- Creative birthday tablescapes should be centrally located in the party, providing a miniature stage showcasing your theme.
- Plan a party tablescape that includes color, shape and key identifiers of the theme. A circus theme for children should be accented with bright, bold colors and a triangular-shaped flag banner hanging over the table. Circus animal cookies, decorated clown desserts and balloons also convey the circus theme.
- Linens and tablecloths are the base element to a well-decorated birthday tablescape. Color combinations convey different moods and, along with thematic pieces, are fundamental to tablescape decorating. For example, decorate for a 50th birthday using gray and black table linens and dinnerware, and then accent with bright yellow confetti and candles strategically placed upon the table.
- Seek out opportunities on your birthday tablescape to display your theme. For a child's rubber-ducky tablescape, homemade blue card-stock place mats with ducky punches around the border, yellow and blue ducky confetti tossed across the top of the table and small plastic yellow rubber duckies placed at each place setting are the perfect thematic accent pieces.
- Keep centerpieces at eye level or below so as not to obstruct conversation among the guests. Centerpieces that match the party theme can often perform double duty. For example, a movie theme could use plastic popcorn holders, filled with popcorn, candy and other treats and placed strategically up and down the party table, as both centerpieces and serving dishes.
