The Art of Arranging

The more examples I see of well-executed tablescapes, the more I believe they are an artform. The ability to create thoughtfully curated arrangements has certainly eluded me more often than not. I thought I'd dedicate this post to the art of the tablescape and contemplate what makes up a good one.

First, a little background. The term tablescape is generally attributed to the late great British designer David Hicks. A basic definition is the artful grouping of items from works of art, everyday objects, flower arrangements etc. Hicks was a true master at it. As he put it,"What is important is not how valuable or inexpensive your objects are, but the care and feeling with which you arrange them.”

An example of a David Hicks tablescape from the early 1970's.

The great news is creating a tablescape doesn't have to cost a thing, but it can have a huge impact in a room. I urge you to look around your home for accessories or collections you may have to work with. Sometimes pulling a piece from one room and placing it in a new setting works wonders. You can turn your coffee table, nightstand, mantle or shelf into the setting of a fantastic tablescape.

My apologies for not having sources for every photo, but here are some of great examples of artfully arranged items:

by interior designer Kishani Perera

Love this one.

An aside: the book above is about architect Paul Rudolph, who lived and designed houses in my hometown of Sarasota, FL.

Natural materials make a lovely display.



When properly curated, "clutter" can be pleasing to the eye.

Superbly arranged shelves.

A fantastic display of red and green items.

Photo via Apartment Therapy


Photo via Design Sponge

Photo from FLOR

Photo from Kelly Wearstler

Some tips I've gathered through studying articles and photographs:

• The first step is to clear the area that you want to work on and gather any items that may work together in the space.

• Select items based on the size and scale of the surface you're working with.

• Place the largest object first.

• Odd numbers add interest. In a painting class my instructor advised me that odd-numbered groupings are more pleasing to the eye than even. The same applies here. Try arrangements of three's, five's or seven's.

• Too few items and your tablescape looks naked. Too many and it just looks like clutter. A thoughtful arrangement requires a trained eye. If you're in doubt as to whether your arrangement is too busy, I suggest following Coco Chanel's advice about accessorizing: always take off the last thing you put on. Or at least take one thing off!

• Layer items the way an artist would paint a landscape, using background, middle ground, and foreground.

  Creating highs and lows add dimension and depth. Use a couple books or a decorative box as a pedestal to elevate objects.

• In addition to the tabletop itself, you can also use the spaces above and below it as part of an arrangement. For instance, if you have a piece of artwork hanging over your tabletop it can be counted as part of the grouping if hung low enough to mingle with the other items.

• Similar or repetitive items help pull everything together.

• A theme can lend meaning to a tablescape. A couple examples of a theme are a group of objects with one or two like colors, or a collection of vintage vases.

• Try varying some of the textural elements in the tablescape, i.e. light and dark, shiny and matte, etc.

• There are no absolute rules here. A tablescape is your own personal expression, so have fun with it.