Do you like to keep something pretty on your table while serving weeknight meals? How about during dinner parties? Do you break out fresh flowers and candles? Or do you keep it simple, letting the food have center place? After the plates, silver, and glasses, what's on your table?
Centerpiece Inspiration: What's On Your Table?
Personally, I love fresh flowers on the table. They are always there, no matter the season or time of year. Sometimes they are fresh flowers from my own yard; the arrangement above includes canary creeper nasturtium and Japanese clematis — two vines that are practically weeds in my yard, but beautiful in a table arrangement. Other times of the year fresh flowers are a small, practical luxury.
I often move the flowers off the table during the actual meal to make room for food and wine, or to make it easier to converse with guests. Tall arrangements get in the way! But candles are always around — small, unscented votives or tealights in plain glass holders. I really like the motion and flicker of candles during a dinner party.
What about you? Any favorite centerpieces or dinner party decorations?
More centerpiece inspiration:
• Look! Quick Citrus Centerpiece
• Easy Table Decorations: Eat the Centerpiece
• The Cook's Guide to an Easy, Elegant Holiday Table
• Easy Entertaining: Four Ideas for DIY Paper Flower Centerpieces
(Images: Faith Durand)
Comments (8)
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I like to keep flower on the table - they make me so happy! Its usually just a cheap bunch from the grocery store though, not anything too elaborate - I find that gerbera daisies and alstromaria each last about 3 weeks. I also keep 2 very simple pillar candles out.
view lsk's profile
We have a cute set of cactuses on the kitchen table. Not quite as cheery as fresh flowers, but a lot cheaper.
view Emily G.'s profile
Table what table, I'm a couch eater on weeknights--there are flowers on the coffee table though.
view sally599's profile
My "fresh flowers" are actually a single living plant. It has to live in an apothecary jar to keep the cats from tearing it apart but it looks lovely in the center of the table. I'm too lazy to move it for dinner unless there's no room for it.
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
flowers, food and dishes?? what about piles of bills and magazines? Am I the only one around here with a kitchen clutter problem?
view mf1192's profile
Usually it's just the two of us at our four-seater, so I move whatever's been decorating the center of the table over to the edge when we eat. It still looks nice there, against our wall. I always have pretty things on the table - and it's pretty much different every day! I go hunting around the house. :)
view nikki moore - photography and vintage treasures's profile
Fresh fruits and veggies! Whatever doesn't require refrigeration. Some times of year the centerpiece is sparse, at other times it is abundant. Right now it is covered in tomatoes (and, admittedly, a bunch of crap that needs put away - those bills and magazines!)
view speck's profile
A glass milk bottles with sea shells I picked in Florida. I prefer centerpieces I don't need to be replaced. Plus, it still reminds me of summer.
view Food Monstar's profile