Festive Centerpieces Make Your Holiday Table Special
By Amy Kennedy
When you’re decorating for the holidays don’t forget a centerpiece for your dining room table. Even if you have to move it at some point to make room for all the food, it’s nice to have an arrangement of evergreens, fruit, or flowers on display when guests arrive. Depending on your décor, you may want to add additional arrangements on end tables or near the front door.
While it’s easy to pick up a pre-made arrangement at your local florist, it’s fun to try making one yourself. Floral, fabric and craft supply shops and your local discount stores have plenty of materials to choose from. You may also be able to gather cedar branches from a Christmas tree lot or pinecones from nearby woods.
Supermarkets sell cinnamon scented bags of pinecones and decorative gourds that look great displayed in an attractive basket or bowl. You can even create an edible arrangement using fruits like apples, pears, oranges and lemons combined with an assortment of unshelled nuts.
Before you start, measure the space available. A centerpiece on the dining table shouldn’t be so tall that guests seated across from one another can’t see each other.
Be creative with materials when constructing your centerpiece. Bamboo skewers work great for grouping small fruits like lemons and cranberries, and you can use toothpicks, pipe cleaners and other household items to attach other decorative elements.
If you have your heart set on flowers, pick sturdy blooms in seasonal colors that you can place in a beautiful vase or combine with evergreens, ornaments and ribbon. Ask your florist to help you select hardier blooms that will last several days.
Whether you are using artificial or real flowers, use focal points to help draw the eye around the arrangement. Vary the height of objects and use odd numbers (three lemons, five silver balls, seven pinecones, etc.) After you’ve finished assembling the centerpiece, walk around it and see how it looks from all sides. Fill in as necessary to give it a more pleasing look from every angle.
Candles in varying sizes and widths are very attractive. Try placing them in crystal candleholders trimmed with red or green ribbon or place them inside a circular arrangement of branches and evergreens.
Holiday figurines such as an angel or Santa can also be used as centerpieces. Visit your local antique store for vintage collectibles. You might consider gluing holiday village ceramic pieces on a tray covered with white polyester fiber to create the look of snow. A miniature red wagon filled with vintage toys or ornaments can also be quite effective.
Another option is covering various boxes with colorful holiday gift-wrap and placing poinsettia plants inside each box. Gift-wrapped boxes can also be quite lovely on their own when trimmed with beautiful bows, tassels, ribbons, etc.
Some of the most beautiful centerpieces are also the simplest. Fill a clear glass bowl with colorful shiny ornaments, pinecones and sprigs of holly.
Create a theme for your table by tying in elements from the centerpiece with placemats and napkin rings. If you’re using pinecones in the centerpiece, choose napkin rings with a rustic look like bent twigs. If your centerpiece contains fruit you could use placemats in printed fabric with lemons, oranges, etc. Wrap colorful ribbons around napkins and utensils and add a sprig of holly for a casual but festive place setting. Be careful not to get too carried away with a theme or your table will look too busy.
Table coverings can also enhance a centerpiece. Consider using a swath of lace over a green tablecloth or a straw mat over a brown nubby tablecloth for an earthier look. Be careful not to use a printed tablecloth that detracts from your centerpiece. Usually a solid white, red or green table covering makes the best backdrop.
Framed photos taken at past holiday gatherings can be grouped together and placed on a tray for an interesting centerpiece. Photos of your family and friends provide a warm touch that will also invoke conversation.
If you have a chandelier hanging above the table consider decorating it instead of using a centerpiece. Hang festive bows, sprigs of holly, mistletoe and sparkly ornaments to create a focal point that won’t infringe on your table space.
Don’t think everything has to be green and red. Using touches of ivory, gold, and silver help to make your centerpiece more elegant. Keep in mind the color and pattern of the plates, glasses, chair fabrics and tablecloth when you are creating your centerpiece. A rustic basket filled with fruits and berries or vintage collectibles might look odd when teamed with ultra modern furniture and dinnerware. If your dining room is more contemporary use clear bowls and sleek vases for a more complementary look.
Copyright © 2010 Smooth Stone Publishing
