We actually get this question pretty often so we thought it was about time that we broke down what home decor objects we find ourselves grabbing all the time when it comes to adding style to a dining or console table and even a fireplace mantel or the kitchen counter. So without further ado, a roundup of foolproof tabletop classics:
1. A cake stand. This handy accessory can be used to create charming dining centerpieces (topped with everything from fruit to holiday decor) or even a sweet display on your kitchen counter (with fresh cupcakes or even a collection of ceramic faux fruit).
Find it on the cheap at: Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, World Market and HomeGoods.
2. Vase filler. We like to think outside the potpurri or polished stones box for this category. Some of our favorite vase fillers around here are collected matchbooks from restaurants we’ve enjoyed, wine corks that provide some nice neutral texture, woven orbs that we snagged at Target for less than $4, some simple brown rice with a nice pillar candle in the middle, and even ornaments for some seasonal bling.
Find it on the cheap at: well, matchbooks can hail from restaurants (for free) while wine corks can be collected at home (or by friends and family members- my mom and a good friend are our best “suppliers”- again for free). You can also try places like Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, and HomeGoods for woven orbs and other decorative vase filling options.
3. Glass cylinder vases. We love loading them up with all of our favorite vase fillers above. We discovered they were amazingly diverse after we grabbed a bunch at Michael’s for our backyard wedding (and kept dragging them out of storage to display other collections over the years).
Find them on the cheap at: Michael’s, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods, garage sales and thrift stores.
4. Glass hurricanes. These are another staple when it comes to adding some height, texture, and gleaming airy style to any surface (from the console table near the front door to our dining table and beyond).
Find it on the cheap at: Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods and Walmart.
5. A decorative storage box. Be it lacquered or even white cardboard from Ikea, these babies are super versatile and functional (they can keep anything from receipts to TV remotes out of sight).
Find it on the cheap at: Ikea, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods, West Elm and Crate & Barrel.
6. Sleek white planters. We have a bunch of them from Ikea all over our house, and at just a dollar a pop they’re definitely a huge bang for your buck. Nothing makes a room feel fresher than a nice green plant in a sleek white goes-with-anything planter. And the subtle striped and petaled detailing that Ikea adds is the icing on the cake.
Find it on the cheap at: Ikea, Target, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and HomeGoods.
7. A small colorful vase. We have a pink one from Crate & Barrel that looks amazing with backyard blooms (especially anything in the white or pink category) and we also grabbed a similar light green one and a light pink one at Ikea, which even work when it comes to setting the table with style.
Find it on the cheap at: Crate & Barrel, Ikea, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods, Walmart, Pier1, World Market, garage sales and thrift stores.
8. Ceramic animals. Ok, so this is definitely in the quirky category, but I adore some tabletop interest in the form of sleek white creatures like birds, horses, and even rhinos.
Find it on the cheap at: Z Gallerie, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods, garage sales, eBay, Craigslist, and thrift stores (you can even spray paint them white if they don’t originally come that way).
9. Decorative cups, mugs, or planters. We use these to store everything from pens on our desk to cotton balls in the bathroom.
Find it on the cheap at: Target, Ikea, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods, West Elm, Crate & Barrel, World Market and Pier 1.
10. Lidded glass jars. Whether they’re full of clothespins in our laundry nook or vacation momentos in our sunroom, glass jars of all sizes are super affordable and perfect for displaying everyday items in a fresh and polished way.
Find it on the cheap at: Target, Michael’s, Walmart, eBay, garage sales and thrift stores.
11. Green wine bottles & colorful vases. We love recycling wine and Pellegrino bottles to create free green vases which we mix with a few blue glass vases and votives on a tray to create a grouping that’s cheap and easy- but looks like stunning 3-D stained glass.
Find it on the cheap at: well, the wine bottles come free with the purchase of wine (and can even be hunted down at a local wine store that does tastings- they’re usually happy to dole out their empties on the house). The colorful glass vases can be found everywhere from Target, Marshall’s, and HomeGoods to TJ Maxx, Ikea, Pier 1 and Crate & Barrel.
12. Stacks of hardcover books. Just take off the plastic-y paper covers and let those pretty fabric spines steal the show.
Find it on the cheap at: Barnes & Noble’s clearance section, a used book store, garage sales, thrift stores, eBay and amazon.com.
