Table Decorations Shopping Guide

Buying tabletop decor can be an exciting journey, selecting from a wide variety of items that bring personality, style, and vibrancy to your space. From figurines and bookends to sculptures and plants, each item can highlight different aspects of your home or professional space, showcasing your refined aesthetic. Tabletop decor includes all decorative items that can be placed on surfaces such as tables, shelves, desks, buffets, and more.

Step 1: Choose the type of tabletop decor:

Figurines / Statuettes:

Figurines are one of the most classic types of decor and have been a favorite choice for many years. They can be made from various materials, such as porcelain, glass, metal, or wood, and represent faces, bodies, animals, or even abstract forms. Depending on your style, you can choose a figurine that exudes luxury or a more natural and rustic design.

Bookends:

Bookends are both functional and decorative, helping you organize your books on the shelf or even on your desk, highlighting them in the most beautiful way. They come in a variety of styles and designs and can be abstract, modern, or classic.

Buddhas:

The Buddha is a popular decorative choice often associated with tranquility and balance. If you are looking for a serene and spiritual atmosphere in your space, then a Buddha statue made of ceramic, polyester, or polyresin can create the ideal feeling. 

Geometric Decor:

Geometric objects are popular in modern and minimalist styles. Whether it's a geometric stand with glass or a metallic decorative object, they can offer a clean, sharp, and modern feel to the space.

Decorative Trays:

Decorative trays are not only functional but also stylish. You can use them to place various small items, such as candles, potpourri, vases, etc., or to create an impressive focal point on your dining table by showcasing fruits or placing a carafe and glasses on top for a more classic style in the space.

Decorative Jars/Containers:

Decorative jars are ideal for storing small items or for adding color and style to the space. They can be glass, ceramic, or metallic and usually have interesting designs and colors to ensure a unique aesthetic in your home or office.

Animal Figures:

Animal decor adds a playful or natural feel to the space. You can choose from porcelain, polyresin, or metal animals, up to more realistic designs, bringing vibrancy and dynamic character to every corner of the house.

Carafes:

Decorative carafes offer both practicality and style. They can be used to store and serve wine or other beverages, while usually having an impressive design and material and beautifully adorning a buffet, a display cabinet, or a dining table. 

Hourglass:

The hourglass is a timeless decorative item that offers a sense of classic elegance and a vintage atmosphere. It usually has a metal or glass frame with sand in various shades, so you can choose the one that best suits the aesthetic of your space. Imagine an elegant hourglass adorning your desk or a bookshelf... it will be a sight to behold!

Decorative Bowls:

Decorative bowls are used to store small items or to create an impressive atmosphere on the table. You can find them in a variety of materials and colors, from ceramic to metallic, and combine them with other tabletop decor to create a beautiful composition for your table.

Oval & Rectangular:

Oval and rectangular decorative objects offer a clean, strong line that adds elegance and functionality to the space. 

Vehicles:

Decorative vehicles (such as miniature cars, airplanes, ships, or other means of transport) are interesting and original decorative elements. Whether they are vintage cars or airplanes made of metal or wood, they offer dynamism and unique character to the space.

Decorative Platters:

Decorative platters offer a beautiful way to present food, drinks, or even small decorative items. Whether they are gold and shiny for elegance or simple and plain for more minimalist spaces, they add style and practicality, as they can serve as a wonderful base for transporting, storing, and displaying objects. 

Watering Cans:

Watering cans are a pleasant and functional decorative item, especially for plant lovers. They add a dose of practicality and romance, especially in areas with greenery and plants. 

Busts:

Busts offer a sense of classical art and are an exquisite choice for home and professional spaces with a refined aesthetic. They are sure to add elegance and finesse to the space. From ancient or modern philosophers, famous figures, or busts of ordinary people, these impressive decorative items embody art and history in the most beautiful way.

Ashtrays:

Ashtrays are small decorative objects that offer both aesthetics and practicality. Although usually associated with smoking habits, elegant ashtrays made of glass, metal, or porcelain can decorate a small table or console with luxury.

Round:

Round tabletop decor offers a strong sense of symmetry and harmony in the space. They are often softer and friendlier in appearance and can be incorporated into any style. 

Telephones:

Decorative telephones, whether antique or modern designs, can bring a sense of nostalgia and vintage character to the space. Although they are usually no longer used for communication, they are a sophisticated decorative element. 

