Eight Easy Tips for Styling a Dining Room Hutch
We’re sharing eight easy tips for styling a dining room hutch today as we team up with some of our favorite ladies for a Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop.
A special shout out and thank you to my sweet friend Cindy of County Road 407 for putting this fantastic group of ladies together.
The Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop…
The Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop is a bimonthly series where we share our love of vintage, antique, farmhouse, and repurposed finds and ideas.
If you’ve missed any of the other installments, you can catch up here:
- How to Create Farmhouse Crocks from Paint Cans
- Easy Tips for Styling a Bookcase (last year’s reader-favorite #1 post)
- Simple Ways to Organize the Pantry with Baskets
- Simple Tips for a Fall Cider BarÂ
- Easy Ways to Decorate with FramesÂ
- DIY Farmhouse Tool Caddy
- Jadeite Inspired Cupcake StandsÂ
I’m tickled pink you guys love this group as much as I do because these ladies are amazing inside and out. If you’re coming over from Paula’s blog, Sweet Pea, welcome, we’re thrilled to have you here.
Paula has such a beautiful way of weaving family heirlooms into her home and creative fabulous vignettes that tell a story. I can’t wait to read all about her 100-year-old china cabinet.
We recently shared our One Room Challenge guest bedroom makeover plans and couldn’t be more excited about joining in on this event.
As always, one big project usually rolls into several other smaller projects.
And that’s the case with this project too.
While we plan to shop the house as much as we can, there are definitely things we’re going to need.
For example: some sort of library hutch, a desk, and fun accessories.
I know a lot of you like to collect ironstone, transferware, creamware, and antique silver too.
So, I can’t wait to dive into all the inspiration today.
It’s all about hutches, cabinets, and cupboards!
Here’s a look at eight easy tips for styling a dining room hutch…
Tip One: Start Collecting Items BEFORE You Plan to Style Your Dining Room Hutch
Unless you buy an entire collection at an estate sale, find a great deal at an antique mall or inherit a large collection of your favorite items, it takes a long time to find just the right pieces.
Be sure to fully enjoy the process of treasure hunting!
Tip Two: Keep the Color Palette Consistent
Whenever you’re styling a dining room hutch, consider the color palette of your collection, as well as, the color palette you have in the rest of your home.
While the colors and patterns don’t have to match, it’s most pleasing when they complement each other.Â
It’s one of the reasons we decorate with ironstone and transferware so much.
The pieces work well in almost every room of the house!
Another thing to keep in mind when you have a consistent color palette, is how much easier it will be to shop for goodies when you’re styling a dining room hutch.
There are a lot of great items out there and it’s easy to get off track if you don’t know what specific colors or style you’re looking for in advance.
Tip Three: Buy Items with Varying Heights
While you’re out shopping, look for large pieces like tureens and pitchers, mid-sized items like platters and cake stands, and smaller items like creamer and sugar jars or gravy boats.
That way, you’ll be able to layer differing heights on each shelf to add interest.
Tip Four: Style the Middle Shelf (or the shelf at eye level) FIRST
I know it might seem like you should start styling the top shelf first and then work your way down to the bottom shelf or start from the bottom and work your way up.
But the truth is, it’s so much easier to style the shelf that is at eye level first.
It will help to set the tone for the entire hutch.
After all, it’s the shelf you’re most likely to notice as soon as walk into the room.
Tip Five: Put a Statement Maker Front and Center
More times than not, I put some sort of statement-making piece in the center of the middle shelf, then work around it.
This will likely be your favorite or largest piece so give it a place of honor up front!
Tip Six: Place Large Pieces (like lidded tureens) On the Top Shelf to Help Add Visual Height
After you have your statement-making piece in the middle of the dining room hutch, create a “V” or a triangle by placing two large pieces (like a tureen, pitcher, compote, cake stand, etc) on the top or bottom shelf to the left and right.
This will help add visual height and create a bit of symmetry.
Tip Seven: Place a Textural Element in the Middle of the Top Shelf and Repeat It At Least Two Other Times
In this case, we complemented the brown and white transferware platter on the top with two brown and white transferware pitchers.
We also used a large white ironstone platter on the middle shelf.
Then repeated the look by using ironstone platters on the bottom shelves so everything feels anchored.
Tip Eight: Remember to Incorporate a Bit of Nature
Incorporating bits of nature brings life to any space!
Try things like the warm woodgrain of vintage breadboards, flowers, greenery like moss and preserved boxwood, faux eggs, or bird nests or even branches.
Keep in Mind…
Keep in mind, styling a dining room hutch can take a while.
Especially, if you’re trying to achieve a collected over time feel or if you’re starting with a specific vision.
Remember to be patient with the process and have fun along the way!
It also takes a bit of maneuvering and playing around with different items, combinations, and height variations until you’ve achieved a look you love.
Don’t let that intimidate or overwhelm you though.
Styling a dining room hutch is definitely something you can do!
We hope these eight easy tips for styling a dining room hutch have helped!
Let us know your favorite way to style a dining room hutch or if you have any fun tips or tricks we should know about.
Up next on the Lifestyle of Love blog hop is Lora from Create and Ponder. I know you’ll love her ideas for styling a glass front cabinet because she is always so creative.
Once you’re finished there, be sure to check out what the rest of these fabulous ladies are sharing…
Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Many blessings,
CoCo
Oh my word this looks fantastic. Who knew that putting a bookcase on top of a sideboard could look so fabulous?! This was a perfect solution for displaying this beautiful collection – and your design tips are spot-on! I think your mom must have been spying in your garage LOL. Another great project.
ha ha that’s what I said! It was like she could sense I had something in the garage she needed for another project at Loblolly. To be perfectly honest, there’s probably enough projects for a tri county area in there 🙂 Sending you both hugs, CoCo
Your styling is perfection, CoCo! Creating a hutch by putting a bookshelf on top of a sideboard is a fabulous idea. All of your tips are so helpful to anyone styling a hutch or china cabinet. It’s always a pleasure to visit your blog!
