Dinner Party Table Decorations

Whether purchased from your local florist or picked from your backyard, flowers bring freshness to the table they're displayed on. Floral decorations can be formal or informal, depending on how they're arranged and what type of vase they are displayed in. Flowers can be grouped together and put loosely in a glass cup or vase. For a more formal look, flowers can be trimmed, cut, designed and showcased in a crystal or more expensive vase. Flower petals can also be picked and sprinkled over table to create a more romantic atmosphere. Place a single flower across a folded napkin or tucked into a napkin ring.

Candles are a popular choice when decorating for a sophisticated dinner party. Place large candles in hurricane style glass vase to create a stately look. To complement an informal table, add colored stones or sand to the bottom of the glass vase before putting the candle in. Candlesticks with long candles create a romantic look. Line tea light candles down the center of a long table. If you're concerned about a fire hazard, use a string of white lights to decorate your table. White lights wound together and stuffed into a large glass vase make a beautiful table decoration.

Table decorations can be coordinated to your dinner party theme for added fun. Consider your menu and the reason for your celebration and choose décor that reflects the two. If you are preparing an Italian dinner, lay out grapes in a circle on a plate and place a candle in the middle. If you're hosting a birthday dinner party, tie balloons to weighted object placed in the center of the table and sprinkle the table cloth with confetti. If you're hosting a clambake, fish or lobster dinner party, places some seashells and pails and shovels on the table.