Hi everyone. Is it Wednesday already? How did that happen? Sorry to leave you hanging for so many days. I lost a very dear friend recently and as you might expect, I have been feeling rather blue. In an attempt to shake off my sadness, I have been making some changes at home. Since I know it is freezing and gray most everywhere except L.A., I thought you all might be feeling a little glum yourselves so I thought I’d share some ideas that have been helping me feel a little better. Today’s tip: Tablescapes.

What the hell is a tablescape and how is it going to make you feel better? A tablescape is an artful and considered arrangement of items on a table or bureau or console. I would argue that often our homes get stuck in a rut and we don’t even see what is around us anymore. Instead of going out and buying a bunch of new stuff to change up the vibe of your room, I am encouraging you to look at your existing stuff with fresh eyes. You can make a major shift in the tone of a room by changing up which decorative items you display as well as how you display them.

The master of dynamic, balanced grouping of items was my man, David Hicks. He coined the term tablescapes because he approached each tabletop as an area to create a considered sculptural assemblage. Below are some examples of the maestro at work: