Tablescaping DIY, Part 1, Developing a Theme

March 06, 2024 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

My tablescapes usually start with an idea or theme. Many people create generic table settings with special dishes and a flower arrangement and/or candle centerpiece and these can be really pretty but there are many of them online now and they tend to blend together in photos. Others create themed table settings and these can be lots of fun to create and sometimes they are really unusual and grab your attention. My tablescapes are mostly theme related and they usually include several elements that are tied to the theme.

I start with an idea and sometimes it will take as long as a year to gather all the elements to carry out the theme on the table. The searching can take that long but it also spreads out the budget for the table and that can help keep the costs down. I usually have several different themes that I am thinking about creating and working on at any one time to find items to carry out the theme. This table started with some card plates and a large dice I found at a garage sale. I already had the vintage tablecloth and so an idea for a tablescape was born! But it took several months before I gathered all the other theme elements. This Playing Cards Table is always an attention getter. To read more about this table please click here.

The focal point on the table is the centerpiece and it can make or break the success of the tablescape. The two elements I start with are the centerpiece and the salad plate because it is on the top of the plate stack and that image will be repeated around the table. It’s those two elements that can visually set the theme for the table and create the unity you need for the table setting. There are so many different theme ideas, the sky is the limit. You can do holidays, seasons, food, insects, travel, ocean, beach, animals, and special interests like camping and hobbies.

Sometimes I will think about a table theme and then try to find all the elements to carry out the theme. These salad plates were the last element I found for this Lobster table and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find the right salad plates but these were perfect.

Sometimes I will find a special themed salad plate and that discovery will start the theme I want to create. You can read more about this tablescape here.

One Christmas I suddenly found a Grinch salad plate and at almost the same time, a Grinch cookie jar that I could use for the centerpiece, so that tablescape was off and running.

It was not a theme that I would have thought of but the items I inadvertently found suggested the theme. I am constantly looking for unusual large objects that can serve as centerpieces. You can read more about that tablescape here.

Hubby once found a lighthouse lamp at a garage sale and we removed the lamp part and I put it on a stand and used it as the centerpiece on a lighthouse themed table.

I bought a larger bowl shaped like a shell at HomeGoods as soon as I saw it because I realized that it could be used all summer long on different summer table settings.

I also have generic centerpieces items like lanterns and candle holders that can be adapted for different theme tables with the addition of decorative elements.

Cookie jars can be a perfect centerpiece, I have used them many times.

I usually divide my table ideas into seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall and purchase accordingly. For example, buy items like napkins in fall colors that can be used on table settings starting in the Fall through Thanksgiving. When you buy an item for a tablescape think about how you can use it on different table settings and try to purchase items that are versatile, that way you won’t have to purchase so many. I try to store things by season too which makes it easier to find them.

Think about what theme you want to create on your table and then start slowly looking for the elements to illustrate that theme.

To see over 260 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my new Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We are planning a gathering for tablescapers next year in January.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week so please check back!

Tablescaping DIY; Napkin Rings, What, Where and How

January 11, 2023 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

Everything You Need to Know About Napkin Rings: Uses, Types, and Selecting the Right Ones.

Napkin rings are small, usually decorative rings that are a great addition to table decor and a wonderful addition to the dining table setting. They are a perfect addition to the tablescape to help carry out the theme of the table setting. In history the napkin ring was a functional and decorative way of keeping cloth napkins neat and organized and specific to each guest at the dining table. Typically, each person at the table was given their own personalized ring to use during meals, allowing them to easily identify which napkin ring and napkin was theirs. When the napkin was still relatively clean after the meal, it was a place to return your napkin back to, to identify it as yours. Sometimes rings would even hold the guest’s individual salt, poison testing, and other material they would need for dinner. More recently napkin rings are typically uniform in style and decorative in purpose. They can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, or wood.

Why use napkin rings

Napkin rings have a variety of purposes, the most common of which is to keep the napkin from falling off the table. They can also be used to identify which side of the napkin is meant to face up on the plate, as well as a way to decorate the table setting.

This bumblebee napkin ring adds a touch of whimsy to this Bumblebee Tablescape and it is a perfect match for the bumblebee cloth napkin. More information about this tablescape here.

This gold shamrock napkin ring was a great addition to this tablescape. I found the tablecloth first and then searched for gold shamrock napkin rings and got lucky. More information about this St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape here.

These black and white polka dot napkin rings match one of the pumpkins on the tablecloth. I bought them a few years ago because I love polka dots. It was serendipity that they matched part of this Halloween tablecloth that I found. More information about this Halloween tablescape here.

How to select the right napkin ring for your needs

Napkin rings come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Here are a few tips on how to select the right napkin ring for you.

When I started tablescaping I bought napkin rings in all the primary colors slowly over time so I would have the colors that I needed. I knew I would be able to use them over and over again. More information about this Fall tablescape here.

What purpose does the napkin ring serve?

Should the napkin ring be small and simple, placed on the side of the plate to hold utensils and napkins in place; or a decorative piece front and center on the plate?

For this sea shell tablescape I decided to fold the napkin around the shell salad and dinner plates and add the napkin ring. More information about this sea shell tablescape here.

Sometimes when you can’t find the napkin ring that you need to match your tablescape you can just fold the napkin beside the plate and go without a napkin ring. More information about this St. Patrick’s Day tablescape here.

What is your budget?

