From the category archives:

Food & Entertaining

With the festive season fast approaching, I thought you might enjoy some inspirational ideas for centerpieces and table decorations.

Adding a few decorative touches to your table creates an impact and can totally transform it. You can use table centrepieces and decorations to add some drama, elegance or help create a party atmosphere.

The best thing about all these ideas is that they are all easy to recreate yourself.

Origami Napkins

Origami Napkins

Napkins are a really simple way to add colour and interest to your table. Experiment with some origami folding techniques and then style a few together to create interesting shapes and effects.

(image: Alon / Mocha)

Fruit and Vegetables Table Runner

Fruit and vegetables table runner

Create a table runner out of fruit and vegetables by laying them down the length of the table gives it such a fresh look (and it’s all edible afterwards!). You could even create something of a rainbow effect by grouping fruit and vegetables together in different colours going from purple onions to red tomatoes.

(image: Styled)

Stacked Centerpieces

Stacked centerpieces

A stacked centerpiece will make a real feature on your table and is sure to be a talking point. The idea on the right has been created using three silver plates decreasing in size, scattered with evergreen leaves and each balancing on three glasses filled with coloured fruit.

On the left, gift boxes in the same colour but different patterns are simply stacked up in decreasing sizes on a cake plate and wrapped with a velvet ribbon. You could use gifts for your guests as a table decoration like this; and then give them all out afterwards.

(images: pinterest digsdigs )

Dress up Your Chairs

Chair decorations

You can also decorate the backs of your chairs to add to the sense of occasion. This idea is so quick to do and creates quite a dramatic effect. Just add some seasonal pine cones and greenery tied up with red sash ribbons.

(image: Centsational Girl)

Vase Feature

Magnetic Vases as centrepiece

Instead of a traditional flower arrangement, create a more contemporary look by making a feature of your vases. Arrange them in groups like these thin aluminium silver vases, each decorated with a single red stem.

(image: Mocha)

Bauble Centrepiece

Bauble centrepiece

Fill a large glass vase with baubles and beads, then give it a modern twist by using a teal and turquoise colour scheme.

(image: weddingbee)

What is your favourite table decorating idea?
Please tell me below in the comments.

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Mocha Coffee Dunk MugA mocha coffee is the ultimate luxurious drink; blending the deep flavours of rich and aromatic coffee with the velvety smoothness of  chocolate.

In the cold weather this warm and delicious combination is the perfect feel good drink.

You will need:
Coffee
Chocolate – 3-4 pieces of good quality chocolate or chocolate powder
Milk
Sugar
Cream (optional)

To make:
Place the chocolate at the bottom of your cup.

Make up a shot of espresso coffee. You can also use regular instant coffee, but ground coffee prepared in a cafetiere or coffee maker will give you a much better taste experience.

Fill your mug to just over a quarter full with the espresso coffee.

Froth up some milk. You can either do this using a milk frother. Or alternatively, by whisking the milk in a pan over a low heat, taking care that it warms up but doesn’t boil.

Pour a little of the milk into your cup and gently stir. Then fill your cup to the top with the rest of the milk.

Add sugar to taste. And for a real treat, top with fresh whipped cream and dust with chocolate powder.

Then savour the perfect cup of mocha.

Share this on Twitter and give someone else a feel-good treat.

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Herb Pots Recycled From Tins

May 27, 2010

Isn’t this a simple but really creative idea for recyling empty tins? Paint them in vivid colours and re-use them as plant pots or herb pots. I like the way each one has been painted in a different colour (a great way to use up left over paint) creating a bright and cheerful herb garden. [...]

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