My two-tiered table is killing me. I am not a great accessorizer, I will be the first to admit. Give me two tiers to decorate and I am clueless. 
Here is where I am at. I heard that you are supposed to decorate in odd numbers. Is that true? I have three accessories on top and five on the bottom. It seems like a lot and I feel cluttered but I am stuck.
My IC budget bought me a $.50 candle holder from a yard sale, a candle and picture frame(I still need to add a picture) found in my storage and a vase I found at Hobby Lobby for $17 filled with some silver, sparkly pears I got on clearance at Christmastime.
The bottom tier included some red and black books (diet books, mind you) a little silver frame with my two kids that I got for $1.50 at Hobby Lobby, a $.50 candle holder from a yard sale with a glass jar on top for $1.50 with some red gems from the Dollar Tree and my Dollar Tree bird I painted here.
The little pot ended up being $1 yard sale find and I painted it to match.
And I told you yesterday about the bird pillow I added to the chair.
I am still not satisfied with the lamp. It is too skinny and I feel like it just looks like it is hanging out. I did raise it with some books to give it some height but will be looking for something more substantial to put there.
So what do you think? All of you who rock at accessorizing do you like it, should I switch anything around? add to it? take something away? I would love to hear your thoughts.
how about using scrapbook or other fancy paper to cover the books?
Not loving it 🙁 Looks too cluttered and fiddly, and where would you put your drink down? I keep picturing a guy inadvertently knocking the whole business over when he reaches for his cup.
HOWEVER! What we know about you is that you just keep innovating and trying until you come up with something perfect. I have no doubt you'll keep tweaking the whole business until it's just right for the space.
Alright, I have to give my honest opinion. I think it looks too cluttered. The wing chairs and wall color look so chic and the accessories on the table are not coming up to their level. What about all silver frames with black & white pictures in them? Turn it into a mini gallery? What about some moss or boxwood in a silver cup or bowl mixed in to add some greenery to the space? Just some thoughts.
Don't feel like I'm sitting in judgement. I have a two tiered table as well and I have a tough time knowing what to put on it. Mine is still not perfect, either. 🙂 In the end, it has to be about what looks good to your eye and works for your home.
You have a great eye and I know you'll come up with something that looks fabulous.
Well, I think it is just PERFECT! I just love the way the chairs came out. You did a fantastic job and I really enjoyed watching the progress. The table is perfect because when I stage something like that at home my family knows that I put effort into it and tend to put their drinks else where. If you love it then it's perfect, right?
Thank you for inspiring me today!
Danylle
Nana Moon Shop
Um…you had me at "black and white damask chairs." I love it all!!!
I vote for less. Of course, I'm a less is more kinda girl. I like the vase with the sparkley pears, but it looks too big for the space.
Please don't hate me if I give you my honest personal opinion.
The top looks good, but the bottom has too much going on. I would settle on maybe two larger items or a larger item and a stack of 2 books with maybe a larger decor ball on top.
When I say larger, I mean wider like a thick vase or a glass cloche or something. With the books maybe try a large Dice decor or a picture frame that is horizontal.
Honestly, the top shelf needs one big thing or maybe two things max too. I wouldn't use the vertical picture, it just doesn't seem to fit.
Okay, 2nd opinion using what you already have sitting there:
Put the books where the bird and the glass candle are sitting. They need to be more in front but off to the side. Set the bird and the mini picture frame on top of the books – bird on the right, frame on the left.
On the other side of the bottom shelf put either the cream urn OR the glass candle thing – but not both.
Top shelf, the tall vase is too tall. I'd ditch it. Ditch the picture to and get a horizontal one that is a 5×7.
Good luck!!
Oh, and for the top shelf, when you ditch the tall vase and get a 5×7 horizontal frame, put the candle on the right and the frame on the left. It will balance out the books on the bottom.
Wow – impressive thought process going into some of these comments! I will just say that it kind of reminds me of my first college apartment where we had bricks propping up boards that we called a TV stand and then 4 girls kind of threw some stuff together to make it "decorated" – it just isn't living up to the chairs – too much and too cluttery and the items don't look expensive like the chairs – it that soo materialistic or what? And, the lamp – for sure the lamp shade – needs to go – that shade can't compete with the pattern on the chairs. Good luck – you'll pull it together, I have no doubts!
I think you should have something taller than the top of the chairs on the top shelf. A skinny lamp of some sort would be my vote. I'd keep the bottom simple with the candle and a picture. I also think some sort of pattern under the lamp would be nice…maybe a simple "doily" made of some rich baroque or something (round with some beautiful trim on the edge). I think your chairs (everything) came out superb!
I just keep looking at the first picture, and my eye is drawn to three things – the red curtains, the gorgeous black table and those marvelous chairs.
In the remaining pictures, it looks like my cluttered nightstand when I have a cold – too much stuff stacked on a small table – and that is the first and foremost thing I notice… I have lost the chairs, the beautiful lines of the table altogether, and I dont see the drapes.
The difference to me, is comparing the first picture and the last.
Okay Becky here is my two cents worth…
Walls, chair, window treatments FABULOUS!