13. Textured candle holders. We adore this lotus flower ceramic version that we grabbed for just a few bucks at HomeGoods and the mercury glass ZGallerie guys that we also picked up on the cheap.
Find it on the cheap at: ZGallerie, Pier 1, HomeGoods, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, Walmart, thrift stores and garage sales.
14. Fabric runners. We love breaking up all the wood in our rectangular dining table with this dead ringer for a pricey Potter Barn version (we snagged ours for less than $9 at Target). And two colorful runners displayed in the opposite direction are always fun too. We even use swatches of rough burlap fabric (no sewing required) when it comes to accessorizing our console table for everything from Thanksgiving to Halloween.
Find it on the cheap at: Target, fabric stores, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, World Market, Walmart, HomeGoods and garage sales.
15. Candlesticks of all varieties. From white ceramic lovelies and clear crystal ones to mercury glass versions we’re all about having a slew of candlesticks on hand. They always look pretty en masse on a dining table- or even a coffee table- and they can also serve as seasonal decor for Christmas (just pop some ornaments on top in lieu of candles) or Halloween (melt red candle wax down white taper candles a la Martha Stewart for a goulish & bloody effect).
Find it on the cheap at: Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods, Z Gallerie, eBay, thrift stores and garage sales.
16. Faux shells. From the jumbo fake clam shell that we use as a fruit bowl in the kitchen to the smaller faux versions where we store jewelry or bathroom accessories, we just can’t get enough of this beachy look. And of course we love light and airy capiz shell frames and even a few other shell varieties to serve as everything from book ends to side table accessories.
Find it on the cheap at: Z Gallerie, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, eBay, Kohl’s and HomeGoods.
17. Something personal. We love wood block printing letters like these, or even an initial leaning against a window ledge for interest in a space
Find it on the cheap at: flea markets (where we got our wood block letters), Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Target, HomeGoods, Crate & Barrel, Anthropologie and Pottery Barn (where we picked up our P).
So that’s a little roundup of our favorite go-to tabletop accessories. But what about you guys? Do you have any others on your must-have list?
Michele Daggar says
Yeah for accessories!!!! Love all the pictures of Casa Petersik. I really love the posts that show all the things that make your home so unique and inviting.
I don’t know how you guys do it! Give Clara & Burger lots of hugs!
Elle Sees says
I’ll admit it. I was one of the people who needs this info! I love your little decorative pieces and the stories behind them. I like how it’s not just a random piece here for no reason. That’s why I love this site. I feel like I was at the wedding, the excitement of baby Clara, and all your successes.
Snickrsnack Katie says
What gorgeous great ideas! As usual, you guys rule!
Carol N. says
Wow, nice long and informative post! I have found all sizes of clear glass cylinders at the local Dollar Tree. Also small ceramic pots that I’ve spray painted white and even some decorative boxes for storage. You have to go pretty often, but sometimes you can find some real gems at Dollar Tree!
Tracy says
How ironic! I was just thinking about #16 and #17! I found a white ceramic shell over the weekend at a cute boutique near my house – it was only $2.50, and they sold it as a dip bowl. I am using it on my nightstand to hold my jewelry, hair accessories, etc., just like you’ve mentioned before. Also, my mom called and said she went to an estate sale and found stamps with her initials. I told her all about your idea too! Great timing! :)
cassie @ hi sugarplum! says
You set a lovely table, Sherry! Thanks for the beautiful pictures on a Monday morning! What is the name of that coral book under your coffee table? (pic with the silver candlesticks with red/white taper candles). I’ve been looking for a book with pictures like the one on the cover…is the inside filled with those type of images?
thanks so much!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s called The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities (we snagged it on clearance at Barnes & Noble). Yup, it’s filled with fun botanical-ish sea and creature images for some chic and scienc-y fun!
xo,
s
liz @ bon temps beignet says
Woo hoo. That post was *loaded down* with pictures… 51 from my count.
We just got a few belated wedding gifts over the weekend which included one very ugly ceramic pear container with four matching pear and apple plates. We had already decided to regift it til I saw your first few pics with the little white pear.
I was wondering if you knew if it’s a good idea to just sand it down and spray paint it. Is that even possible or should I just regift it?
