Tips for Setting a Beautiful Table

Setting a beautiful table people assume is one of those skill sets that you're either born with or not.  Well,  that's absolutely not true.  Designers know that there are certain key elements to making a table work and a few key tricks to making it fabulous.  Here's the Valentine's Day table that I did on Home & Family and my three tips for making it fabu! 1. Pick a Color PaletteTo make a table work, stick to a few colors that tie everything together. Here I chose red, black and white, but for a non-holiday theme I will often default to white, silver and tan or grey and white.  Using a limited amount of colors helps unify the entire table - then if you have to have some miss-matched glasses or silverware, it doesn't matter because the color is tying things together.  If you like the little Key To My Heart place card, you can find the directions for that here. 2. Add DramaA dinner party is equal parts food and atmosphere.  You've got your guests captured for a set amount of time and are really creating theater for them, so always try to add a little drama.  For this table I took inexpensive paper lanterns and hung them from the ceiling using fishing line.  I finished them off by draping leftover holiday ribbon from the center of each.For the table runner I took chalkboard contact paper (yes, it does exist and is cheap and easy!) and ran it down the center of the table.  I then wrote out one of my favorite love poems - "How do I love thee....". It's these unexpected gestures that lets your guests know they're in for something special as soon as they enter the room. 3. Masses and MultiplesAn easy, high end look is to use the same item and display them en masse.  It works for flowers, lighting, objects - I could go on forever.  Here I chose red flowers, but instead of combining them into one arrangement, I bundled like flowers together and them grouped the bunches together.  For vases I simple took miss-matched vases and wrapped them in grey ribbon for unity.  I also bought a case of red votives and spread them around the table - again: masses and multiples! There you have my three tips for a fabulous table - don't tell anyone I told you, it'll be our secret.