table setting and tablescaping for practically free

Have you ever gone to someone's home for a holiday, party or just for dinner and and noticed

how boring their table or buffet looked? Don't let this happen to you, it's so easy and cheap

to make your table or buffet look amazing. First of all choose a color scheme, if you really don't

want to spend any money, pick colors (dishes, napkins, table cloths, ) that you already own.

Let's start with the table. Decide what table covering you would like to use. Keep in mind

things like, a sheet. a quilt, a lace drapery panel, and the like can make great table covers, if any of these appear too long, pull up and bunch in the center, knowing that you can cover it with a centerpiece.

Another solution is to gather and tie the four corners, or if you have a pedestal table, gather fabric and tie underneath, like belt. To make a table or buffet look great, it's all

about the layering. So now that you have the underment handled, look for something that you

can place in the center of the table, to put your centerpiece on. Things that will work are a mirror, tray, a ceramic tile or a trivet or anything else you can find that is flat. Next you'll

need a centerpiece of sorts. You can refer to my blog on centerpieces for some ideas or you can

even make it more simple by using one of the following ideas. Fruit in a pretty bowl or glass

vase is fun, add two candlesticks with taper or pillar candles and instantly you have a centerpiece. You can use themed, framed photographs and add the candles as well. Another easy

solution is to gather three or five stemmed wine glasses. Now turn them upside down, buy

pillar candles in staggered sizes and have fun arranging the heights and thicknesses. Look around your house, the idea is to repurpose what you already have. Next you'll need some

placemats. If you don't have any, dish towels or hand towels, in good condition, will work.

Wrapping paper covering shirt cardboards , and so on, I think you're getting the message.

I personally have a problem with a paper napkin at a reasonably sized dinner party. If you

don't want to buy clothnapkins, get a yard of fabric and cut it up. I have also used bandanas from the dollar store. Some people already own napkin rings as well, if you don't you can tie

your napkins with a ribbon . If you have the time, you can cut empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls

to size. These can be covered with fabric, wrapping paper, or painted and embelished with

ribbons, buttons, or anything else you want to attach to them. This is a nice project for kids

to help you with. Now for the dishes, If you have enough of one pattern, great. If you don't,

mix and match. Take two patterns and alternate them at everyother placesetting. You can do
a similar thing for both the flatware and the glassware. When everything is not uniform, it is
much more interesting. I once hosted a party where no two plates were the same, however
the colors were very similar, I had so many compliments on that table it was amazing. The
final touch for the table will be the placecards. First rule, mine anyway, always hand write
the names. If you use the computer, you loose all the warmth of the event and it looks very
impersonal. I have used many objects to act as a placecard. I have spray painted, little
pumpkins, plastic fruit, and christmas ornaments, just to name a few. It's very easy to write
on any of these with a permanent marker. Small childrens' toys, seashells, and pinecones are
some other things I have used. When you're out shopping, pay attention to little inexpensive
items that would lend themselves to becoming a placemarker .
Okay, so now you have your table done, what about the buffet table. To me, nothing looks
worse, then an unadorned serving table, with everything just put there, in unimaginative
serving containers and all on the same level. The first step is to continue what you have
going on, on your dining table. Use a similar covering, and either use the bunching technique
or some kind of tying the corners. You will now need a secondary centerpiece, don't worry about it being the same as your dining table display. Try to come up with something with a
similar feel, or color scheme. Feel free to review some of the previously mentioned themes, or
get creative on your own. The next step may seem daunting, but I promise, once you've done
it, it will make sense. Think about what you are going to serve and in what serving piece. I
do not believe in tupperware on a buffet table. However feel free to place rolls or breads in
an attractive basket lined with a cloth napkin, or substitute. Place all your other serving
containers on the table. Start with the largest platter and place it in the center, by the way
this is done ahead of the event, empty. So with the largest item in the center of the table,
find a empty box or a large pot (inverted) that you are not
using to cook with, cover the box or pot with some fabric, this now becomes a riser that will
elevate some of your dishes and add dimension and interest to your table. You can use this
method all over your table alternating the height of the dishes. Make sure that whatever you
use to raise the serving pieces is large and sturdy enough to avoid wobbling of the plate or
bowl. Once you have finalized the arrangement, you may label the places, so you won't forget
where everything goes. Now you need to go back outside again and get the clippers. Cut
some kind of greenery, whatever you have out there will work. It's a good ideas to shake it
off before you bring it in to make sure there are no living things on it that will want to share your
buffet. Place the branches in the spaces that occur between the flat and elevated items on
your table. You may have to play around with the spacing until you're happy with the look.
Now you may add some votive candles in and around the branches. You'll have to admit that
this is not difficult to do and it's so much more appealing than the usual one level concept.