DIY centerpieces make for festive holiday tables
When you gather for a holiday meal, take time to make it special.
Of course the food has to be good, but making the table look festive is an important part of the celebration.
Before you grab a centerpiece from the florist’s cooler, take a look around your house and your yard. You’ll be surprised by what you can come up with.
A wreath or a table runner can be made of sticks and twigs, then decorated for any holiday, but it works especially well for fall. Also, look at the greenery in your yard, especially when it’s time to decorate for Christmas. Fall leaves can be used. Dried leaves can be spray painted. Although they’re fragile, they make a showy, inexpensive addition to your table.
You can involve the kids by having them help you paint or draw on a table runner made with a long piece of white wrapping paper or butcher paper.
Explore your home for things you can use as containers. For example, a collection of white pitchers with fall flowers in them make a great centerpiece.
Inexpensive chargers can add color and texture to place settings. Remember, everything doesn’t have to match. Even a mixture of patterns on dishes can make an eclectic, fun table. If you’re using all white dishes, try mixing the colors of the chargers and the placemats.
If you are buying items to go with what you find at home, set a budget and stick to it. For a challenge, see what you can do for as little as $20. Go to stores that offer a wide range of items for less than $5. Look in the bargain bins at your favorite stores. It’s amazing what you can find if you take the time to look.
Another hint: At the end of a holiday season, whether it’s Halloween or Valentine’s Day, look at the sale items and imagine how you might use them on your table. Save them for next year, but don’t forget where you stored them.
No matter how small, guests enjoy having something at their place settings that they get to take home with them. It can be anything from a fancy chocolate or homemade cookie to a crystal votive.
Use your imagination and creativity, and you’ll be amazed at what you can come up with. And when someone compliments you on your table decor, don’t hesitate to let them know you made it yourself. And if you’re proud of your frugality, tell them how much it cost.
This story was originally published September 20, 2015 at 10:51 AM with the headline "DIY centerpieces make for festive holiday tables."