When a room is nearly finished and all the major pieces of furniture are in place, there’s one thing you need to make the space feel complete: an artfully arranged tablescape, or grouping of objects on a console, coffee, side or center table.

“The poetry of a room is often found in these more intimate details,” said Dan Fink, an interior designer in New York. “Styling is about bringing a sense of personal beauty, and heart, to a room. The personality of the space, and the person who lives in it, can come through in personal objects.”

Empty tabletops, by comparison, often feel unfinished. “A room without accessories or styling is soulless,” said Sarah Bartholomew, an interior designer in Nashville. “Styling a table makes a room feel finished and lived in. It’s a way to personalize your home while adding depth and style.”