This unexpected (and inexpensive!) decorative item is available throughout the Magnolia Home Store

As an interior designer, I was in decor heaven during a recent visit to Magnolia. I was prepared to spend a lot of money at the Magnolia Home Store, but my favorite item in the store wasn’t even on sale. Even better, you can recreate the unexpected trend in your own home for just a few dollars.

The Magnolia Home store is filled with perfectly curated displays showing how to arrange the available sofas, throws, and coffee tables in your own home. But one unexpected decorative element kept popping up throughout the store: bowls and trays filled with vintage-looking black-and-white toy figures.

The monochromatic representations of dominoes, dice, and other board game paraphernalia are both modern and casual. A decorative bowl full of dominoes will enhance a coffee table and give the room a homey and appealing vibe. And with a quick trip to your board game cabinet, you can recreate the look in minutes (for free!). If you don’t have enough game pieces – or don’t want to sacrifice your game nights for the decor – you can buy them for just a few dollars.

How to decorate with game pieces

The key to decorating with board game pieces and keeping the look classy is a monochromatic color scheme. While you’re not strictly limited to neutral colors, your palette should be based on similar shades of a single color.

First, choose a vessel that matches your decor style, such as a glossy black tray for a modern living room or a fluted bowl for a cottagecore-style space. Choose a vessel with some texture to add even more interest to the display.

Next, fill your container with game pieces. Stick with black and white dominoes, dice, or Scrabble tiles, or if you have a colorful game set, choose just the blue tiles, for example, to maintain a consistent, understated aesthetic.

Once you have all your materials, place them on a buffet, coffee table or mantelpiece along with a selection of coffee table books, your favourite candle or a vase of greenery. With just a few items (and some toy figures you might already have in a drawer) you can create a modern display that looks put together without being over the top.