Setting the Table

10 Jan Setting the Table

Posted at 11:25h in Birthday, Decor, Decoration, The Table by Dorot_Admin 0 Comments

Setting a table may seem like a simple task. But don’t getting ahead of yourself. That is based off of the idea that there is only one type of table!

It was while having breakfast with a very close friend, who happens to be a journalist, that I noticed the difficulty of setting a table. She was telling me that when her delivery arrived, she was very excited to reproduce my photos, but when it came down to actually doing it, her table was flat and a little poor.
I was left dumbfounded by this, because we had the exact same objects at our disposal. And I didn’t understand why she had found it so difficult. Then, after thinking about it, I understood. Because it’s a question of volume, and of height.

Once knowing that it is the volume that makes the table, I thought about the objects which can give height: the cups, the cupcake cases, a cake stand, some toppers…

YOU WILL NEED

Plates, which can be found here
Cups like these
Placemats
Cutlery
Straws
Napkins
A cake stand
Confetti
Small gifts for the kids
Cakes, sweets…
And don’t forget the candles!

Needless to say, we are talking about a French table as opposed to the American table, the very famous sweet table. We have made a tutorial to show you what that looks life, but that’s not our thing. Our thing is the French table. What is for sure is that, at the end, the table will be destroyed and very messy.

The French table that I picture is not a buffet, it is a table at which people sit, talk and share. Of course we will create a French buffet at some point. It will eventually come…
In the mean time, here are the 3 basic rules to set an extraordinary table:

1.VARY THE HEIGHTS

The secret to a successful table is that there should be multiple heights. Therefore, vary the heights of the platters, plates, containers, and little toys in order to have a range of different levels. This variation in height will give volume to your table.

2.MAKE A CENTRE-PIECE

Once you have gathered everything that you need, it is time to make the centre-piece. This will be the backbone of your presentation. Keeping with the idea of volume and energy you could:

1. Fill a cup and knock it over to let some sweets spill out over the table.
2. Make cupcakes or muffins, decorate them with a topper and place them across the table.
3. Stick OMY removable stickers on the table to let the children play (it also works with adults: I’ve already done it and the result may be surprising, but I’m getting off topic).
4. Create a colourful table runner with confetti, sweets and little toys.

3. SPICE IT UP WITH PLENTY OF COLOUR

Once that the centre-piece is in place, you can take care of the tableware: the best thing to do is to keep plates, placemats and cups from one year to another so that you have a mixture of patterns and sizes. This will also produce a space of “organised chaos” and give the impression that the snack or dinner will last for hours!