As a child, I loved to curate little altar-like areas, bringing together finds, gifts, pictures and things I’d made. I’d group them together and arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing way on a dressing table or a shelf. This would become the focal point in my bedroom. The place where my attention could contentedly rest on something that reflected me and my choices and stories. 

I didn’t realise it then but what I was doing was creating a centrepiece in the only space that was completely mine. In this article we'll look at what a centrepiece is and how we use them in interior design.

Reflecting Personal Style

If your home is an extension of your personality, centrepieces offer an opportunity to express your individual style. Whether your taste leans towards classic elegance, modern minimalism, or cosy maximalism. 

Your Space Your Style

The centrepieces that you choose can resonate with your personal style. It's there to create a space that feels truly authentic, welcoming and yours.  

Table centrepieces

how do we use centrepieces

Perhaps the first place our mind goes when we think of the idea of a centrepiece is in the middle of a table. It is often a floral arrangement in the centre of a table for a special event, such as a wedding. 

Style Over Function

We create a table centrepiece in our homes too. How satisfying is it to place a big vase of flowers in the middle of an empty dining table? Even though it is something that becomes an inconvenience at meal times as it requires moving for table settings to work. 

Centrepieces Outside The Centre

This is why I sometimes like to use the mantelpiece as a focal point for flowers - but not in the winter when we light the fire. In many ways, I prefer my standing centrepieces, such as vases of flowers, to live on a cabinet or somewhere out of the way. A Bertie chandelier over a dining table offers all the focal importance to the dining area without obstruction. 

Centrepieces as focal points of interest

Essentially, centrepieces provide points of interest that enrich the experience of being in your home. 

Using art to add interest

A piece of art on a prominent wall - over a mantelpiece, for example - can create a focal point in your room. A painting or print already has layers of attributes:

  • The story of how you came to have it
  • It’s heritage
  • Who made it
  • Where it’s from
  • The colours it contributes to your room scheme
  • It’s luminosity and size. 

All of these factors create the impact of your focal point. 

Want to learn more about the history of centrepieces? View this article on Prezi here.

Ceiling centrepieces

Similarly, ceiling lighting is an element that lends itself perfectly to creating a centrepiece or a focal point. The blank uniformity of a ceiling provides a perfect canvas for a piece of statement lighting to really sing. When we look up to the top third of our rooms we find the emptiest space and a perfect opportunity to get imaginative.  

How will you create your centrepiece?

A perfect centrepiece can take many forms. It can sit on a table, it can hang on a wall or you can suspend it from the ceiling. It can be a flower arrangement, a painting or a print, a pendant ceiling light, or a sculpture. There are no rules. 

These focal elements of home decor create visual interest  and richness. They contribute to the ambiance, aesthetics, and pleasure of being in your living space. Whether that’s just for you or for you and your visitors.