We’ve already covered interior design a couple of times in the past, and that’s because if there’s one thing we enjoy almost as much as classic menswear, it’s luxuriating in a classically designed space. In addition to large pieces like furniture, the appointment of tabletops matters, too! Today, we’re going to turn our attention toward functional and decorative objects that rest on tabletops.
Speaking of previous installments, we’ve talked about interior design classics, and a slightly more modern twist covering things like midcentury modern interior design on the second.
These two posts did focus principally on furniture, but we’ll cover tabletop decor today. And by tabletops, we simply mean horizontal surfaces like coffee tables, ottomans, side tables, shelves, and mantelpieces.
Unlike furniture, which can be quite expensive, tabletop decor is rarely going to break the bank. But, it can still have considerable influence over the look and feel of your space, and it’s a great way to change an interior’s overall character without having to do a large-scale remodel or renovation.
We’re going to cover both functional and purely decorative tabletop decor today, and we’ll start with the functional pieces.
Functional Tabletop Decor: Lamps
First, let’s shed some light on the subject with lamps. Simply by providing lighting, lamps are massively going to impact the mood and character of a space. Unlike floor lamps, which are generally going to provide light to the majority of a room, tabletop lamps are going to be smaller and will focus their light more on a specific area of a room.
As for where they’re used, you might immediately think of bedside lamps. But, by utilizing side tables, you can use a lamp like this in almost any part of a room. Lamps like these can look good alone, perhaps complementing some of the other decor elements, or as a pair, adding symmetry and order to a space.
When it comes to styling, many different types of lamps are specifically associated with a particular era of design. As examples, you could think of ornamented brass lamps for the fin de siècle, which is the end of the 19th century, Victorian lamps with their luxurious shades, or the iconic Luxo L-1 lamp, emblematic of the modern tabletop lamp and, evidently, harboring a hatred of the letter I.
You can integrate lamps into the design style of a room and, perhaps, even find a coordinating floor lamp and tabletop lamp or intentionally select an odd lamp for an unexpected spark or to break up an otherwise stayed composition.
Speaking of the unexpected, novelty lamps were particularly popular in the mid to late-20th century to inject a bit of lightheartedness and whimsy into the design of a room.
Candles & Candleholders
These are extremely versatile because they come in a wide range of both sizes and styles. To provide gentle illumination and a warm presence, you could, for example, consider a set of tea candles or, conversely, as a commanding statement piece, you could go with a fully-decorated candelabrum.
In general, candle holders with simple designs made from things like crystal, metal (especially silver or black), or stone can look good on any surface in your space because they’re neutral and unobtrusive.
Conversely, heavily detailed or large candleholders made from things like gold or brass, colorful porcelain, or colorful glass may be too overpowering for central positions and tend to be better suited in peripheral spaces.
Many candle holders, especially candelabra, come as pairs and, like lamps, a paired set can look pleasing. Don’t be afraid to decorate with a single candelabrum, though. Just make sure that it’s acting as the center of attention, so nobody thinks you misplaced its mate.
Clocks
Of course, your phone may have a clock built right into it, but we guarantee that that’s not going to look quite as stylish as the examples we’ll show here. Mantel clocks come in a variety of styles and, while they do look great on mantels, they also work on a variety of other surfaces like shelves, bookcases, and, of course, tabletops.
Clocks like these, though, often have limited visual appeal from the sides and rear. So, you’ll typically want to position them against a wall or other surface.
For a clock with aesthetic appeal from any angle, you could consider an exposed works anniversary clock with a globe or a pedestal clock. Many pedestal clocks, in particular, are sufficiently visually stimulating to command pretty much any position in a room.
Specialty tabletop clocks can also add unique personality, like the rugged look of a ship’s clock or the retro-chic appeal of a mid-century modern alarm clock.
Coffee Table Books
If you own a coffee table, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better compliment than the coffee table book. Traditionally, coffee table books were laid out by considerate hosts so that guests could amuse themselves or, more generally, inspire conversation.
Carefully curating your selection will keep your guests engaged, so put out books on a variety of subjects. Also, you’ll want to rotate them regularly between gatherings.
Any of the top 10 style books that Raphael covers in our previous post would be great choices for your coffee table, but remember that you aren’t limited to men’s fashion books. You can find books on a wide variety of subjects; anything from the architecture of your local area to masks of the Venetian carnival to schematics of ships from the Star Wars Universe.
Contrary to the name, coffee table books don’t have to go exclusively on coffee tables. Rather, you’ll be best served by laying out these kinds of books wherever people need entertaining. As examples, you could think of a dresser in a guest bedroom or an ottoman in a library.
For display purposes, a large stack with the biggest book on the bottom and the smallest on top will look aesthetically pleasing and show off your many reading options.
Coasters
If you’ve got furniture in your home made from materials like wood or certain kinds of stone and you enjoy cold drinks, we hope that you’re already using coasters to prevent rings, stains, or other types of damage.
Coasters, however, are more than just functional. They’re also a great way to display your style and taste while still protecting your furniture.
Classic coasters are typically subdued and made from a range of materials like crystal, wood, leather, metal, and stone. You could also consider more exotic materials like geodes or animal horn. Also, as mass printing becomes ever more cost-effective, it’s possible now to find coasters with things like scenes from the countryside, classic fashion illustrations, or fine art.
Whatever you choose, just make sure that your coasters are made from durable materials that can get wet. After all, cork is a good choice that meets these criteria, but cardboard is just going to get soggy and wear out.
To ensure that you and your guests will always have coasters when you need them, put them out in areas where gatherings will occur or near where drinks are being served.
