Tips To The Perfect Tablescape:
1) Play with flowers.
For example, with tulips, peel the petals backward to create a whole new flower. This is called reflexing, and totally transforms simple supermarket tulips into something fancy!
2) Mix your buds.
Here, I have an eclectic, dynamic mix of color and styles including roses, delphiniums, peonies, philadelphus, and sweetpeas. The roses, philadelphus and some of the sweetpeas are from my garden.
3) Consider the location.
Bud vases are small and wonderful to dot down tables, and big arrangements are better in larger spaces rather versus a dining table where they may block the view of your neighbor!
4) Casual or fancy.
Set the table according to the occasion. For a casual lunch, I might tie the napkins and cutlery together with a beautiful ribbon and leave in a pile for guests to help themselves. Or, for a more formal affair, I’d lay the table properly, napkins on the side of each plate, and likely tied with ribbon as well. I have some fantastic Sari ribbon from India that I'm using a lot lately, and I'm loving having a variety of color and prints all together at the moment.
5) A perfectly imperfect table.
I don't like anything to look too neat or done. Vases are dotted down the table almost in waves, rather than a straight line, the fruit is sprinkled, candles in odd numbers...
6) The final touch.
No table is complete without flowers. Lots and lots of flowers!