YoungHouseLove says
Liz- No need to sand anything! Just use some spray primer like Kilz, followed by glossy white spray paint. It’ll yield a totally new look!
TG- That green hurricane with the rice in it is from TJ Maxx and the plant is called a Burro Tail (from Home Depot).
xo,
s
Jessica @ How Sweet says
I have a million cake stands and never thought to use them like that!
TG says
Love the cake stand arrangements. In #6 what kind of plant is that? Also, #2 the picture with the greenish glass with the candle and rice, where did you find that vase?
Thanks
Amy in PA says
My current favorite vase filler is split peas. Kind like your rice but in a pretty shade of green. I also like sand, too. And I’ve scored some great & inexpensive table runners from the great land known as Ikea.
Kristine says
Awesome post! I love all the tablescapes. This definitely deserves a bookmark to use when I look for house accessories (not quite there yet, house still needs furniture!).
Where did you get those green runners for your dining table?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristine,
Those runners are from Pottery Barn (on clearance). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kristen says
Thank you for your amazing tips!! If I wasn’t at work I’d be running to the store to pick ALL of those up! (Although sadly, we don’t have a HomeGoods in Lynchburg. :( )
Is there a particular spray paint you would recommend to spray the glass/ceramic animals? Because I bought a bird for my bedroom, and its this gross brown color right now, and I don’t know where to begin with the remedy for that!
YoungHouseLove says
Kristen- Scroll back a few comments for that info. Hope it helps!
Missy & Heather- This post explains where we store almost everything when it’s not in use (and the seasonal decor like ornaments, etc is stored in our basement).
Ashley- Yup, all of the plants in our house (except for the ones in the basement) are real. We just get low light plants from Home Depot for a few bucks and over time we’ve learned what works in our house (burro tails, corn plants, pathos, etc).
xo,
s
Missy says
Love all the great accessories you have! I just wonder where you store everything when you change things out? Do you suggest having a clear storage box that you can easily switch things around? What’s your secret :)
Nichole@40daysof says
Great post! This is one of those that I will be referring back to often.
http://40daysof.wordpress.com/2010/07/11/those-little-white-lies-our-parents-tell-us/
Rebecca says
Just wanted to say I appreciate all the photos (worth a thousand words, right?) and the research you put into all your posts. It makes your posts very complete and thought-out, as well as interesting to read.
Heather says
I want to know where you store everything when your not using them, lol!
Ashley G says
Love this post! Are all of your plants real? I love the look of green plants but am afraid they won’t live in random low light places and also worried about pets! If they are real, you two have enviable green thumbs!
Ludmila {creamylife.com} says
amazing tips, Sherry! we often have all these items in our homes, but they never get used the right way, your ideas are so inspiring, so thank you for this!
Lesley H says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this encylopedia of accessories and how to make them work. I’m one of the ones that has asked for it and am over the moon with all the details.
Nicole says
Love it!
Just curious, when you take the dust covers off the books, do you keep them or toss them?
YoungHouseLove says
Toss em! If we don’t want them now we’ll never want them later! Books are so much more charming without them!
xo,
s
Jenna says
#14… what are those drinks? Love the bottle!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jenna,
It’s called Lorina Pink Lemonade (we picked it up at Kroger so it’s available most places). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Leigh says
Ikea also has glasses vases and hurricanes for good prices. I got a really large hurricane there for less that $20 I think. Also, I was at Ikea over the weekend and went to grab a few of the white pots and most sizes had a reduced price and a “hurry get them while you can sign”. I hope they aren’t getting rid of them!
Amanda@Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
I love this post. I recently got a few similar flower candle holders: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/recent-finds-big-lots/
I love IKEA for accessories, too. They have some great deals right now, too.
Emily says
You guys are AWESOME! I really love your decorating style!! Thanks for compliling such a great accessories list. :)
Sarah @ Dream in Domestic says
Awesome post! This will be a great resource for me when thinking of accessories in the future.
Another place for cheap books is Half Price Books (http://www.halfpricebooks.com/). I go there a lot which is not good since I am trying to hold off on buying books and want to use the library more instead. You can get great deals there, though, on movies and stationary as well.
jennifer f says
wow this is a pretty extensive list…awesome! I have a bunch of these items, but not exactly able to pair them. Any tips on pairing the items so they look nice on a mantle, dining table, console, etc?