LOVE all your tips, CoCo. that hutch combo is perfection. Styling the middle shelf first is such a great idea, I’ll keep that in mind from now on. I end up moving things around so much and just eyeballing the results. Beautiful brown transferware, your cabinet is a work of art!! Happy Weekend!
This is beautifully styled and I love the bookcase added. This us filked with so many treasures.
You gave a great list of steps too.
Enjoy your weekend!
Cindy
I really need you to help me with my open shelving! But I will need to borrow all your pieces as well. This is so beautiful CoCo. You really do have the best collections. I love the brown and white transferware so much. That’s next on my list to find. How do you keep the white platters up? Are they on stands and if so, where would I find some? you know I’ll be sharing this on my wrap-up next week. I can’t get enough inspiration from you.
Thank you so much, Kim, I really appreciate it! Sometimes I use stands to keep the plates propped up but most of the time I paint shims white and just balance them up on pieces of wood so I can change them in and out easily. I probably wouldn’t use that method if they were priceless though. Loved seeing all your beautiful hutches on the tour! Hugs, CoCo
CoCo I loved your hutch styling tips! The way you styled your hutch is gorgeous – it looks so pretty and fresh!. I love the idea of putting a bookcase on top of a sideboard to create a hutch – you always have the most amazing ideas!
CoCo,
What a stunning cabinet! I am so in love with your ironstone and the transferware. Such fabulous tips for getting the look!
Such a great post with such great tips. Know what I thought of when I read it?…
We go together like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong. LOL! Your tips go with my tips. 🙂
Love the way you added the brown and white transferware. I wish I could find some of that. It would be like Christmas and Easter put together!
I’m going back and adding some “nature” to mine. I love your hutch way better than my hutch. Thank you for joining us. Pinned!
We’re one of a kind
Like dip dadip dadip doowop da doobee doo
Our names are signed
Boogedy boogedy boogedy boogedy shooby doowop shebop
Chang chang changitty chang shoobop
We’ll always be like one, wa wa wa wah
You know it girl! LOLOLOLOL!
All of the pieces in your hutch blend together so beautifully. That was such a great tip reminding us to look for items of varying heights and to enjoy the process. The process of putting something special together is always my favorite part.
Thank you, Heidi! Trying to find pieces that you love and can easily incorporate into your home is my favorite part too. I’m beyond thankful things are starting to open back up again because I defintely miss treasure hunting. Can’t wait to see what you pick up for your hutch. Hugs, CoCo
Wonderful tips, CoCo! And yes, the visual V’s and X’s are so helpful! Beautiful ironstone tureen collection, and I always drool over your transferware:) Your styling is magazine swoon-worthy!
I love your tips! I love collecting ironstone and creamware. I’ll have to use your tips and look for a new way to display. Thanks for your inspiration!
You are so welcome, Leslie! I’m glad you’ll be able to use these tips to help create a look you love. Hugs, CoCo
Coco, your hutch looks so pretty! I love everything you’ve used and your tips are so helpful. I never have a strategy and just seem to adjust things until they look okay, but I’ll try starting at eye level the next time. Thanks for the great info and beautiful inspiration! ~ Angie
Oh, my goodness! What a beautiful marriage between a buffet and a bookshelf! That book shelf gives you so much more room to style things too! So clever! I love how you styled your hutch so beautifully with your ironstone collection! Thank you for taking us through your thought process! Your home is what we all want ours to look like! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Tee
Such sweet and kind words, Tiffany, thank you! Adding the bookshelf to the buffet was a game-changer. We looked for several months for a hutch topper but just didn’t find anything we loved. Now I’m looking for all sorts of ways to marry pieces from one room to the next ? Hope your day is s special one, CoCo
Love these ideas, your hutch looks amazing!
Thank you so much, Josiah! I really appreciate it
What a beautiful hutch display!
Thanks so much, Nancy, I really appreciate it! Hope your day has been a fun one, CoCo
Thank you for explaining that it’s important to include things like greenery or flowers when you’re decorating your hutch. My husband and I just got a hutch for our dining room, but I’ve been at a loss as to how to decorate it well. I’ll be sure to include some flowers or arrangements and see if that helps us to get the feeling we want from it.
This is an excellent tutorial! Tip #4 is quite interesting, I never thought to start from the middle. Thanks for sharing this!
You are so welcome, Caleb, happy to help! Hope you’ve had the best day, CoCo
Such great tips CoCo! I’m sharing a link on my Dirt Road Adventures this Sunday. Thanks for all your tips.
That’s so sweet of you, Rachel, thank you! I really appreciate it. Big hugs, CoCo
Great tips! I love your brown transferware collection – particularly the pitchers. The most helpful tip was to style the middle shelf first. Ah. Never thought of that. Of course tip #1 – collect items before you intend the use them in the cupboard -was also great. Mostly because I have been collecting ironstone, transferware, pitchers etc – and I don’t yet own a cupboard.
I’m glad you found this helpful, Anna! It definitely takes a little extra work playing with things until you get the look you’re after but once you do it will feel like a home run so don’t give up. It’s been forever since I’ve been out treasure hunting but I’m hoping to go while we’re at the cabin. Ironstone and transferware are getting so hard to find now. Sending you lots of hugs for a happy week, CoCo