Lately, we’ve been “shopping our house” more than usual. We’ll take a pillow from the couch and throw it on a bed. Lamps that used to switch on in the office are brightening the living room. We hauled the sectional from the office down to what will be the family “theater” room. All of this rearranging got me thinking about “essential” decor — I’m talking about the little workhorses that tie together whatever room they land in. And if we’re investing in decor, shouldn’t it work in lots of spaces??

Pop quiz: Do you have a wood pedestal, and if so — where is it? I have FOUR, and they work in almost every room, from the kitchen to the bedroom! Next time you’re zhuzhing, re-imagine the placement of this little darling. And if you don’t have one yet (or if you have one waiting in an abandoned cart), buckle in — I’m going to show you six ways the pedestal earns its keep.

1. Add some elevation. This wood pedestal “breaks up” the white and black on this shelf and adds a little warmth to the ginger jar, all while giving that floral beauty center stage. We also pull it out when we’re entertaining and love to serve desserts/breads/sandwiches–so many things on it!

2. Make a candle stand. Sometimes a candle can get a little dwarfed by everything else going on. When we plunked this ceramic urn on the office sideboard, the candle looked teeny weenie. But, insert pedestal, and voila — glowing strong.

3. Rally the herbs and spices. Chris’s collection of cooking essentials tends to… grow. Salt, pepper, olive oil, fresh herbs — all of these have earned their population on the countertop over the pantry, but without a bullpen, they’d bring all of their friends (trust me). A wood pedestal next to our cook top keeps things neat, organized, and not-too-overwhelming.

4. Ground your small decor. Someone gave you a little succulent or you saw one at check-out once, and you started fantasizing about a whole terrarium. But this wee greenie is still single. And… awkward? Slip a pedestal underneath and your plant pal will gain instant confidence, and your shelf will feel 100% more cohesive. Ground a smaller piece or elevate a short piece (or both!) with a wood pedestal.

5. Stand up to your nightstand. You’ve probably got a little collection next to your bed: books, earrings, chapstick, a mirror. It’ll all look more intentional with the addition of a wood pedestal. Seriously: See how stately your nighttime clutter looks on “stilts.”

6. Create a soap station. Next to the faucet, there’s always a lot of visual clutter. The hand soap and the dish soap and the scrubbie, if you’re me, also a candle! Next to the kitchen sink these all can get lost — or they drown in a puddle, and you didn’t buy the pretty bottle for no one to notice. Give it a little height! Then don’t be surprised when everyone in your house asks, “Mom, is this soap new??”

1. 6″ Sheesham Wood Trivet: $7
2. Small Grey Wood Riser: $12
3. Footed Teak Plant Stand: $16
4. Black Footed Teak Plant Stand: $16
5. Round Wood Pedestal with Handle: $31
6. Distressed Wood Pedestal: $32
7. Wood Footed Plateau Pedestal: $38
8. Footed Teak Serving Board: $38
9. Blond Wood Paddle Pedestal: $55
10. Round Mango Wood Tray Pedestal: $62
11. Black Reclaimed Wood Round Pedestals: $89
12. Reclaimed Wood Footed Pedestal: $99