Using Styles And Colors To Enhance Your Table Decor

By Author: Sabrina Kaufman
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Dinner parties are always great occasions to have a little fun with your home decor. Table decorations can give a room an entirely different look and feel and the options for creativity are virtually endless. There are many things to consider when planning your table decor, not the least of which is what your colors, style and theme will be. Here are a few simple tips to make your occasion one that is truly memorable.

Choosing a Theme for Your Party
Some people may think that having a theme is too cliched and possibly even somewhat childish. It may bring up visions of having everything matching perfectly and specifically laid out in a traditional way. A theme does not need to be obvious or traditional. Rather it's simply deciding what overall look or feel you want to have for your table decor.

A good starting point is to think about the occasion. Is it your mother's birthday or a dinner for work colleagues and your boss? Is it a family reunion or annual get-together? Thinking of the reason for the dinner party will help you choose a theme. For example, your mother may love the color green as well as yellow ...
... roses. You could then use that as a theme, using different muted shades of green and yellow roses as a focal point or feature on the table. The same theme, however, wouldn't really work for entertaining your boss where something more formal and less decorative would be appropriate.

Another way to decide on your theme is to look at the menu you plan to serve. This may well dictate the style theme and even colors that you use. For example, if you plan to serve sushi then your decor style will probably be minimalistic and oriental. You may use chopsticks and patterned bowls or square dinner plates.

Selecting Colors for Your Theme
Your theme will go a long way to help you in selecting the colors you will use as part of your decor. Of course, you need to also keep in mind the size of your room and what the general decor in it is. It won't be suitable to place a huge centerpiece in an already small room as that will make it even more cramped. Be careful that the colors you choose do not clash with the rest of the room, otherwise it can start looking like a bit of a carnival.

Choose only one or two main colors and keep it simple. If you do want to contrast colors, use tones to do so rather than introducing an additional color. Also, keep in mind the color and style of your dinner plates. If your dinner plates have a detailed design, you will want to keep the table decor simple and in a color that melds in with the crockery. If your dinner plates are plain, you can be more liberal with your table decor and color schemes.

A fun idea is to sometimes use two different dinner services. Contrast the place settings with alternate items from the two different sets. In this way, you can introduce two or three different colors without making it look out of place. A nice touch is to use lots of different kinds of wine glasses so that each person has a different wine glass than the person sitting on either side of them. This fun idea is also quite practical, as it's quite easy to mix up whose wine glass is whose as the evening draws on.

How to Incorporate Different Styles into Your Table Decor
The style you choose will be a reflection of the colors and theme that you have already selected. Like the theme, the style of the table decor will be strongly linked to the occasion. Just because an occasion is formal though doesn't mean that you have to stick to a traditional way of doing things. If place names are required, you need not have a card at the head of the setting. Instead, you could have different colored wine glass markers with each person's name on their own wine glass. Alternatively, you could create a serviette holder with a flower or ribbon that has a tag with their name on it and use this as a feature on the place setting. Think of ways to be creative so that your personal style is reflected in the table decor. You can be sure that your dinner guests will notice and appreciate the personalized touch.
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At TrendexHome.com we offer thousands of coordinated styles and sizes reflecting the latest pattern and color trends. It's simply an entertainers' paradise. From casual at-home entertaining, to weddings, showers and special events, TrendexHome.com will help you create the perfect setting every time. Find the right placemat, chair pad or napkin ring to take your table from ordinary to extraordinary. Visit online today.