Great topic! I was just thinking of posting a similar question as I'd like ideas on what to display on a dining room table to stage the room for selling.

Bookmarked.

I took this picture five minutes ago. That's Raptor on the table and he NEVER gets up there but it's hot and humid outside today and he came in for some cool a/c.

The placemat is from my GS today, we watched the grandkids. So take away those two items, and this is how my table is decorated for now.

The basket on the table is a light green that matches the planter, but you can't tell it from this picture.

I am boring, because it's mostly always a variation on the same theme.
I have my mother's sterling candelabras which convert from high to low to single candle holders both high and low.
Mostly they are in the tall single position with candles appropriate color to the season, and an antique open compote in the moon and stars pattern filled with "seasonal stuff". Soon to be eggs, often gourds, sometimes lemons both real and fake ( mix the 2 and you can't tell the real from the fake) pine cones, red and green apples, sometimes grapes...
And the compote sits on a capiz shell mat or sometimes a silver trivet. Seasonally there may be small "things" like a couple of Gobel and Royal Doulton rabbits or antique wax turkeys, or small antique Staffordshire dogs or sometimes wind up toys etc.
And fresh flowers when the occasion or opportunity demands.....but the compote with the "stuff" in always there between bouquets.
Linda C

We eat every meal at our DR table...so when it is "at rest" it is nekkid. This pic is staged...usually there would be NOTHING on it:

This is the way it looks pretty much all the time, except for holidays when I do seasonal centerpieces.

Thanks... keep 'em coming, please!

This is mine all the time too. The bowl and runner have exactly the same colors...and they in turn are exactly the same as 2 of the colors in the Oriental rug. They were both a present from my DD a few years ago.

{{!gwi}}

This is our old house, we'll be moving into the new house in about a month. I never have a centerpiece, except maybe during the holidays. Guess I have to fess up...I really don't know how to accessorize very well. Definitely challenged in that area.
{{!gwi}}

I keep mine unadorned except for a vase of cut flowers. Sometimes, I leave the candles from dinner on for a day or so, but mostly not.

OT: trailrunner, I have been looking for chairs similar to yours, but with a cane seat. Also looking for a long narrow harvest table. Are yours antiques? The antique chairs I find are smaller and my DH prefers something larger. I love your dining room!

Hey cyn, thank you ! I had posted about the DR on another thread....heart pine in my DR. The chairs and china cabinet are maple and were made specially for me by E.A.Clore Sons in Madison VA. They still make this chair and china cabinet. I also have a 4 poster bed that they made for me. The reason I say they are specially made is that the maple is not stained, only sealed. They no longer make maple furniture and they had never made pieces for anyone that weren't stained. This was over 30 yrs ago.

The seats are hand-tied rush. I love them and think they are more comfortable than cane and more durable too. They have a website I will link below. They are wonderful people to deal with.

The table is maple and is from a Scandinavian furniture store that was in SLC in the early 70's. I have 2 of these. The other is smaller. This one is 6ft/3ft. I hope you can find something you like. Often you just have to have it made for you. c

Here is a link that might be useful: E.A.Clore

This is how my 10' table looks now and most of the time.

Set for Thanksgiving

Changing it up a bit closer to Christmas

Christmas Eve and Day 2010

Set for a bridal shower last summer

During the Christmas holidays 2008

I only have a hammered copper bowl on the table.

Liar. There is usually paperwork on it too. Part of life.

Trailrunner - I love your room. It's so nice to see simple lace curtains on a window rather than heavy, layered "window treatments".

NHB I especially love that last pic from 2008. How did you do the lights ? Very charming. We never have anything on the table at holidays or company since the food takes up the whole table and DH and DS1 hate anything in the way of the star of the meal ...so I don't get to decorate.sigh.

roses: thank you we have them on every window in the downstairs. I love the way the light comes through. c

The lights are in grapevine balls. I run the electrical cord through a crack between the leaves.

My Turkish bowl on my table. This never changes, except on Thanksgiving when the entire room is reaarranged to seat approx. 20. I'm just not very creative that way. And I really like my bowl. Sorry for the bad cell phone picture. It was all I could find right now.

{{!gwi}}

Beautiful tablescapes, I would like to see more.
My dining table is currently being used as a
cutting table, as we're making drapes and roman
shades, and everything is upside down.

I want to change mine as well...It's interesting
to see everyone's tables, they look great.

We switched our unused huge lr and tiny dr. Now we leave the table extended all the time. Less leaves to store.

Thank you NHB, I don't have leaves but I could do it on the sideboard. I even have some grapevine things...great idea...thanks again.

jill: I love the Turkish bowl. Were you in Turkey our did you purchase it in this country. Beautiful and simple. c

Pretty room Auntie Ellen!

My dining room table is a 9 1/2 foot mahogany one. Since you're asking about long tables especially, I'm assuming that you've run into the same problem that I have with mine . . . the scale has to be larger to not look dwarfed on a long table.
I change my centerpieces out regularly for different holidays, events and seasons. This is the one that has become my everyday centerpiece during the Summer months. I bought a 24" long Talavera planter and filled it with (good) silk sunflowers and ivy.

Here's one I often use during the Autumn months. Being set on a runner makes these centerpieces very easy to slide around as needed when setting my table for a meal.
{{!gwi}}
I like this one during the month of February. Not only because of Valentine's Day, but santos ( the angel statue here) are something commonly used year-round here in New Mexico. I tend to move my centerpieces down towards one end when setting my tables for a meal.
{{gwi:1409066}}
Here's one for DD's March birthday dinner:
{{gwi:1415540}}
And, here's another one of my everyday ones, that I like especially during Autumn and Winter after Christmas. What I like to do best is "shop my house" for things to us.
{{gwi:1404126}}
Lynn

trailrunner - no, unfortunately have never been to Turkey. We bought it in upstate NY in a little shop we discovered one afternoon that carries all Turkish house stuff. They had a ton of beautiful things, but I really fell for the bowl. I wasn't even going to buy it because we were in money saving mode at the time, but I think DH saw the love in my face and told me to get it. Sometimes, I just totally love him. OK, more than sometimes :-)

My DH's maternal grandfather was from Turkey, and my MIL and FIL went recently for the 1st time. So, it had even more meaning for us.

Thanks for the compliment.

auntie_ellen - That's some dining room. Beautiful!

lynninnewmexico - You always come up with the most unique ideas for your table. ;)

jillinnj - I was in Turkey in June of 2008 and will be back there in less about 5 weeks. We will be in Istanbul and Kusadasi/Ephesus. I wish I could bring back a bowl as beautiful as yours, but with the luggage restrictions and cost, bringing back large souvenirs is out of the question. :( It's nice that you found something so lovely closer to home.

newhomebuilder - a bowl shouldn't take up much room in your luggage since you can always pack socks/clothes inside it.

lynninnewmexico - LOVE that planter. I did just see a pretty 2 ft long silk flower arrangement on Overstock, so I might be able to convince hubs to let me get it. Maybe. He's not a fan of silk flowers.

sashasmommy - True, but it would depend on the weight of the bowl.