Entertaining: Setting the Table

When you're entertaining, are you more concerned about how it looks? Or how it tastes? When most people entertain, their focus is on getting the menu sorted and the food prepared. It's not until those things are sorted out, that our attention is then focused on how to set the table. Unfortunately this is often an after thought and left to the very last minute. But think of it like a gift - you spend so much time selecting the perfect gift, would you then give it to the recipient in a plastic bag?! That's going to be a let down. So, when you're organizing a dinner party, think about how you want the table to look, because that is the meal's gift wrap.

Now winter isn't the best time to get reasonably priced flowers, and the selection is generally pretty shabby. So what can you do to create a table setting worthy of the beautiful meal you've just prepared for your guests? Here are some budget friendly ideas to help jump start your creativity and imagination.

There are lots of everyday items which can be used to create a beautiful tablescape. All you need to do is look around your house with an imaginative eye. Here are some ideas:

• Use mirrors or silver trays to create a runner down the center of the table, then place votive or pillar candles on the mirrors.
• Fill large crystal or glass salad bowls with water and add floating candles.
• Purchase long feathers of varying length from your local craft store and place them in ceramic vases to create an unusual and very sophisticated centerpiece.
• Baskets are perfect for creating rustic centerpieces. They can be filled with pinecones, nuts in their shells, candy, or potted spring flowers.
• Glass jars or containers are great for filling with colorful candy, marbles, sea glass or maybe something more natural such as seashells.
• Line shallow trays down the center of your table and fill with red or green lentils or maybe even red beans. Finish off the tablescape by nestling pillar candles on trays among the lentils or beans.
• Place a pillar candle in a hurricane lantern and then fill with coffee beans or star anise.
• Citrus is readily available this time of year, so stack lemons or oranges into bowls or on cake stands.
• Purchase large globe grapes and position in bowls or cake stands. The grapes can either be nibbled on between courses or be an informal dessert to finish off a heavy meal.
• Wrap small boxes in paper to match your decor, wrap with simple ribbons and stack in the middle of your table on a cake stand.
• Use long lengths of burlap as table runners.
• Use lightweight scarves as table runners.
• Stack books of varying shapes to create pedestals for candle holders.
• Lay lengths of ribbon down the center of the table over a light colored tablecloth and then cover with a coordinating sheer fabric. The sheer fabric will help keep the ribbon in place.

Your local garden center or home improvement store is the perfect place to pick up items that can be used for interesting and unusual tablescapes:

• Fill inexpensive terracotta pots from your local craft or garden store with potting soil and then top with moss.
• Drape pieces of ivy down the center of you table and then nestle votive candles in glass holders or jars amongst the branches.
• Arrange slate tiles down the center of your table, put large and small hurricane lanterns on the tiles, and then add moss to the spaces in between the candles.
• Put tree branches, budding branches or pussy willow branches into a large glass vase - perfect for a dramatic buffet tablescape.
• Fill faux bird nests with small foil wrapped eggs or candy - perfect for spring parties or baby showers.
• Put bundles of fresh herbs in bud glasses.
• Group pots of spring flowers in the center of the table. You could also create a raised platform by placing the pots on a cake stand.

There are some simple ways to stretch a small bunch of flowers into a unique and luscious tablescape:

• Cut the flower heads off the stems and float the heads in a shallow bowl or plate of water. Then float candles or position larger candles in the bowl.
• Group bud glasses or small jars, down the center of your table. Add a single flower to each vase/jar.
• If going with a standard centerpiece style, layer the greenery first, and then just use the flowers for pops of color.
• Choose flowers with large blooms such as chrysanthemums, daisies, and carnations - these will take up more real estate giving you a fuller, more opulent look. These types of flowers also last longer, so you can do the arrangement ahead of time without fear of wilting.

So you pulled it off, beautiful dinner, gorgeous table, wonderful evening - don't forget what you did. Try capturing that information in an Entertaining Notebook or even simply take a photo, that way you can replicate it next time for another dinner party or use some of the components to create a different look and feel. Remember, you don't have to reinvent the wheel every time you have someone over.

• Faux Bird Nests
• Check out Nico De Swert's Floral Design videos for unique ideas and easy to follow "How-To's".