How to Decorate a Formal Entryway Table

You can decorate a formal entryway table to set the mood for your home. This accessory doesn't serve a functional purpose, but it will show guests that your home is well decorated, well maintained and by extension, well loved. You can also match the decor of your entryway to the decor of the rest of the house, like a sneak peak of what's to come. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Coordinate the colors on the table with the colors in the entryway. This does not mean that the colors must all match perfectly -- in fact, the purpose of the table is to create a decorative focal piece for the entryway, so contrast would be appropriate here. For example, if your entryway is painted a cool gray-blue, choose a warm brown cedar table and gold or orange decorations for the table to make the table stand apart from the entryway.

2

Pick one or two perfect items for the table, rather than many little objects. This table should be simple and elegant, not a display case for your knickknacks. Look for objects that have class and sophistication, such as a vase of flowers and a candle or a simple row of books. The larger the centerpiece for the table, the more the object should stand on its own, without any other objects on the table. A very large vase with a large, bold bouquet of flowers should not compete for attention with anything else on the table.

3

Use a seasonal centerpiece to show that your decor is changing and well maintained. For example, a bowl of seasonal fruits or vegetables in the summer, then a vase of autumn flowers and leaves in the fall.

4

Keep the table gleaming clean and free from scratches, or cover the table with a thick, quality tablecloth. The table should be beautiful.

5

Decorate around and above the table. Lean an old-fashioned broom against the side of the table, or place a rustic chair just beside it. Use a decorative mirror above the table on the wall to reflect light into the room and to make the space in the entryway seem larger and brighter.