Darcy Miller's Ideas for Adding Flowers, Fruit, and More to Your Table Décor

I always say, a beautifully decorated table turns a meal into a celebration. While I often use flowers as the base of my décor, I love to incorporate other decorative items to add an element of surprise. Faux flowers, fruit, candy, mementos, artwork, and more can make a table feel special.

Ahead are some of my favorite elements to include in a tablescape. Try running any (or all!) down the center of the table for a decorative, personalized setting that is unique to you. This "flowers-plus" method is a fun and eye-catching way to decorate for any celebration.

5 Table Décor Ideas

An Element of Surprise

For this spring dinner, I wanted the table to feel fresh but sophisticated. I started with different types of white flowers, which work for any occasion. Then, I brought in lemons to add color and make the setting a little different. Inspiration can come from anywhere—I just happened to see lemons at the market and thought, "Those belong on the table!"

It’s always fun to have something in addition to flowers that guests wouldn’t expect to see in a vase or as a centerpiece. That could be paper flowers—which you can buy, make your own out of crepe paper, or even print out flower templates—or fruit, as shown here. I've also used pomegranates, apples, and gourds as decorative elements.

Sweet Treats

I always incorporate some candy, nuts, or other snacks into my table decor, making sure to choose items that work with the color palette or theme, or are specific to the occasion. Here, I went for jelly candy in the shape of lemons. I also added glazed nuts and chocolate almonds.

A Personal Element

A table is always more special when there’s a personal touch. I’m an illustrator, so I love to draw place cards that double as souvenirs for guests. Someone else might write a poem, calligraph a place card, or leave a treat on top of the napkin—a personalized crossword puzzle, a single flower, or a postcard that sets the mood. If you have kids, assign this task to them—people love a place card or note featuring children's art! Or if you like the idea of setting a lemon-inspired table, just download and print out my lemon art above, and personalize it by writing in each guest’s name.

Mood Lighting

Candles add so much to a table's décor and to the ambiance of a dinner. Here, I mixed tall tapers with short votives for visual variety. Everyone looks better in the glow of candlelight—even if it is battery-powered!

Dessert as Décor

One fun way to create the feeling of a "centerpiece" is to place a sweet on a cake stand. That could be a cake at a birthday party or cookies in your color palette. For this spring tablescape, I chose meringues that resembled the white flowers on the table. Anything raised up on a cake stand or in a compote stands out from the smaller items alongside it.