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Explore 10 simple dining room decor ideas for everyday. Learn how to style a dining table when not in use and what to put in the middle of an empty dining table.
Ever find yourself staring at your dining area and wondering how to style a dining table when you’re not using it?
If you answered yes, you’ve come to the right place!
In this post, I’m sharing 10 simple yet stylish ideas for decorating your dining table when it’s not being used, complete with real-life photos for inspiration.
From timeless centerpieces to realistic styling tips, keep reading to discover what to put in the middle of your dining table.
Plus, I’m sharing 4 practical tips for choosing dining table centerpieces so you can learn how to style a dining table that is both functional AND beautiful!
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Related: 4 Ways We Revamped Our Dining Room Without Renovating
10 Easy Ways To Style Your Dining Table When It’s Not In Use
- Leave the dining table bare
- Use a tablecloth
- Use a table runner
- Add placemats
- Display a floral arrangement
- Group candles or candle holders together
- Arrange fruits on a cake stand or in a bowl
- Place a woven bowl or wooden tray
- Stack everyday dinnerware
- Put a real or faux potted plant
Leave the dining table bare
Who says your dining table needs to be decorated at all times?
Sometimes, the simplest way to style your dining table is to leave it bare, especially if you have a beautiful surface like a sleek glass dining table (like mine!), a rustic wooden table, or a luxe marble tabletop.
I’m a fan of a bare dining table because it brings a sense of calm and minimalism to the space, especially in smaller rooms or in an open-plan setting like our apartment.
Keeping our glass dining table clean and clutter-free adds an airy, modern touch to the space.
Plus, I love that the table reflects natural light beautifully.
Use a tablecloth
On the other hand, using a tablecloth is a simple yet effective way to completely transform the feel of your dining space.
It’s perfect for adding softness, texture, and a sense of warmth, especially if you’re are looking for a cozy, layered look.
Bonus: they’re great for protecting your table surface from spills and scratches while still keeping things stylish.
Style Tip: Keep things interesting by using a patterned tablecloth. Whether it’s blue and white chinoiserie prints for a spring table setting or a chevron print for a summer tablescape, a beautiful print or pattern can act as the focal point of your dining area.
Use a table runner
If you want to decorate your dining table without covering it up completely, a table runner is the perfect solution.
Not only is a table runner more affordable than a full tablecloth, but it’s great for showcasing your dining table’s beautiful surface while still bringing in a pop of color or a touch of texture.
Style Tip: Drape the table runner down the center of the table for a classic look. For something a little different, use two shorter runners and lay them horizontally across the width of the table. This simple trick gives your dining table a fresh, unexpected twist!
Add placemats
Placemats can protect your table from spills and scratches, but also double as decor.
You can layer them over a tablecloth or use them directly on your dining table to get a peek of your tabletop.
I love mixing it up with different colors, patterns, and textures depending on the mood or season.
Woven placemats bring in an earthy, natural vibe, while linen or cotton ones feel soft and relaxed.
For something a bit more fun, patterned placemats can really liven up the table, especially if the rest of your setup is quite neutral.
For a more practical everyday setup, choose placemats that are easy to wipe down, especially if you’re using your dining table for regular meals.
This saves time because you don’t have to keep replacing them after every use.
Display a floral arrangement
I can see why people love placing floral arrangements in the middle of a dining table.
In addition to making the dining area feel fresh and inviting, it instantly brings life to a dining table!
You can go big and bold with a dramatic centerpiece like I did, or keep it simple with a few stems in a smaller vase.
The best part? You can use either real or faux flowers, depending on what works best for your lifestyle.
For a low-maintenance option, I personally opted for dried hydrangeas.
They look beautiful and realistic, but they don’t require any watering or upkeep (which is perfect if you don’t have the time to care for fresh flowers every week!)
Plus, they last for months, and their neutral tones blend seamlessly with almost any table setting.
Style tip: Make sure the vase size suits your dining table. A tiny vase on a large dining table can look out of place, while an oversized one on a small table might overwhelm the space. Scale matters, so choose something that feels balanced and proportionate to the table.
Group candle holders together
Candles instantly elevate a dining table by adding warmth and a cozy ambiance.
I love using candles to style a dining table because they are affordable, come in endless colors and styles, and can easily be swapped out depending on the season.
For casual dinners, I love grouping a trio of pillar candlesticks in the center of the dining table.
