Photo by Living for Media
There’s a time and place for paper plates and plastic forks, but a special alfresco brunch or dinner at home with family and friends shouldn’t be one of them. After all, you may have spent days or even weeks finalizing the food and drink menu for the shindig, so your guests will appreciate the extra lengths you go to get the presentation just right.
Creating a tablescape can elevate ordinary to extraordinary. Doing so gives extra importance to the occasion—it’s not just a meal, it’s an experience. But remember, hosts and hostesses, building a tablescape need not be another task, and it’s more than setting the table for everyday dinner—this is your chance to have fun and show off your creativity.
If you’re short of ideas beyond a placement, dishes, silverware, glasses and cloth napkins, here are a few jumping off points—with tips from Athena Ieromonahos, owner of Athena’s Party Design in Eatontown—that can help you style your tabletop.
Pick A Motif
To avoid randomly placing items on the table and creating clutter instead of design, choose a theme or story to carry out across the space. “When figuring out a theme, first ask yourself, what type of occasion it this and who will my guests be?” says Ieromonahos. “For example, the theme for a baby shower will probably be very different than an elegant anniversary dinner party.” If the occasion doesn’t present a clear theme, Pinterest is a good source for ideas, Ieromonahos says.
“Once you pick a theme, it’s important to match your décor to it,” she adds. And that’s where small details can make the event memorable. Throwing a summertime bash? Go with a beach theme with miniature beach ball keepsakes for every setting. Autumn parties can include handwritten place cards propped on palm-sized pumpkins, while winter dinners can feature tiny tabletop pinecones and an evergreen sprig slipped in with every napkin.
Count On Color
Picking hues for the table is like choosing a soundtrack for the event—color, like music, sets the tone and mood. “To me, using color when designing a table is very important,” Ieromonahos says. “Look at what your theme is and choose the colors accordingly.” For instance, a nautical-themed dinner party could feature blue and white stripes with a red accent, such as bright red napkin rings with a navy napkin and blue and white striped tablecloth, she says. Flowers (fresh or faux) are an easy way to bring color to the table, and place settings can draw from the hues of the petals. Again, be mindful of the event and time of day: Pastel hydrangeas are great for brunch and baby showers, while traditional autumn blooms like marigolds and black-eyed Susans are a good choice for outdoor dinners in fall. Display florals in different shaded vases for more color.
Though an all-white table or a neutral palette are also a viable options—think ivory charger with white dinner plate, white salad bowl atop a neutral placemat—“a pop of color with colored napkins or glasses can take the table to the next level,” Ieromonahos notes.
Set Up Center Stage
There’s a reason why floral arrangements are one of the best table centerpieces—they’re always beautiful. For an easy centerpiece, buy three bunches of your favorite flower (keeping in mind the color and theme of the table) and fill a decorative bowl with them. Another option is to divide the flowers into small vases and arrange them down the table interspersed with candles.
“But don’t be afraid to think outside the box,” Ieromonahos says. “Centerpieces don’t always have to be just flowers or greenery.” A large bowl of citrus fruit like lemons or oranges can brighten the table at a summertime brunch, or a similar vessel filled with apples or mini pumpkins is suitable for a harvest table. You can even display your child’s artwork in the middle of the table—it will surely start a conversation!
Light Up The Night
A well-lit table will ensure that a dinner party can extend into the twilight hours. Candles not only create an intimate feeling and add extra sparkle to the table, they also bring a vertical element to the décor. “Even a few votive candles can make a huge difference,” Ieromonahos says. She also recommends floating and pillar candles in varying heights to create a dramatic look. (Mixing short and tall candles also makes it easier for guests to see one another.) Hurricane vases and candlesticks look elegant on the table too, and they keep guests safe from the flame as well.
For an extra “wow factor,” Ieromonahos says that “hanging Edison lights or paper lanterns from backyard trees over the table can be a beautiful touch.”