Vegan Table
If you’ve read my blog before, you’ve probably picked up on my love for fabrics, clothes, style, fashion, and fun. Lately, I’ve been so creatively inspired that I’ve been bringing these loves of mine to a different venue other than my person: my home.
I’ve always loved home design-I feel it’s just another way to be creative and expressive yet practical in these expressions of the self and of the muse. I have fond memories of re-arranging my bedroom during middle school and high school and embarking on simple DIY projects to revamp the look of what was then my own little personal space. Now that I’m all growed up, I adore decorating the little bungalow that Maddie and I share with our 2 crazy cat babies and making it beautiful, unique, and artful.
Our dining table is an object of much love and affection for Maddie and me. It’s an antique passed along to Maddie from her mom and when we became an entity, the table came along too. Our cottage is so tiny that we currently have the table residing on our little screened in porch, which gets hours of daily use. I love to dress up our beloved table and make it a beautiful spectacle to behold and compliment the food creations that come out of our kitchen.
I’ve learned that I can apply some of the same aesthetics I love in my wardrobe to the place I love to work, eat, and create. Here are just a few tips to making your vegan table a lovely place for you and your family to enjoy:
~ Pattern clashing is a fun and kitschy way to revamp your table. I love pattern clashing with my clothes-sometimes matching as many as 3 or 4 different motifs in one outfit. Why can’t that same fun principle apply to the table? Well my friends, it can. I love to pair printed place mats with a printed table cloth or table runner, as I did in the photos above.
~ Fresh flowers add a splash of color and fragrance. There is nothing more beautiful than the raw essence of nature in your own home. Beautiful, fresh cut flowers make all the difference in the world! I love to buy them from local vendors at our farmer’s market, or even cut wildflowers Maddie and I see on our many evening walks together.
~ Mix the old and the new to get a unique look. Use vintage pitchers, cups, glasses, or vases as center pieces. Here I used an antique elephant pitcher that I got at one of my favorite thrift stores for $6 to hold my flowers. The place mats are from my mom and have long graced the tables where I’ve eaten. I remember these fondly from my childhood years.
~ Repurpose and recycle to keep your purchases and decorations ethical and vegan! In the photos for this post, I used an unbleached organic cotton bedspread I’ve had for ages as a tablecloth and a repurposed curtain ruffle that I hemmed up on one side as a table runner. The candles were purchased second hand (and unused!) at a yard sale and are displayed in 2 mason jars filled with stones.
~ Find inspiration in the everyday. Add in colors, materials, and dishes that have appealed to you lately and keep up the inspirational theme! You can even set your table to go along with your meal choices for the evening for themed meals/events.
~ Stay comfortable at mealtimes. If you’re like us and have hard wooden chairs at your table, throw a few extra cushions onto each before meal time. You’re much more likely to enjoy and linger over what you’re eating if your rear wants to be there too!
Bisous! And happy table decorating!
Rachel
Your table and the linens, flowers, vase – so welcoming and soft and homey. Such a lovely space to enjoy together
!
Beautiful! I wish I could have fresh flowers in the house. My kitties go nuts whenever any live plant is around (they will even climb to the teetering top of my tallest bookcase to get to them!), which is why I can’t seem to get away with growing my own herbs in the windowsill
As adorable as that is, I can understand not having greenies around! My kitties are pretty into plants too, but seem to only (and very cutely) smell the flowers we have around the house. You should try giving your kitties catnip so they have their own plant to distract them!!!