Also, I really love the clam shells and “beach” items, but my house is more fall looking. Do you think it would look bizarre to have a clam shell in a red kitchen? How do you put items like this in your house without making it “beachy”. Does that make sense :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jennifer F,
We actually do think a clam shell would look off in a red kitchen, since it’s inherently beachy (so there’s probably not a lot of ways to use shells without evoking that beachy feeling). Maybe skipping the shells and bringing in wine corks or other textured tan and mocha toned things will layer more easily in your home? As for pairing items on a mantel or dining table, we just play around until we like it. Try grouping things in threes (two candlesticks and a votive can form a nice little arrangement- somehow odd numbers can look less static and boring than even ones) and always step back to see things and see what you think. It’s all about trial and error!
xo,
s
annie says
Love the ideas, everything looks so pretty and light. But from my perspective as a mother of a rambunctious 2 year old all it all seems very breakable. Since he can reach everything (bookcases, tv stand etc.) now I’m having a tough time finding safe things to decorate with.
Do you think you will have to find less glass/ ceramic things once your wee one is mobile?
YoungHouseLove says
Annie- Absolutely! We can’t wait to see how our house evolves and we plan to keep you guys posted along the way. We love a challenge!
Sarah- This post explains where we store almost everything when it’s not in use (and the seasonal decor like ornaments, etc is stored in our basement). It’s a totally low maintenance dust free way to keep stuff tucked out of view when it’s not in use. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sarah says
It all looks lovely! I have to ask though, where do you keep all these accessories when they’re not out? And do they collect dust like crazy? Everything looks so clean and sparkling in your pictures! I would love to have some items sitting out just to brighten up my place but somehow I never end up justifying the purchase. I think I’m too afraid of just creating clutter instead!
Jessica says
This is definitely one of my favorite posts! Thanks Youngsters :)
Claudia Bravo! says
Hey Sherry & John.
Another place I love picking up books on the cheap is at my local library. Your library may have a shelf where they’re shelling books they don’t care to keep in their collection any more. Great tips!
Martha says
Love this post, you guys have such great accessorizing ideas!
BTW, just read your nursery article in the latest issue of Do-It-Yourself magazine. Congrats, it looks great!
Jess says
Great post! Thanks for taking the time to share this information.
How do you feel about table runners on round tables? Also, what about runners made from a patterned fabric? I feel like I don’t see this look often. Is it a “no-no”?
Thanks for your help!
YoungHouseLove says
We love runners on round table! Especially fun patterned ones. Go for it!
xo,
s
Jill E says
awesome list for ideas, inspiration and to justify my own design sense. thanks!
Celestte says
For glass vase fillers I use whole coffee beans. They add nice texture, are a rich brown color and they smell yummy; that is if you love the smell of fresh coffee. :)
Kelly says
Great post-however I am interested to see how things may change around your house once you find the need to baby proof…
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kelly,
We are too! We love a challenge, and we love that our house is constantly evolving to meet our needs. Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Megan says
I love the ideas! I love mercury glass but unfortunately don’t have a lot of it (or a lot of space to show it off now that I have a toddler running loose). I enjoy looking at the ways you make the house your home and how personalized everything can be.
Vania says
Lovely pictures! Maybe I’ll add Censer because I adore vanille or beach scent at my house. ;)
Kim at Yellow Brick Home says
Your #1 is next on my list. I think the hubs was very confused when I said I wanted a cake stand, but there’s just so much that can be done with them!
Hattie @ Little Red Roost says
What a great post! You’ve really kicked my butt in gear when it comes to all my little Goodwill finds I need to paint. I love how a coat of white paint makes everything look better and chic!
Sara says
I’ve only been collecting home decor since December, so this post is definitely making me jealous. I guess I have to be patient to build a collection like you guys have. Or win the lotto, haha, anyways, thanks SO much for this! I already learned SO much from you guys, so when I go to a store like Target or HomeGoods I’m no longer like “What kind of things should I get?”, I’m more like “look for anything white, textured neutrals, light & airy” and I do like a pop of color myself, so I’ve learned to do pops of color in things that can be easily changed out and that aren’t expensive, like pillows and artwork made on the computer or made from scrapbook paper. Thanks SOOOOOO MUCH!!! You have no idea what you guys have done for my house! :)
Laurie says
Love it!!