Little tiered table FABULOUS!
Accessories TO MUCH! (don't feel bad I do it to)
Suggestion: Books to the top shelf, pretty bowl filled with greenery, a shapely stick or two poking out and rest the birdy on top. Yes?? Maybe??
Bottom Tier: Keeping simplicity in mind and for the sake of having something on them lower tier that s functional and not distracting to your rooms overall beauty, try scattering a few coasters with silvery edging around them.
Hello my dear! What about a lamp on top of the table — would that work? That would solve some of the accessories and the lamp issue! (Floor lamps drive me mad — they are NEVER tall enough!)
I don't know if a lamp would look right up there or not though…you'd have to try it out.
I can't put my finger on how to change it up, but it feels like too many accessories to me, like my eye doesn't know where to look. I wish I could be more helpful, but I don't rock at accessorizing. I have to play around a lot to get what I want. I know you are friends with Sarah, and I think she is really talented at accessorizing…maybe you should have her over for lunch and have her help you fiddle with it!
I must agree with what many have said above: the table looks too cluttered. This room is so darned fabulous but then the table just looks…like there too much there. Keep workin at it and you'll get it. Why? Because your FABULOUS:)
Sarah
HandbagsNPigtails.blogspot.com
Love the two tiered table! I've never been brave enough to buy one, but now maybe I will! Love the look. 🙂
Love this little table! Accessorizing drives me batty! I agree with the others that it just looks a bit cluttered…here is a suggestion though..how about taking the other candle holder with the glass on top and putting in it place of the tall vase with the pears, and instead of the picture frame just the little bird nestled next to the two candle holders. On the bottom shelf just have the book and as suggested maybe covered in some cute paper or left over fabric from your chairs? and just the little urn thingy. Maybe a little greenery in the urn.
I think simple and less is more. I would do a big vase with red and white flowers and maybe two little pics staggard on the bottom, but otherwise, man I would hate to dust all that stuff and black shows lots of dust! Good luck!
Ok, I was not going to add my 2 cents in as I am not good at this either and I so feel your dilema so here is a suggestion to just try. In Art class I was told that odd numbers do always make the best picture and in this case I'm wondering if you could consider the top level of the table as one of the objects already? Or, I already see it as two so I would put maybe one thing on top and two simple things on the bottom like a book and the tiny frame. Anyway, It is a suggestion because unless I tried it myself I'm not sure.
I would do an antique looking phone on top
I'm all for the "Less is More" approach. It looks a little too busy–like a little ol' lady has been collecting knick-knacks from her 18+ grandkids, and puts them all on display everywhere. Please, please, PLEASE don't be upset, or discouraged by my comment–you have so many other things you blog about, which I LOVE. This table arrangement just isn't one of them. 🙁
Erin D.
Hey Beckie,
Have been thinking about your table and I think I would leave the candle and picture on the top level, then add the smaller pic of the kiddles. On the 2nd level, I think I would have the books, the birdie and the ginger jar. Just a thought. Love the chairs and pillows, you did an awesome job. Just keep playing with the table, you'll find just what you want eventually.
Sigh. Allison @ HoH beat me to my comments. I was pretty much going to say what she said.
Oh, but I do want to add that I think you need a different lamp shade in general. The little one looks out of place and dwarfed by the chairs.
I also don't like the vase on the top shelf. just not right. I love the idea of a lamp on top with a stack of coasters (the glass ball lamps at Target 🙂 with a black shade) bottom shelf just the books and maybe one eye catching glam object or two- something metal silver probably. Love LOVE Love you chairs you are amazing pillows too. The table is cluttered looking though. Good luck–I'm not a doer like you you'll get there I choose not to decorate at all (the hospital has one uped me.) I look at blogs like yours hoping to get inspired and do something. You are amazing–I just look cause I don't know how you do it.
I disagree with the odd number rule, I think you have too much stuff, and its not very matching (period, style-wise)
I love the chairs and the table though, and i think if you limit the number of things it can look really good. And put accessories that you really really like yourself, not just something that you think will look good. I'm not a big fan of stand up lamps, maybe rely on natural or overhead lighting more?
I disagree with the odd number rule, I think you have too much stuff, and its not very matching (period, style-wise)
I love the chairs and the table though, and i think if you limit the number of things it can look really good. And put accessories that you really really like yourself, not just something that you think will look good. I'm not a big fan of stand up lamps, maybe rely on natural or overhead lighting more?
I disagree with the odd number rule, I think you have too much stuff, and its not very matching (period, style-wise)
I love the chairs and the table though, and i think if you limit the number of things it can look really good. And put accessories that you really really like yourself, not just something that you think will look good. I'm not a big fan of stand up lamps, maybe rely on natural or overhead lighting more?
I disagree with the odd number rule, I think you have too much stuff, and its not very matching (period, style-wise)
I love the chairs and the table though, and i think if you limit the number of things it can look really good. And put accessories that you really really like yourself, not just something that you think will look good. I'm not a big fan of stand up lamps, maybe rely on natural or overhead lighting more?