[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”8856″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]While we wait for the all clear on the Coronavirus, it’s important to consider our mental health along with our physical wellbeing. Creative projects can help make the extra time fun while uplifting the atmosphere and avoiding a bad case of cabin fever. So why not experiment with some creative centerpieces for all this at-home dining?
Professional florists and event planners are replacing traditional centerpieces with more casual groupings dubbed tablescapes. Surprisingly, you won’t need any special floral supplies like tapes or foam or weird wire cages. Rely on only the items you have at home and your ingenuity. Collections of random containers, scattered leaves, and loose blossoms can mix with votive candles and decorative trinkets to offer endless possibilities.
For the flowers, grab a modest bouquet when you are gloved and masked up for the eventual trip to supermarket for provisions. An affordable bouquet of mixed flowers should be all that you need to complete one of these vignettes. If you run short, clip a few stems of interesting foliage from the yard and mix with your commercial blossoms.
Here are some tips for creating your very own tablescape:
- Start by gathering containers that will display flowers. Small crystal and silver pieces group nicely and need only a few stems. The same goes for earthy pottery pieces that you may have never considered displaying together. Even a collection of multicolored bottles or mossy clay pots from your garden shed can look charming for casual decorating. Take inventory of any containers that you have on hand, then sort these mismatched treasures into groups to evaluate the possibilities.
- When it’s time to add the flowers, simply cut the stems short and place two or three blossoms into each of your containers. When finished, group them together in a cluster with taller items in the center and smaller vases surrounding them. You’ll be surprised how easy this method is compared to arranging a multitude of stems.
- Adding “tablescatter” is a great way to enhance your tablescape. Leaves and petals work to expand a botanical theme, loose gems and pearls add sparkle, and mossy branches and geodes bring a natural quality to the collection. Even collections of colorful toys can make the table festive – especially if you’re trying to entertain little ones during this respite from the norm.
- If your collection seems disjointed, try unifying the elements by placing them on a fabric runner or serving tray. Oftentimes, a simple solution like a frayed piece of burlap or a silk scarf borrowed from the wardrobe works best.
- If your tablescape begins to look cluttered or junky, don’t be tempted to add more elements to remedy the situation. Instead, try removing items that stand out – those that are too large or too small, or are the wrong color or texture. You have the time to make it perfect, so remove one item at a time – adjusting the configuration as you go until it’s just right.
- Most of today’s popular tablescapes reflect a bohemian spirit with mismatched containers, random blossoms, and a heavy dose of kitsch, but there are other styles that work equally well. A garden version might feature moss-encrusted clay pots while an ultra-modern interpretation might employ a row of clear vases or available drinking glasses each holding a single blossom.
- Don’t forget about candles. They add a flickering glow when they are dropped into simple votive cups or short drinking glasses.
Lastly, don’t limit yourself! Planning a tablescape should be fun and creative – never worrisome or stressful. And contrary to what you may have heard, there is no monopoly on creativity. So, give it a go, have some fun, enjoy this unexpected time at home, post photos of your creation on Instagram, but most of all, celebrate the small things with creative flair. Happy tablescaping!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
