tablesetting Archives - Graceful Order

I love to set a beautiful table! Seriously, I think out how to dress the table before even figuring out a menu for my dinner party. But setting a formal table does not have to equate dollar signs. There are so many ideas to curb the cost or even use items that you probably already own. Below are a few of my favorite tips for setting a beautiful table on a budget:

1. Buy fabric by the yard instead of a tablecloth.

This is my first and favorite tip. Tablecloths can be really expensive and if you have a large table like I do, the price tag can be hefty. I prefer to purchase fabric by the yard and either hem it later or just leave as is. Last week I shared a picture of some of my latest fabric finds on my Instagram account.

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2. Use good quality faux plants from around the house and skip the fresh flowers.

I LOVE real flowers and I use them when I can but there is no doubt that they raise the cost of setting a pretty table. If you do purchase a small bouquet you can place one flower bud in separate little vases or cups down the center of your table. But to avoid buying flowers altogether, bring in good quality faux plants from around the house and use as a centerpiece.

3. Make your dessert the centerpiece.

A pretty cake on a pedestal or cupcakes on a tiered server can also be a great centerpiece. Pretty, practical and skip the peonies!

4. Add a pop of color with a salad plate or a soup bowl.

White dishes are my absolute favorite. Investing in one set of simple white plates can be inexpensive and so versatile. I would rather add a pop of color using a pretty napkin or a salad plate that I can rest on top. I found these salad plates at Homegoods and I paired them with these white plates that I have had for many years and these light gray napkins that are my new favorite.

5. Add a napkin ring or create your own.

Since I love setting a table, I have collected quite a few dinner party items over the years. If you are only going to have one set of napkin rings, purchase a set that is simple and will go with any color place setting. If you don’t own napkin rings or want a unique alternative – I love using thyme or rosemary as an accent on top of the napkin. Depending on the strength of the thyme, you can even tie it around your napkin like a ring, but I also love the simplicity of a sprig of rosemary resting on a napkin.

6. Print and cut your own place cards.

I didn’t use place cards in this table setting but I usually use them to avoid the confusion of where to sit. Using place cards may sound a bit restrictive or formal but they actually help to avoid that moment where as a guest you have no idea where to sit. You can even use the tines of the fork to hold your simple place card.

7. Invest in cloth napkins.

Cloth napkins definitely make a table setting more special. I probably have 15 sets of different color napkins and I rarely pay more than 1.00 per napkin. If you want your napkins to last and you don’t want to fuss with them too much, always keep in mind what you are serving when choosing the color napkin. If you are serving something with a red sauce, chose a dark color napkin to avoid ruining your light yellow ones with tomato stains.

8. Use white candles inside clear votives to add drama and romance to your table.

This is one of my favorite ideas, especially for events in the evening. If you cluster lots of white candles, they can double as a centerpiece. You can also sprinkle a few around your decorated table as a finishing touch. Keep in mind that your candles should be unscented so that they are not competing with the aroma from your meal.

There are so many options and ideas that keep the cost low and the style high at your next dinner party. What are some of your favorite tips for setting a pretty table?

Mother’s Day is around the corner and I want to share with you how I celebrate the mothers in my life. Before I was a mom, we would do a little visiting tour on Mother’s Day to all the mothers in our family. After I had kids, I still wanted to visit my mom, my aunts and my husband’s mom, but it left little time to do something special with my boys. So this conundrum started the Mother’s Day Brunch idea. I haven’t hosted it every single year, but it really works so well that I do it almost every year.

One of my favorite parts about planning any event is setting the table. As I have shared before, I collect all sorts of tableware so that I can set a pretty table. This year I decided on a green, white and gold table setting. I love that color combo!

I found these placemats at Homegoods and although I usually purchase solid-color placemats and I leave the prints for the napkins, these placemats were a bargain and I already had matching napkins. I have had these goblets for almost 15 years and I rarely use them but they were perfect for this setting. Pretty goblets can be expensive but I always check out sales/outlet items in stores like Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and Wayfair to find great deals. Also, I always purchase an extra goblet or plate because should one break, my set would still be intact.

Same goes for napkin rings. Napkin rings can run $6. a piece but on sale they can be a $1. a piece. This makes a huge difference if you are buying multiples.

A great idea for setting a Mother’s Day Brunch table is to buy orchids as the centerpiece. The orchids can double up as Mother’s Day gifts.

Tip: Print out black and white pictures of the mothers with their child and use a ribbon to tie the picture to the orchid. That way everyone knows which orchid is theirs.