Table Decorations to create the perfect dinner party atmosphere

Entertaining at home is an exciting affair, but it can take a lot of planning and preparation. Not only will guests be eating your food, drinking your drinks and having fun, they’ll also be taking in your dinner table decorations, too.

A beautiful setting doesn’t just impress your guests, it also sparks conversation and sets the tone for the event. From table décor and party themes to marvellous menus and more, getting everything ready ahead of time means you’ll be one relaxed host on the day.

Dinner party decorations for the perfect party

Your dinner party decorations will largely depend on whether you’ve chosen a theme for the event. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few basics you can incorporate into your styling.

Table decor do’s and don’ts

Do:

Use food as table décor to create a showstopping centrepiece. From lobster on showstopping extra large ice cubes to seafood platters, fruit medleys and more, there’s plenty you can do with a bit of imagination.
Buffet tables are a thing of the past. Nowadays, if you’re creating a buffet-type meal, it’s all about a food station. Food stations will allow you to feed large numbers, serving something for everyone, while having a relaxed feel.
Rather than spreading dinner party decorations thinly around the room, it’s much more en vogue to have all the table décor on your table or food station, making it a showstopping focal piece.
Think about the colours and textures of your foods and how they’ll complement your table decorations.
Use matching and contrasting colours throughout your table décor.
Liven up the room with a table runner, which makes a great foundation for your table decorations.
Go fabulous with flowers and add colour and fragrance to the table.
Put the tallest table decorations in the middle of the table, and the shorter items towards the edges. You can’t go wrong with white pillar candles.

Don’t:

Go uber-minimal. A solitary decoration can get lost and look like you’ve not finished doing your dinner party decorations.
Go the other way and leave no room for food and drink!
Put all your table décor at eye height – it’s an easy way to block your guest’s line of sight and can stop the conversation from flowing!
Try and put three different styles of centrepiece on one table. Stick with one vibe, albeit some of the table décor might be slightly different.

Cheap table decorations – some ideas

Recycling bin full of jam jars and empty craft gin bottles? Use them! You can wrap ribbon, lace or twine around a jam jar to dress them up, and fill with faux candles or fairy lights for a glimmer of light.

You can also glitter dip the bottom jam jars for a glitzy effect, filling with your choice of dried or fresh flowers.

If you can find some cheap mini glass vases, they look spectacular with sand and flower heads in. You can get a bag of play sand for around £5 – perfect!

Potted plants can be particularly cost effective and add a jungle vibe to your table décor. For an extra twist, put the pots in brown paper bags and tie a ribbon around the neck.

Using biodegradable confetti is another great way to add a pop of colour to your table décor. You could also consider using real, dried flower confetti, which looks amazing paired with rustic mason jars.

So, while there are some dos and don’ts for dinner party decorations, there’s plenty of scope for some creativity and fun! Watch us decorate our table below…