Whether it’s a family meal with the kids or a dinner party with friends, your dining table top décor can turn a quick bite into a memorable meal. It can also offer a degree of protection to the top of your table, protecting it from hot plates and pots, spills and scratches. 

Here are a few top tips for creating that wow factor with some dining table décor ideas.

Table cloth or runner and placemats?

If you really want to achieve that bistro effect then nothing beats a crisp, white linen table cloth. Creating a blank canvas, it allows you to ‘dress’ your table in any way you want, and if you’re a good cook it will also provide a simple yet striking background for your food to take centre stage, too. Simply pop in a hot wash afterwards and it’s ready for that next date-night meal for two.

For everyday use, a simple table runner and placemats are quick and easy to use and bring a pop of colour into your dining table top décor. They’re great for family meals at festive seasons when you can coordinate your colour scheme to the decorations such as deep green, gold and red for Christmas celebrations.

Table runners are also ideal if you’re holding a relaxed dinner party with friends, and as well as providing a touch of individuality to the table they also provide a good level of protection against spills and hot dishes. Wipe-clean table placemats can simply be wiped and put away for the next meal, whereas cloth runners can be washed regularly to keep them looking spotlessly clean.

Contemporary or traditional?

The style of table top décor you choose will depend on your dining room design. If you have a contemporary, modern look then simple, elegant table decoration works best. Choose modern materials such as chrome and glass in muted or monotone colour schemes. These will work well with plain tableware such as bistro-style square white plates and dishes and brushed chrome flatware. 

However, if you have a more traditional dining room then you can be a little more adventurous with your table top embellishments. Why not choose designs that pick up on traditional Arabic calligraphy, or incorporate natural materials such as wood and marble?

The little details

It’s the small things that make a table look stunning. From condiments to candles, glasses to serving dishes, your table top décor should be well thought out and coordinated. Extras such as napkin rings can give each setting that final flourish, while elegantly simple grape glasses that match make a table look sophisticated. 

Condiment sets are a must-have, but even these can become a design feature. So rather than just putting out the usual salt and pepper mills, look for condiment sets that nest or come in unusual materials such as olive wood.

If your meal has a theme then why not use the opportunity to dress your table top to suit? If you’re serving a Chinese meal, for example, then individual pairs of chopsticks with their own rest can be a feature of your oriental style table design.

Modern dining room table décor ideas give you the opportunity to unleash your creative side, even if it’s just for the evening. Whether it’s a birthday party or dinner with the boss, a family meal or relaxed dining for two, your table top décor can turn an average meal into a night to remember. Check out the ideas and tips on our website and choose your table top décor from Crate and Barrel.