Centre of attraction

Sharmila Chand

Centre pieces play a significant role in decorating the dining table. If chosen right, these can create a perfect platform for a memorable dining experience. 

Even if you are short on time, we suggest ideas that can help you in creating a 'wow' table arrangement. 

Sweet stash

A bouquet of colourful pinwheel lollipops and sweets render a happy and pretty character, especially if you have kids in your guest list. Place different coloured sweets in a bucket or different jars and place them as centre pieces. 

Yellow accent

If you are keen to have cheerful yellow as the dominating palette, then pick nice big lemons and place them in a glass jar. Add some mint leaves for a dash of fresh green and see how wonderful the table looks. This colour code goes well with blues or rust combination of tableware. When oranges are in season, then lemons can be replaced by big oranges. 

Floating fruits 

Float bright red pomegranates, apple pear, in large, clear-glass vases, bowls, pretty containers filled to different levels, and see how wonderful they look at the centre of the dining table

Fruity display

If you put containers upside down and arrange fruits on top in a multi tiered pattern, you will have an interesting display. Here you can arrange tone on tone fruits, e.g grapes with pomegranates and cherries. Or you can even place deep red pomegranates with rose petals in martini glasses. In this case, complete the décor with deep burgundy table cover and a dash of sparkle with gold dinnerware.  

Naturally beautiful 

Take a simple container and grow wheatgrass with gerbera daisies. Once they start blooming, place the container in the centre of the table. This will be a really special arrangement as it is truly made by you. 

Classic & elegant 

Candles and crystal tea lights placed on a pretty mirror in the centre of the table, adds lot of charm and elegance to any table setting.  

Pumpkin delight 

A fun and creative idea is to buy one big pumpkin, trim off its top and hollow out the seeds. Arrange fresh flowers directly by adding little water or you can even place a water-filled jar of the required size. If you add lot of leaves and grass  with flowers, the arrangement will look even better. 

Royal splendour 

Take out your vintage silver cutlery set or silver bowls, if you have. White carnations or dahlias look pretty in silver bowl placed in the centre. Choose your dining table mats and runners in peacock blue and gold, two complementary colours that enhance the Royal look. An oversized traditionally designed chandelier hanging above the dining table completes the picture perfect. Here the accent piece is the silver bowl in the centre. 

Tables that love 

If your decoration can be beautiful as well as personal, what can be better than that? Consider this one. If you are throwing a birthday or anniversary party, then take strips of colourful paper, maybe half of the normal size, pass it around and ask guests to write a message for the Birthday or Anniv individuals. Even if it is a family get together, people can write messages for the parents. Once the message is written, twist the paper in different types of folds and toss them in a nice big bowl. Place the bowl in the centre of the table at the time of serving desserts. Display treasured mementos or photographs of the concerned individuals alongside the bowl to personalise the space and to give it a cozy vibe. Finally, ask the youngest child to read the messages and see how beautiful the whole experience turns out to be. Here the table is beautifully set as well as enhanced with your personal touch. 

Quick Tips 

• Do not overdo the centre. Keep it simple and classy.
• Color palette should be chosen carefully to have a décor symphony. 
• Dinnerware and centre pieces should complement each other. 
• Keep the whole look balanced with the right amount of texture, in the well coordinated color hues. 
• Try to incorporate self made original ideas. 
• Try to involve family members in contributing for the centre piece décor. 

DIY Ideas: For Rustic Charm Theme 

• Involve your kids especially if they are fond of carpentry. Gather leftover wood pieces and put them together to make a crate which will serve as a planter. Instead of one long planter you can also make two or more of smaller sizes. Place jars with fresh flowers or bonsais in the crates. For more creativity, these wooden crates can even be painted in cheerful colors. 
• The crates/planters render a rustic charm to the table. Complement the look with handmade rustic tableware in stone and bamboo fibre mats and linen runners. 
• Dress up your table with painted wine bottles 
• Be creative and paint old wine bottles. Use the painted ones as vases. You can place five or more in a long and narrow tray and create a beautiful centerpiece for the dining table.

Pretty Mélange

• Choose one colour eg purple. Pick up flowers and foliage in this colour code.
• Take out an old pitcher or two if you have, in whichever metal. Buy a mix of large and small flowers in various shades of purple. Place them in the pitcher with the hardiest ones first followed by the delicate ones. Give the finishing touch with delicate vines peeking out up top and cascading flowers spilling out of the spout. You can enhance the look by picking a purple cabbage or some other purple produce and placing it next to the arrangement at the centre of the table. 

— The writer is a Delhi-based freelance writer and author