Landscapes:

Tabletop landscape decor offers a sense of natural beauty and tranquility in the space. A landscape can create the feeling of an open space within a closed room.

Sculptures / Figures:

Sculptures are very popular decorative items, usually depicting human forms or animal bodies. Whether they are abstract figures or realistic depictions, they offer dynamism and expressiveness to the space.

Bonbonnieres / Candy Dishes:

Bonbonnieres are usually decorative containers for storing and serving sweets or other delicacies on formal occasions. They have a special design and add a sense of luxury to the space.

Phrases:

Tabletop decor with phrases or words are usually metallic and offer inspiration and personality to the space. These phrases can be positive, dynamic, or even philosophical, to cheer you up and encourage you for a better day.

Fruits:

Decorative fruits made of polyresin, porcelain, or metal are ideal for adding a natural and vibrant feel to the space. Instead of real fruits, which can lose their freshness, decorative fruits always remain beautiful and impressive and harmonize perfectly with a tray, bowl, or platter on a table or buffet.

Feather:

Decorative feathers, whether from natural birds or as metallic or glass depictions, offer a sense of lightness and elegance to the space. They are often combined with other natural decor to add a sense of harmony and a boho aesthetic to the space. 

Plants:

Decorative plants, whether natural or artificial, are an excellent choice for adding life to any room. Plants not only offer beauty but also a pleasant atmosphere to the space. 

Leaves:

Decorative leaves offer a natural and summery feel to the space. They are excellent for adding vibrancy and freshness.

Step 2: Choose the quality (material) of the tabletop decor:

Choosing tabletop decor based on the construction material depends on the type of space and the style you want to create. Each material offers different visual effects, feel, and functionality:

Natural Materials (Wood, Bamboo, Rattan, Rope, Water Hyacinth, Straw):

Natural materials lend warmth, naturalness, and an organic character to the space. These materials are ideal for spaces that have a more rustic or traditional style or for those who love the feeling of nature indoors. Incorporating tabletop decor made from natural materials ensures a more rustic, country, boho, or Scandinavian aesthetic. 

Metal (Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Iron, Magnesium):

Metallic tabletop decor has a modern, industrial, and elegant feel. Depending on their processing, they can offer either a more "heavy" look or a lighter, shiny appearance. They are an ideal choice for spaces with an industrial, modern, Scandinavian, and minimalist style. 

Porcelain and Ceramic:

Tabletop decor made from porcelain and ceramic material offers elegance and a classic aesthetic to the space. These materials are excellent for more refined, classic styles and, depending on the finish and material, can ensure a more luxurious or a more rustic look in the space. For example, a porcelain decorative jar is smooth and fine, while a handmade ceramic figurine may have a rougher surface, making it a more rustic choice.

Acrylic, Polyresin, and Resin (Polyresin, Polyfoam, Resin, Acrylic, Acrylic-Aluminum):

These materials offer great design flexibility, as they are easier to mold and can be created in many different types and styles. They are ideal for modern, futuristic, or art-inspired decor. Also, many figurines, buddhas, fruits, and busts can be made of polyresin, as it allows for the rendering of even the smallest details in an excellent way. Finally, decor made of polyresin, polyfoam, acrylic, and resin are usually more economical than metallic, glass, and ceramic ones.

Glass and Crystal:

Glass and crystal tabletop decor offers a clean, bright feel and can bring a sense of transparency and light to the space. Depending on the color and design, both glass and crystal can perfectly highlight any decorative item and harmonize wonderfully in spaces with a modern or classic aesthetic. 

MDF and Melamine:

MDF and melamine materials are more economical and can offer a modern or traditional feel depending on their use. They are often used for decorative objects at more affordable prices and can harmonize in spaces with a modern, minimalist, and industrial style. 

Fabric (Cotton, Jute, Faux Leather, Paper, Polyester, Velvet):

Fabric decor adds warmth and comfort to the space, and is ideal for more relaxed, welcoming areas. Very often they are used as a covering on a tabletop decorative item and, depending on the texture of the fabric, it can make the object look more luxurious (velvet), more boho (straw), more dynamic (faux leather), and more rustic (cotton, linen, polyester). 

