeeed one near me!!)

 

The plates and tablecloth were really the big players for me in this arrangement.  Since they’re both so bold, I knew they had to be paired with some more neutral and earthy pieces throughout the table and serveware.

Tablecloth

 

I browsed through so many table setting ideas on Pinterest (I stay up way too late doing things like this…) and I came up with tips that my favorite table settings all incorporated.  Here’s 5 tips for a great dining space:

 

LAYERS.  This is a big one!  Use many layers on your table to create more depth and interest.  I used two tablecloths (one ivory, and then the patterned tablecloth) and then a runner on top of them.  I used chargers under the plates to layer even more.  I placed the napkins on top of the plates.  All of these elements come together to make a truly memorable table.

table runner // tablecloth // bowls // plates // chargers // napkins // napkin rings // cups

 

GREENS/FLOWERS.  Add some natural elements with greens or fresh flowers.  Use these in a centerpiece or place them directly on the table like I did.  You can add a little sprig tucked into each napkin ring for additional visual interest.  This doesn’t have to be expensive – use flowers from your garden, or go to your local nursery and get some inexpensive greens.  Mine cost $3!

 

HEIGHT. Add something in the middle of the table that stands out from the rest of the place settings.  I used these beautiful candleholders, and they truly help to center the table!

 

TEXTURE & COLOR. Play around with different textures and colors.  I love using wood with metallics, and burlap with linen or lace.  Mix hard and soft elements together – it makes for a truly collected feel that’s really beautiful.

white serving bowl // pitcher // tray

 

ATTITUDE.  Ok, so this isn’t truly a table setting tip.  But it’s still just as important!  Have FUN with your table.  Embrace imperfection, and don’t feel that every single thing needs to be perfectly in place.  I love going to someone’s home that doesn’t feel like an impersonal showroom, but a home that embraces real life with comfort, ease and style. 

 

wall medallion

 

 

While you’re here – you have to enter World Market’s Spruce Up Your Space Sweepstakes.  You can enter to win a $5,000 World Market shopping spree (craziness) & FREE room design with Decorist Celebrity Designer Kelli Ellis. If you don’t win the grand prize, you can be one of the three lucky people who will win a $1,000 shopping spree to World Market and a FREE room makeover with a Decorist Elite Designer. Enter here! (ends 8/30/2015)

In case you were wondering what Decorist is, Decorist provides affordable, accessible online interior design help. You can download a few photos of your space along with any inspiration you may have and your personal Decorist designer will begin transforming your space, in your style and budget.  How fun is that?!

 

Be sure to head over to see how these other bloggers spruced up their dining rooms with items from Cost Plus World Market!

Christina’s Adventures | Setting for Four | Craftaholics Anonymous | Kristi Murphy | Alyson M

 

Huge thanks to World Market for sponsoring this post.  I received products from them, but my love for them and their affordable designs is so genuine!  As always – all ideas and opinions are 100% my own!  Full disclosure found here.