Dining Room: Modern Centrepieces To Bring Your Dining Table Into Focus
Define your dining area with our inspiring ideas for stylish centrepieces and eye-catching focal points
If the words ‘dining table’ and ‘centrepiece’ put you in mind of a clump of shiny green holly with a red candle plonked in the middle, think again. There are myriad ways to create a central focus for your dining space – and all a lot more chic and subtle than 1970s-style Christmas decorations.
Whether you have a spacious dining room with several features that aren’t quite coming together, or live in a smaller, open-plan space that needs an eating area to feel more separate, creating a visual hub is a clever design trick. What’s more, it doesn’t need to be expensive. Interpret the trend with the colours, materials and blooms that work for you – just so long as we get a dinner invitation so we can admire your handiwork…
Whether you have a spacious dining room with several features that aren’t quite coming together, or live in a smaller, open-plan space that needs an eating area to feel more separate, creating a visual hub is a clever design trick. What’s more, it doesn’t need to be expensive. Interpret the trend with the colours, materials and blooms that work for you – just so long as we get a dinner invitation so we can admire your handiwork…
Go for the drop
Twin pendants in chic, utilitarian metal are simple and fit this pared-back Scandi scheme. Lights on a rise-and- fall pulley system are practical and a visual treat, adding an extra element of interest without distracting from the overall muted calmness of the room.
Twin pendants in chic, utilitarian metal are simple and fit this pared-back Scandi scheme. Lights on a rise-and- fall pulley system are practical and a visual treat, adding an extra element of interest without distracting from the overall muted calmness of the room.
Reflect the sparkle
A chandelier is the most traditional centrepiece of all, and remains as effective as ever. To add interest to a chandelier, reflect the sparkle of the crystal with retro glass bell jars and a bunch of pearly catkins that reach upwards, as if to greet the light. Willow catkins, boughs of blossom or alliums would achieve this effect beautifully.
A chandelier is the most traditional centrepiece of all, and remains as effective as ever. To add interest to a chandelier, reflect the sparkle of the crystal with retro glass bell jars and a bunch of pearly catkins that reach upwards, as if to greet the light. Willow catkins, boughs of blossom or alliums would achieve this effect beautifully.
Line up pendants
The row of three copper pendants are the show-stealers in this dining room, but they also unite the warm tones of the timber and fabrics. Dimmer switches are essential in a scheme like this, creating an intimate atmosphere with a softer pool of light over the table. The bright trio also distracts attention from the world outside – useful if you live on a busy street.
Browse a selection of pendant lights
The row of three copper pendants are the show-stealers in this dining room, but they also unite the warm tones of the timber and fabrics. Dimmer switches are essential in a scheme like this, creating an intimate atmosphere with a softer pool of light over the table. The bright trio also distracts attention from the world outside – useful if you live on a busy street.
Browse a selection of pendant lights
Be bold with blooms
Monochrome tones and an orderly shelf display add up to a clean-edged look. Thankfully, the rigidity is softened with flowers – a traditional idea given a modern twist with a super-skinny vase. The pop of bright pink hydrangeas works brilliantly, but tall English blooms such as delphiniums or lilies would have the same effect.
Monochrome tones and an orderly shelf display add up to a clean-edged look. Thankfully, the rigidity is softened with flowers – a traditional idea given a modern twist with a super-skinny vase. The pop of bright pink hydrangeas works brilliantly, but tall English blooms such as delphiniums or lilies would have the same effect.
Colour-block with mats and runners
Now this dining table in a streamlined London kitchen does have a pendant light above it, but, for me, it’s the sunshine yellow place mats that really help the table feel like a separate zone. A table runner would work, too – an equally simple, inexpensive way to colour block for focus in a pale, pared-back space.
Learn how to play with colour
Now this dining table in a streamlined London kitchen does have a pendant light above it, but, for me, it’s the sunshine yellow place mats that really help the table feel like a separate zone. A table runner would work, too – an equally simple, inexpensive way to colour block for focus in a pale, pared-back space.
Learn how to play with colour
Sidestep the issue
Centrepieces don’t have to hang over the table. This ingenious wooden wine rack serves as a focal point for the table – and, we imagine, a talking point for guests. Without it, the grey brick wall could feel quite harsh, plus it’s a great space saver in this city extension.
Centrepieces don’t have to hang over the table. This ingenious wooden wine rack serves as a focal point for the table – and, we imagine, a talking point for guests. Without it, the grey brick wall could feel quite harsh, plus it’s a great space saver in this city extension.
Hold a candle to it
Where a dining table lies parallel to a breakfast bar, a visual element helps to keep one area more formal than the other. Here, a trio of sculptural candlesticks works as a pure and simple arrangement. On a dark runner they are an easy, effective statement and, when darkness falls, they can add the magical glow of candlelight.
Where a dining table lies parallel to a breakfast bar, a visual element helps to keep one area more formal than the other. Here, a trio of sculptural candlesticks works as a pure and simple arrangement. On a dark runner they are an easy, effective statement and, when darkness falls, they can add the magical glow of candlelight.
Reflect the wow factor
This dining space has a year-round holiday feel thanks to a wall-long aquarium. The tank is the real centrepiece, with its natural display of colour. So the table setting simply reflects its theme, with a shell-like vase and coral-like blooms. If an amazing artwork, mirror or mural takes up a wall, pay homage to its glory with a table display in a similar material or colour.
This dining space has a year-round holiday feel thanks to a wall-long aquarium. The tank is the real centrepiece, with its natural display of colour. So the table setting simply reflects its theme, with a shell-like vase and coral-like blooms. If an amazing artwork, mirror or mural takes up a wall, pay homage to its glory with a table display in a similar material or colour.
Add fruity flavour
Pick an interesting fruit bowl that acts as a focal point but also helps to link the table to the rest of the room. Here, splashes of yellow are echoed in the cushions, and the circular shape of the bowl is reflected in the artwork, the Bertoia chair and the porthole window. Subtle, but smart.
TELL US...
What are your favourite kinds of centrepieces? Let us know in the Comments.
Pick an interesting fruit bowl that acts as a focal point but also helps to link the table to the rest of the room. Here, splashes of yellow are echoed in the cushions, and the circular shape of the bowl is reflected in the artwork, the Bertoia chair and the porthole window. Subtle, but smart.
TELL US...
What are your favourite kinds of centrepieces? Let us know in the Comments.
We’re all in favour of bending the rules – and who said centrepieces have to be dead centre? This New York loft isn’t afraid to go out on a limb with a super-scaled photo and a pair of industrial lights. So a table runner arranged sideways and a quarter of the way along hits just the right note for a strikingly individual look.