Spring and summer weather call for outdoor entertaining, but if you are renting, you may not have access to a lot of outdoor space of your own. That means you will have to entertain your guests in your apartment’s common area. However, that does not mean you cannot have elegant decorations to create a pretty setting for your party. You will just have to be selective in the type of temporary and portable décor that you use.
One of the easiest ways to add ambience to an evening party is with accent lighting. This simple centerpiece is inexpensive and easy to make, and it does not require ugly electrical cords running to the table.
I paid $5 for my supplies at the dollar store, but you can make these bottle candles even more cheaply by using glass bottles from your recycling bin. Beer bottles and wine bottles would work just as well as these decorative bottles.
Start by removing any labels that may be on the bottles. Then insert a taper candle into the mouth of the bottle. If the candle is too thick or too long, you may have to cut it down with a sharp knife.
To keep the candle from wobbling in the bottle, use a match or lighter to melt the wax where the candle meets the bottle. When the wax hardens, it will keep the candle in place more securely. Obviously, you will still want to keep an eye on the candles when they are lit to make sure they do not tip over.
TIP: If it is windy outside, you can fill the bottles with water before adding the candles. This will make the bottles more bottom-heavy and less likely to topple.
If you are decorating a shared space, bring a plate or tray with you to place under the bottles. This will catch any drips from the candle wax so you don’t have to be scraping hardened wax off of your apartment community’s patio furniture at the end of the night. The more bottle candles you group together, the prettier this centerpiece will be.
To finish the centerpiece, add a few small bottles with inexpensive flowers to the arrangement and light the candles. You now have a beautifully decorated table and accent light to create lovely ambience wherever you are! Looking for more decorating and entertaining ideas? Then you will want to check out these ideas from ForRent.com.