I remember the early days of marriage when my husband and I lived in a teeny tiny apartment with our three cats. Why we thought we needed that many cats I don’t know! Even though we were pretty crammed in that little space, we still enjoyed having another couple over for dinner on occasion. I had no idea it was the beginning of years of sharing meals together with family and friends. Whether the occasion is a special celebration or a spontaneous event with a boxed pizza, what really matters is the company gathered around the table.
I like to share ways to dress up the table with a little flair while still staying within a relatively small budget. Summer is the perfect time to relax and invite a few friends over for an intimate gathering or maybe even a crowd!
If you enjoy the beauty of an outdoor setting, create a beautiful table on your patio or balcony. There is certainly nothing wrong with a dollar store plastic cover layered with a nicer tablecloth on top, and it certainly makes cleanup easier. The vintage tablecloth below was a yard sale purchase and made all the difference in the presentation. I don’t always use tablecloths, but this is such an easy way to dress up the table. You can purchase them inexpensively at yard sales, thrift stores and even end-of-season sales at retail stores.
This second tablescape uses the exact same vintage linen but this time with a no-sew pink burlap runner layered over the top. I used inexpensive mix-and-match chargers in the same color families for both tables but used different china, glasses and centerpieces for completely different looks. Neither of these took much time and were put together with accessories I had on hand. The beauty of today’s styles is that coordinating accessories is out and mixing and matching is in. Yard sale deals fit right in with my wedding china and glassware.
My third example begins with a bright color scheme of blue and yellow. The key element in this table for summer is staying within a color scheme that is both inviting and, yet again, not perfectly coordinated. I love the mix of a more modern stripe with a contemporary floral. I call these my happy colors!
The gold chargers accentuate the yellow in the fabrics I chose, and the crystal and vintage china passed down from my mother lend an elegance to the table. The napkins and runner were merely strips of fabric I cut and ironed but did not hem. This was definitely a no-fuss table!
Do you love a rustic or industrial feel? Add a bit of wood or metal into your entertaining accessories and mix it up a little. I used just a bit of fence board from my husband’s discard stash with mason jars and fresh flowers. You will be amazed at how a few dollars spent on fresh flowers gives your home a wonderful glow for the arrival of guests.
The emphasis should always be on the guests themselves and not the table! Enjoy your guests and let the good times roll!
For more tips on hosting an inexpensive party in a small space, go here, and for more table setting tips, go here.