Save Room for Dessert

Remember how I said to keep your table-scape pure and simple to encourage movement and visibility? Well, don't worry your little cluttered head, there is a place to go all out and I deem it the dessert table.

Depending on your event or the season, gather a world of pieces to make it a land of magic. Look around you, I prefer finding as much from nature as possible. Take a walk and collect what you find. Leaves, acorns, pinecones, branches and beyond. Walk through your home and pick out the little bits of your world. Maybe that book on your mantle, the pretty tea box you saved or some old photographs (or other antique pieces). There is always a place for all that nonsensical stuff by the sweet natured desserts.

We did just that at Evolve Home, and found a universe of beauty to play with. 

The shop carries everything from decorative nicknacks to beautiful pieces of furniture, seasonal pieces, and an entire corner of chalkboard paint. They support local artists and their pieces are diverse in style to suit all tastes.

Consider shopping local this Saturday and stopping by Evolve Home for some Christmas decor (let's talk about those striped candles.) 

My tips to getting the cluttered look right:

Once you gather all your pieces, set a basic structure. Imagine yourself building a house. You need a solid foundation through the edges of your arrangement; the sturdy things that will keep it all together and frame the collection. From there start to build up. Adding height adds dimension. Break your arrangement into parts, create that dimension in the overall picture and then start to look deeper into the details. Let each corner become it's own world where you repeat the same rules of building structure and adding dimension, keeping color in mind as well. Repetition and contrast, in shape and color will add more to the arrangement as a whole. Within this keep your theme in mind but stray just far enough to make it interesting and engaging. Pretty soon people will be trying to figure out where the desserts actually are.

In terms of what's edible, add beautiful touches to your pies and cakes. Be sure to add some variety as well, add a fruit plate for those who might not be in the mood for the decadence of the sugarier treats. Maybe try adding some local or especially interesting treats like chocolates or arrange your bread at the table.

Find one dessert you especially want to highlight and give it that extra boost. Use a stemmed cake plate but don't stop there, place it on a throne of it's own. 

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Photography by Candice Hackett

Styling by Sarah Kyle 

All decorative pieces c/o Evolve Home

Chalk art print by Renae of Colour & Dust