Let's Start with the Container
Although the beautiful Baccarat vase you received as a wedding gift always looks lovely on your table, it doesn't really create a dramatic impression. Less expensive vases that reflect your own personal touch will be much more interesting.
Almost Anything Can be a Vase
- Colorful water pitchers
- Antique china tea cups found at a flea market
- Tea pots
- Salad dressing bottles
- Mayonnaise jars
- Tin cans
- Antique medicine bottles (also found at flea markets)
But what's so great about a tin can or old jar? It's what you do to the can or household jars that turn them into interesting vases.
First, think outside the container, literally. Household jars and cans make terrific bases for your creativity. You can...
Collect large leaves from magnolia trees, fig trees, oak trees. Press the leaves between heavy books for several days to dry. Next, using a glue gun (this is where your crafting skills come in!), attach the leaves in an overlapping pattern around your container. Finally, tie a decorative wire ribbon, piece of twine, or cord around the container.
Asparagus make a wholesome decoration for containers. Simply cut a bunch of asparagus to the same height. Line them around your container and hold in place with a rubber band. Finish with a decorative wire ribbon to hide the rubber band.
Cinnamon sticks work well to spice up small containers. Place sticks of similar height around container, hold in place with rubber band, and cover with decorative ribbon.
Or...think inside the container.
Fill clear containers or simple, inexpensive vases with these easy to find items picked up at your local farmstands, grocery markets or craft stores:
- blueberries
- cranberries
- key limes
- red or yellow cherry tomatoes
- habanero peppers
- seashells
- colorful marbles
You can do this in one of two ways depending on the filler and the flowers. You can either place the filler items on the bottom of the vase and place the flowers on top, or you can bundle the flowers together with a rubber band, hold them in the center of the vase, and drop the fillers around them. For a trompe l'oeil effect, you can insert a smaller glass tube inside a large vase, put the flowers into the inner vase, and surround it with fillers that wouldn't do well in water. For example, fun candies, popcorn, or colorful, shredded tissue paper.
Consider Color
As important as floral variety is in arrangements, color is equally important for the overall effect of your table. Select colors that either complement your table linens or create contrasting accents to the basic color scheme.
An all white color scheme is always very elegant. While white roses are beautiful, a series of small clear vases with miniature carnations can be equal in attraction.
An arrangement of lemons and limes in a pink glass bowl present a refreshing picture.
Float blue candles in a bowl that has been seashells on the bottom for a nautical feel to your table.
When your objective is to create drama on your table, pair flowers with contrasting vases. Here are ideas for exciting pairs:
- yellow flowers in blue vases
- red flowers in white containers
- yellow flowers in red vases
- blue flowers in red vases
- pink flowers in green vases
- purple flowers in yellow containers
- pink flowers in blue vases
Other Centerpiece Thoughts to Ponder
Mirrors placed under your centerpieces create a sophisticated impression.
Small potted herbs with the pot wrapped in foil and tied with a ribbon, or placed in mini wicker baskets can serve as personal centerpieces.
Create a tropical mood with mangoes, kumquats, pineapples and star fruit in a colorful bowl that incorporates Caribbean colors such as ocean blues and sunny yellows.
As much as a bouquet with a variety of flowers can look pretty, it's the centerpieces with only one or two flower varieties that have the greatest impact.
Instead of one large centerpiece, you can create a series of small centerpieces down the center of your table, or put one at each place setting.
Antique china tea cups with a single large rose in full bloom or cluster of small roses make charming individual centerpieces.
Be sure none of your centerpierces will block conversation.
