Styling A Dining Table With Books

Today I’m sharing how I’m styling a dining table with books. If you’re looking for a fresh way to update your dining room table, then you might want to gather up your favorite books, and give this a try.

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Styling A Dining Table With Books

You know sometimes my best ideas are either totally unplanned or seem to happen by accident. I’m doing some housecleaning, pile a bunch of books on the table and inspiration hits me.

Then I search on Pinterest for book displays, and voilà, I get all kinds of images of books on tabletops. Some photos are random stacks of books, and some are more orderly.

 

The look I’m going for is an organized display that you’ll find in home library. Each stack is straight, somewhat evenly spaced, the largest books on the bottom, saving the smaller books on top.

Best Books To Display

Now deciding on the best books to display is a personal matter. Do you want novels, books on a particular subject, vintage reference books or display books? It’s kind of hard to decide, I know.

The books I’m displaying are an eclectic mix. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about.

• Floral arranging
• Dog encyclopedia
• French decorating
• Navel ships
• Watches
• Science
• Cookbooks, cookbooks and cookbooks

Some of the book jackets I’l keeping on, and some I’m temporarily removing, because I’m wanting pops of color to brighten the table.

Adding A Plant Or Flower Arrangement

Our dining room with its southern exposure gets lots of bright light, so I’m adding a ficus tree in the center. With so many hard surfaces and sharp angles, we need an organic element. We also need something green.

For a special treat I can always add a fresh flower arrangement, but for everyday styling, a plant will do. The ficus tree is still in its plastic pot, which I’m hiding in a quirky basket.

The basket adds lots of texture, and the round shape makes a welcome contrast to the rectangle books.

Did you notice the star fish and the big iron key? I’m thinking I’ll start with just a couple of random objects on top of the books, then  add one or two more when it strikes my fancy.

Invitation To Sit And Read

Having books on display is an invitation to sit and read, and sometimes I like leaving a book open. That way when I pass through I can stop and linger some more.

I really love to read cookbooks, looking for the most simple and appetizing recipes first. What can I say, I’m a lazy cook LOL!

Shop Books

• Charlotte Moss Flowers
• Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden
• French Country Cottage
• Barefoot Contessa Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust
• Cooking For Jeffery: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
• The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country In The World (Lonely Planet)
• The Complete Book of Dogs

Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest, where the boards are up to date with my favorite seasonal inspiration!

So how do you like styling a dining table with books? It’s such an easy way to decorate for summer, and you might feel the pull to sit a spell for some good reading.

Cheers!

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