Kitchen Table Decorating Ideas

Kitchen tables can be a cheerful addition to a kitchen area, or they can be a space that collects clutter. Keep your table clutter-free by decorating it. Decorations will discourage your family members from placing their backpacks, paper, mail and other clutter on the table. Does this Spark an idea?

Simple

If you have a nice table, such as one that is made of solid wood, leave it bare. Let the natural tone and patterns of the wood grain shine through. Highlight the wood by placing a large round or oblong wooden bowl in the middle of the table, and fill it with colorful fruit. Or fill it with a seasonal objects, such as gourds in the fall or pine cones in the winter. This is a casual look that is also elegant in its simplicity.

Breakfast

Many kitchen tables are placed in the nook of a kitchen. These are often called "breakfast nooks," because family members often linger at the table in the morning, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea while reading the paper. If this is the case in your home, decorate your table to facilitate those cozy mornings. Cover the table with a bright, cheerful tablecloth that is also easy to clean. Add a bouquet of fresh flowers in the center of the table. Place a small basket with sugar, honey and creamer in the center of the table for coffee or tea.

Formal

Perhaps you and your spouse use the table at the same time. Create a formal, romantic look by placing a table runner down the center of the table, or cover the entire table with a high-quality linen (see "Resources" below). Try a traditional bouquet of red roses flanked by tall, white tapered candles, or place a single red rose in a bud vase next to a votive candle. Repeat the pattern down the length of the table runner.

Collectibles

If you collect something that relates to a kitchen, display it on your kitchen table. An old milk jug could display antique kitchen tools. Or display particularly attractive plate with a plate holder in the center of the table. Even an unusual cookie jar makes a great centerpiece for a kitchen table; it might even serve as a conversation starter.

Seasonal

Change the look of the table with the seasons. In the fall, try placing a large pumpkin in the middle of the table, surrounded by silk fall-colored leaves. In the winter, a friendly snowman sitting in the middle of your table will make your family smile. A pot of forced daffodils is a sunny way to welcome spring, and cool off in the summer with a pretty bowl full of water and floating flowers.