For special occasions, I prefer using a trio of gold tapered candlesticks for a modern and elegant tablescape.
Style tip: Don’t have candle holders? Don’t worry! You can add a cluster of pillar candles directly on the table without any holders at all. Alternatively, a large dough bowl candle can also make a bold, beautiful statement.
Arrange & display fruits on a cake stand or in a bowl
One of my favorite styling tricks? Using everyday items like fruits as decor.
It’s a practical and affordable way to style your dining table, especially if your family goes through a lot of fruits like mine does!
A bowl of lemons, a pile of red apples, or even seasonal fruits like pomegranates or figs can add color and life to a dining table.
My fruits are elevated on a cake stand because I like that the added height makes the fruit display feel like part of the design, not just an afterthought.
But, you can also use other vessels to hold your fruit like a wooden dough bowl or a handwoven basket for more texture.
Style tip: For a minimal look, stick to one type of fruit in bulk like a big bowl of oranges. But for practicality (and a hint of playfulness!), go for a rainbow medley of whatever’s in season.
Place a woven bowl or wooden tray
Placing a woven bowl or wooden tray in the middle of a dining table is one of the most simple dining room decor ideas.
The wood or woven texture brings warmth to the space, especially if your dining table is made out of glass or natural stone.
Beyond just looks, a bowl or a tray is incredibly practical. You can use it to corral everyday items like salt and pepper shakers, napkins, and coasters.
I love this setup for families or anyone who actually uses their dining table every day, as it creates a styled “zone” that’s both beautiful and functional.
Plus, woven trays or wooden bowls are often lightweight, inexpensive, and come in all shapes and sizes.
So, it’s easy to find one that suits any type of aesthetic and budget.
Stack everyday dinnerware
Stacking plates or bowls in the center of your dining table is more than a simple decor trick.
If you eat at your dining table regularly, having your go-to dinnerware within arm’s reach just makes sense.
I like to keep a neat stack of our most-used plates or bowls in the middle of the table.
It gives off a casual, lived-in feel – and honestly, it’s just so handy not having to dig through kitchen cabinets for plates.
Style tip: Layer smaller plates on top of larger plates (like salad or dessert plates on top of dinner plates) for an elevated look. You can even tuck in a folded linen napkin and add a utensil caddy on the side to complete the look.
Put a real or faux potted plant
Adding a potted plant, whether real or faux, is one of my most-used simple dining room decor ideas.
What’s great about using potted plants is that they’re not just pretty, but they are also low-maintenance.
Unlike a fresh floral arrangement that needs weekly changing, a potted plant can live on your table for months.
I’ve had my ZZ plant for over five years now, and whenever I’m stuck on what to use as a centerpiece, I just pop it on the table.
It’s completely fuss-free and instantly makes the area feel fresh and lively.
I recommend using any potted plants that don’t need much attention like a small olive tree or a ZZ plant like mine.
Just make sure the size of the plant works with your table – you don’t want something so tall it blocks conversation across the table!
Style tip: Place the potted plant in a stylish woven basket, a sculptural bowl, or a vintage ceramic vase for a stunning centerpiece.
What can I put in the middle of a dining table?
One of the most common questions I get is: what should I put in the middle of my dining table?
If you want more ideas on how to style a dining table when it’s not in use, keep scrolling to view the round-up of all my favorite practical and decorative items.
You can easily mix and match a few of these to create a simple and functional centerpiece that works for your dining table.
How To Choose Dining Table Centerpieces For Everyday
When in doubt, I always go back to these four tips to help me create an easy, everyday centerpiece that works for my home.
Think About Scale
The size of your centerpiece should make sense for the size of your table.
Before purchasing something, ask yourself: does this piece feel balanced, or is it going to look off sitting in the middle of my dining table?
Remember, a small item on a large table can feel underwhelming, while something too big can overpower the dining table.
Keep Decor Low and Unobtrusive
Opt for centerpieces that don’t block conversation or line of sight, especially if you use your dining table daily.
Low-profile arrangements like shallow bowls, short potted plants, or candles keep the table looking styled without getting in the way.
Choose Easy-to-Move Items
Go for pieces that are lightweight or easy to shift around if you need to clear the table quickly for meals, work, or kids’ activities.
Make It Multi-Functional
No clutter on the dining table, please! Pick centerpieces that double up as useful items like a fruit bowl, a lidded basket with napkins inside, or a tray that holds salt, pepper, and other daily condiments.