Full-Size Trays
Serving trays may be intended to move objects from one room to another, but if you choose a stylish tray, it will look equally good if you simply leave it at its destination. They can be employed to indicate an area where beverages are waiting for your guests or to hold useful items like toiletries or towels in a guest bathroom.
Trays can also help to break up bland negative space on large surfaces without making it look cluttered. You can even place trays under some of the items we’ve already discussed like clocks or candlesticks.
Consider using trays to create contrast like putting out a metal tray on a wooden piece of furniture or a light stone tray on dark wood.
Tidbit Trays
From trays, let’s transition from things you put things on to things you put things into with tidbit trays. Unlike many purpose-intended receptacles like fruit bowls, for instance, tidbit trays are catch-all items that can help you to get organized in any space in your home.
They can be the ideal location for your keys in your entryway for instance or, in the bedroom, they can hold the contents of your pockets or your jewelry items like cufflinks while you’re undressing. We’d highly recommend selecting a tidbit tray that looks good whether something is in it or not and, as we mentioned with coasters, natural horn is a great choice for this.
Horn is a lightweight and durable product with a unique color and pattern all its own some of the best horn comes from water buffalo and we use sustainably sourced water buffalo horns for our tidbit trays from Fort Belvedere and at six inches in length, they’re a good size to accommodate whatever small belongings you need without being
Telephones
While many businesses do still utilize landlines, homeowners are increasingly moving away from landline phone service exclusively to cell phones. So, the corded telephone seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. Even so, a unique telephone really can set a room apart.
A mid-century telephone, for instance, will exude domestic bliss and homey elegance, and a tasteful reproduction telephone will definitely be a conversation starter. And of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention some of the iconic novelty telephone designs like the hot lips, mickey mouse telephone, and of course, the Bat Phone.
Of course, you don’t actually need to have a landline phone that works in order to display it in your home. If you like the look of a particular model of phone, you can simply put it in your space as a work of art or as a decorative reminder of times past.
Decorative Tabletop Decor: Vases & Plants
Plants add color and a lush healthy feel to any space. So, if you have a green thumb, or even if you don’t, putting plants on your tabletops will instantly add life and vibrancy. Just make sure you position your plants according to their light needs. After all, if you’ve got a plant that needs quite a bit of sunlight, it won’t be the best choice for your dark secluded study.
Of course, you could always opt for artificial greenery, as we’ve done in the Gentleman’s Gazette studios, or skip the flowers entirely and just display the vase.
Decorative vases are long-established fixtures in tastefully decorated homes appearing on mantelpieces, shelves end tables, and any other flat surface that could use a unique pop. A useful aspect of the vase is that it can be appreciated from any angle, so it works equally well in corners, peripheries, or the center of the room.
Vases have been made in classical styles, renaissance revival styles, empire styles, modern styles surrealism styles, and even the meta surrealism style as evidenced by a vase that looks like Salvador Dali. No matter your personal style, then, there’s likely going to be a vase that will complement it well.
Busts
Any kind of sculpture from figurines to statuettes will look good on any type of tabletop, but busts are standout items that will really attract attention. And contrary to what you might assume, they can be found for fairly reasonable prices at antique shops or vintage stores. Copies of famous works of art are also a good option if you enjoy the original pieces.
Most busts are intended to be viewed from the front, though, so keep this in mind when selecting your location.
Picture Frames
Framed photographs will allow you to share your memories and experiences with visitors, and show off what you value in your life. Frames can be made from a wide variety of materials, but for a classically styled frame, we would recommend dark wood, gilt, crystal, or metallics.
Also, consider suiting the amount of decorative detail on the frame to the character of the scene. For example, a simple frame for a casual family scene or a more ornate frame for a special occasion.
Antiques & Knick-Knacks
Obviously, there are countless objects with which you can decorate the tabletops in your home, and we were never going to be able to cover all of them in one post, so we’ll conclude here with a plethora of objects that we feel can enliven any space, while also providing a refined and classic feel.
Most of the items here are antiques that did serve a function once but are now largely decorative, and others fall into the general knick-knacks category.
- Antique inkwell, which is fun even if you’ve never used a quill pen.
- A sensor, which is like a candle only smokier and gives off considerably less light.
- A duck decoy, which should hopefully be much more comfortable sitting on your shelf than out floating in a pond.
- A model ship at least until you can afford a real yacht.
- Liquor bottles and decanters because, after all, given that Louis XIII cognac set you back a pretty penny, you might as well get more decorative use out of it.
- Powder horns to keep your powder dry in style.
- Bell jar taxidermy, which may not be to everyone’s taste but certainly is unique.
- Music boxes, which are a show for the eyes and ears.
- Toy soldiers, which can add whimsy to a room and hearken back to your youth when you could never have enough toys.
Conclusion
In conclusion, then, we hope that our list here will inspire you to think creatively about how you decorate the tabletop surfaces in your home for that added character and visual interest.
Outfit Rundown
The central element is my cashmere v-neck sweater in a purple or berry color, and to harmonize directly with the sweater, I’m wearing a shirt from Charles Tyrwhitt in a lilac color and in a small houndstooth pattern they call puppytooth. The shirt does have french cuffs, but I’ve got them configured in a barrel style with simple black links to more easily fit under the sweater sleeves.
Grounding the outfit are my trousers and socks, which are both in plain black, and a simple black pair of penny loafers from Allen Edmonds. And to fit in with the berry and black color feel, I’m also wearing a black grenadine tie from Fort Belvedere.
You can find this tie, as well as a wide variety of other men’s accessories, and a few things like our horn tidbit tray, in the Fort Belvedere shop here.