Setup to Sell   Home Staging and Redesign

  It's so easy to create a sensational looking table without a lot of fuss or bother. With a little inspiration from Mother Nature, and the most basic of crafting abilities, you can create centerpieces that will leave your guests inspired to go home and make their own!

Let's Start with the Container

  Although the beautiful crystal 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

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 or 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.

·          Tree branches create a unique decoration for containers. Simply cut a bunch of twigs  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 or use your hot glue gun to attach the sticks.

·          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 hardware, grocery store or craft store:

·        pasta    river rock    cranberries    buttons    rice    seashells

·      pea gravel    colorful marbles  

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 equally attractive.

An arrangement of lemons and limes in a pink glass bowl present a refreshing picture.

Float blue candles in a bowl that has 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 vase          red flowers in white container

·             yellow flowers in red vase            blue flowers in red vases

·             pink flowers in green vase           purple flowers in yellow container   

Mirrors placed under your centerpieces create a sophisticated impression and a Feng Shui addition.

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.

Use your imagination and have fun creating a signature table setting