I’m also challenged with things like this.
We just put a bid in on a new house much like the ones you have. I can’t wait to start using some of your design tips. Just keeping fingers crossed that we’re not outbid.
I have a question……what kind of window treatment would you guys recommend for a sliding glass door or French doors?
Tiffini S. says
Question: Do you have any strategies for when Clara gets a bit older as far as babyproofing? I can tell you that since my little bundle started ‘cruising’ at about 7 months old, ALL surface accessories have been banished to high places. So basically, the top of my lone, tall bookshelf, and on top of kitchen cabinets. No other accessories on display, at all. It’s a bit bare at our place these days. Until he gets old enough to understand that not everything is a throw toy, it will remain so. Not that it helps, but we also have a LARGE German Shepherd (almost 100 pounds now) so even after the kiddo grows up a bit, short of double stick taping things to surfaces, I don’t know how anything will withstand a few good tail wags or chewings. Oh, and FORGET runners or tablecloths. Those are just shortcuts to clearing a table. Anyone? Advice?
Laura says
Sherry, love your ideas. We do a lot of the same.
We have two hurricanes that we LOVE to decorate for the holidays – gourds, cranberries, bulbs at christmas, sand in the summer… but I have a question for you…
Where do YOU keep all of that stuff when you aren’t using it? How do you package it, label it? Where do you hide it away? Right now we just have some boxes in the basement organized by holiday, but I’m not sure it’s the best method!
YoungHouseLove says
Laura- This post explains where we store almost everything when it’s not in use (and the seasonal decor like ornaments, etc is stored in our basement). It’s a totally low maintenance dust free way to keep stuff tucked out of view when it’s not in use. Hope it helps!
Tiffani- We plan to tackle babyproofing just like we do eveything else- by learning as we go. Since every baby is different we’re not quite sure how our house will evolve but we’re sure it’ll change significantly when Clara is mobile. Luckily, we love a challenge and look forward to digging up lots of baby-safe-yet-easy-on-the-eyes displays. Stay tuned…
Laurie- We love floor length curtains hung high and wide around sliders or french doors. They draw the eye up and soften everything for a stylish look that’s super affordable (thanks to places like Ikea that have $6 panels). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Holly says
What a lovely post, and you have put so much effort into it, thank you! Actually think its one of my favourites (behind the wedding and baby posts!) Thanks youngsters xxx
Leah O says
Thanks so much for this post!!! So inspiring as always! My small ranch house would not even be what is it today without your blog! And I continue to get compliments on my home every time we have guests thanks to you guys! Now I’m headed to TJ Maxx to find a white cake stand!! :)
carolyn says
Thanks for the comments on re-painting ceramic stuff! Now I just hope the resale shop still has the shell-shaped dish (in orange) I I passed up last week!
Cielle says
Where do you find your seashells and sea coral? I’ve looked at a lot of places with no luck.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Cielle,
We find little shops when we’re at the beach that are full of shells (and faux shells) and also order things like a sea fan (which we framed) online. Just google around and see what you find!
xo,
s
Manda says
You guys make me wish I lived in a bigger town, the only place to shop around here is Wal-Mart and Dollar Stores. I have an hour drive to a Target or Peir One or Hobby Looby or Michael’s and 4 1/2 hours to get to an Ikea!
Your house looks amazing, I’m impressed at how much you guys keep out in the close up pictures but then in the room pictures everything looks neat and tidy. Amazing.
Ashli M says
Great Post I’m inspired to head downstairs and set the table!!! I tried the think of some table accessories we use that you hadn’t already written down, I couldn’t really think of any, except maybe our White Ceramic Fish Plates I love them!!
Great job again!
~Ashli
http://www.maillardvillemanor.com
amy says
totally unrelated comment/question, but . . .
i have that same soap pump on the back of your toilet (target).
we can’t find a soap that “pumps” out of it right.
they all gunk up & leave a yucky mess.
have you found a liquid soap that works well in it?
i love the look of it & would hate to replace it.
thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
We use Dr. Bronners (from Target) which we water down, as it suggests on the bottle). Pumps out perfectly!
xo,
s