How to Make Centerpieces Without Spending a Lot
Using a few items -- and purchasing these items from a local discount or grocery store -- can result in one-of-a-kind centerpieces that make your table particularly welcoming and inviting. Create a season-specific centerpiece for your kitchen or dining room table, or make each table at your wedding especially attractive with a collection of flowers or color-coordinated items that complement your specific style without spending a fortune. There are also several edible items to include in a centerpiece that add vivid color to the arrangement, as well as affordable items that will give the centerpiece a pleasant fragrance. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Bowl
- Real or synthetic fruit
- Nuts
- Fresh herbs
- Aromatherapy oil
- Candles
- Candleholders
- Real or synthetic flowers or petals
- Table confetti
Instructions
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Bowl Centerpieces
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Fill a bowl or vase with fruits that are indicative of the season. For instance, create a Thanksgiving or fall centerpiece with a dark wooden bowl of real or synthetic apples and cranberries. Alternatively, place grapefruit, lemons and limes into a ceramic white or yellow bowl to display the vivid hues associated with spring and summer.
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Add nuts and real or synthetic herbs that add texture, additional color and a pleasant scent to the centerpiece. For instance, a few sprigs of thyme or oregano in the citrus-themed centerpiece gives the arrangement a refreshing fragrance, and the green herbs blend well with the bright orange and yellow hues. Whole almonds, walnuts and Brazil nuts in the fall centerpiece fit into the color scheme; the neutral shades of the nuts can make the red apples and cranberries stand out.
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Sprinkle a few drops of aromatherapy oil into the bowl, whether you're using real or synthetic fruits or nuts. The scent will emit from the centerpiece while guests are sitting down to eat, making the decoration even more impressive. A little essential cinnamon oil in a fall centerpiece is fitting, while oil of bergamot or peppermint adds to the invigorating feel of a centerpiece created for the summer season.
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Finish the centerpiece by sprinkling table confetti around the candles and flowers. Choose confetti that matches the centerpiece theme, such as kiss-shaped pieces for a Valentine's Day centerpiece, or small confetti in the shape of roses like the live blooms with which you've decorated the table.
Flowers and Candles
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Select three to five candles in the colors and scents of your choice, depending on the size of your table. For instance, three candles may be sufficient for a breakfast nook table, while five will cover more area on the formal dining room table. Purple candles that are also scented with lavender are ideal for a pastel-themed kitchen, while deep red candles with a berry fragrance will stand out in the jewel-toned dining room.
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Purchase holders for the candles from the local discount department store to add texture or additional color to the centerpiece. For instance, ceramic holders in black will lend to the deep-hued theme of the living room centerpiece with burgundy candles, while clear glass candleholders will display the modest purple shade of the lavender candles.
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Line the candles in their holders horizontally along the center of the table, and sprinkle real flower petals in between and around the candles. Red rose petals among the burgundy candles make for an attractive monochromatic arrangement, while white daisy petals among the light purple candles fit well with the pastel theme. Choose synthetic blooms in contrasting colors to complement the candles, such as poppies in hot pink against the lilac-colored candles, or yellow rose blossoms to complement the deep red candles and add warmth to the decoration.
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References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