Plastic:

Plastic is a very versatile material and can give a more contemporary and playful feel to a tabletop decorative item. Especially for industrial and modern designs, plastic is very useful, as it easily takes any form and is much more economical than the other materials. Plastic decor is mainly chosen in spaces with a modern and pop art style, as well as in younger environments.

Clay, Slate, and Cement:

These materials offer weight and stability to a tabletop decorative item. They are usually associated with more organic and technologically rough styles, lending a sense of authenticity, industrial, and rustic aura to the space. 

Shell and Seagrass:

Decor made of shells or other marine materials bring the feeling of the beach and summer to the space. They are ideal for refreshing your decor during the summer months or adorning your cottage, home, or office so you can have a corner of summer all year round and transport you to the most beautiful memories.

Step 3: Choose the design style of the tabletop decor:

Choosing the tabletop decor based on the design is just as important as choosing the material, as the design determines the atmosphere it will create in the space. Each style has its characteristics and serves different needs and tastes.

Vintage Design:

Vintage decorative objects are characterized by a retro and romantic feel, often with influences from the 19th century or the first decades of the 20th century. Vintage decor may include traditional patterns, retro colors, intricate details, and antique finishes. 

Classic Design:

Classic designs have a more aristocratic, refined, and timeless feel. They are often based on symmetrical patterns and colors, and include many works of art and sculptures inspired by antiquity and the European 19th century. 

Modern Design:

Modern design focuses on simplicity, plainness, and innovation. Modern decorative objects are characterized by clean lines, geometric shapes, and often soft or intense color combinations, giving a fresh and renewed feel to the space.

Children's Design:

Children's decor has a playful mood and usually includes bright colors and child-friendly figures or designs. These decorative items are ideal for children's rooms or playrooms and create a cheerful and positive atmosphere in the space.

Rustic Design:

Rustic decor is inspired by nature and offers a sense of tranquility and relaxation to the space. It usually includes botanical and organic designs, such as straw, linen, or wooden surfaces. 

Minimalist Design:

Minimalist decor is characterized by simplicity and purity. It usually includes clean lines, few colors, and individual objects without excesses.

Art Deco Design:

Art Deco is a style that combines geometry, intricate lines, and exquisite materials. It usually incorporates gold, silver, and luxurious decorative items, making it suitable for more luxurious or artistic styles.

Industrial Design:

Industrial designs combine materials such as metal, wood, and cement and are ideal for spaces with an industrial style or modern, urban decor. They are usually rougher and stricter, lending an "unprocessed" feel to the space.

Before proceeding with the purchase of a tabletop decorative item, there are several factors you should consider to ensure it harmonizes well with your space and meets your needs.

Step 4: Choose the color of the tabletop decor:

Color is one of the most important elements in choosing a decorative item, as it directly affects the general feeling of the space. If your space has soft and neutral colors (white, beige, grey), you can choose intense colors for your decor to make them focal points and ensure color and intensity in the space. If the space is already full of intense colors and designs, choose more neutral and natural colors for the decorative item, so as not to cause overload in the space. Gold, silver, and bronze decor adds luxury, while black or white are more timeless and minimal.

Step 5: Choose the size of the tabletop decor:

The size of the decorative item should be proportional to the size of the table, shelf, or general surface where it will be placed. An excessively large decorative item can "cover" the space and seem overwhelming, while a very small one can be lost or seem insignificant. If you place the decorative item on a small table, prefer a smaller and delicate object to leave room for other functions. For larger spaces or tables, you can choose larger objects that will attract attention and fill the space.

Also, the shape of the decorative object should reflect the general aesthetic of the space. For example, round and simple designs can fit in more organic or friendly spaces, while geometric or strict shapes fit in more modern or industrial decorations. Finally, it is important to measure the space you have available and determine the dimensions of the decorative item to ensure it will fit and will not "block" the functionality of the space.

Choosing the right tabletop decorative item can highlight your space, adding character, style, and personality. Every element, from the material and design to the color and functionality, plays a crucial role in the atmosphere you want to create. Regardless of the style you choose—whether it is vintage, modern, classic, or children's—the most important thing is to find something that reflects your own preferences and aligns with the needs of your space. Remember that the decorative item is not just an object, but an expression of your creativity and personality, which can bring vibrancy and style to every corner of your home or office.