When thinking about a napkin ring collection, consider your budget. I probably go a little overboard because I really enjoy using different napkin rings for each of the tablescapes that I create. Napkin rings can range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, depending on their type and material. Choose something that fits within your budget without sacrificing quality. Remember that you will be using the napkin rings year after year so that sometimes makes the price more easy to digest. Finally, take into account the style of your table setting, and choose a napkin ring that will complement it nicely. There are a wide range of options available so you are sure to find something that matches your taste and tablescape theme.

I love how this vintage peppermint stick napkin ring matches the theme of this Peppermint Candy Christmas tablescape, more information about it all here.

How to store napkin rings

Napkin rings can be a fun and easy way to add a touch of personality to your table setting, but they can also be difficult to store. Here are a few tips on how to store napkin rings so that you can keep them handy when you need them. If you are not using your napkin rings regularly, it is best to keep them in a craft or storage box. This will protect them from becoming bent or damaged. If you plan on using them often, it is best to purchase a ring holder. This will keep them organized and easy to find when you need them. I use clear shoe box sized plastic containers and I label the end. I like them because I can see what is inside. We bought the containers on Amazon and at The Container Store. If I were a perfectionist I would create and print out labels to use but I just wanted to get them organized quickly so I could find things and I just wrote on the end of the boxes. Before they were scattered all over the house and I wasted a lot of time looking for them. The containers are arranged by holiday, theme, or color. I have inventoried all of these napkin rings and place card holders. Each one has a photo and a record of how many I have. I have the photos and information stored in folders on my computer. The folders are arranged by holiday, theme, or color. I can easily look at the photos and think about the tablescape that I want to create.

This rattan napkin ring works well with an informal Fall tablescape especially when you have a rattan charger on the table as well. You can find more information abou this Fall tablescape here.

Different types of napkin rings available on the market today

Napkin rings come in all shapes and sizes, and are made from a variety of materials. Here are some of the most common types of napkin rings available on the market today.

wooden napkin rings
metal napkin rings
plastic napkin rings
beaded napkin rings
gemstone napkin rings
novelty napkin rings
leather napkin rings

I only have a couple beaded napkin ring sets but this beaded butterfly napkin ring is a favorite. For several years if I found a napkin ring that was more expensive I bought a few at a time over a period of time until I had the number that I needed. There is more information about this beaded butterfly napkin ring and this table setting here.

I love this red leather napkin ring. It was one of the first napkin ring sets that I bought when I started tablescaping. I really like the simple design, more information about these napkin rings and this tablescape here.

Where to find unique and stylish napkin rings

If you're looking for something a little different when it comes to napkin rings, you might want to check out some of the more unique and stylish options available online. Here are a few places to start your search. I usually buy my napkin rings online after I do a Google search by subject. Etsy is a great place to find handmade napkin rings in all shapes and sizes. You can find everything from simple wooden rings to ornate metal designs. Amazon has a large selection of both traditional and novelty napkin rings, as well as a wide variety of materials and prices. I love finding vintage napkin rings and I often find unique designs on Ebay. I actually buy my napkin rings from all over the Internet, a Google search turns up lots of different sources for great napkin rings.

Sometimes I find a napkin ring that is just perfect for my napkin ring collection and I must have it. I love this silver colored skull napkin ring. Halloween tablescapes are some of my favorite tablescapes to create and when I find the right elements like this skull napkin ring it makes the table setting so much more fun to create. You can find more information about this Skulls Halloween tablescape here.

I created a Farm Animals tablescape this last summer and I found farm animal napkin rings, mostly on Ebay. Each place setting had a different farm animal. I just love these cow napkin rings! More information about this tablescape can be found here.

DIY Napkin Rings

Unique napkin rings can be hard to come by, but they don't have to be expensive. In fact, you can make your own napkin rings with a few simple supplies and a little bit of creativity. Here are some tips on how to make napkin rings on a budget.

Use materials that you already have around the house and a hot glue gun to create one for any occasion. There are tons of materials that can be used for DIY napkin rings, including beads, stones, wire, and even old jewelry.
Get creative with your designs. There are no rules when it comes to making DIY napkin rings - so get creative and have fun with it!
Use recycled materials whenever possible. Not only is recycling good for the environment, but it can also save you money on supplies.
Try out different techniques until you find one that you like best. There are lots of different ways to make DIY napkin rings, so experiment until you find one that's right for you.

I had bought these small crabs on Ebay to use as table scatter on a crab themed tablescape a few years ago but they were shiny red when they arrived. Hubby was going to spray paint them orange-red for me so I could use them as scatter on this table setting. My daughter was visiting and I was telling her about my bad luck finding napkin rings and she suggested that I turn these small crabs into napkin rings, genius! So Hubby bought plain wood rings and spray painted the crabs and the rings and we glued the crabs to the rings and suddenly, cheap napkin rings! Any small object can be glued to a wooden or metal ring to create a simple and easy napkin ring. If the color is wrong it is easy to use spray paint to create the color you need. For more information and photos of this crab themed tablescape please click here.

I was working on a tablescape with a travel theme and I wanted napkin rings with maps or flags and I couldn’t find anything close to that. I finally found some pins with country flags on them and I just temporarily attached them to a simple black napkin ring that I had with Sticky Putty. If you go to a hardware store and wander the aisles you can find many different materials that can be turned into napkin rings, all kinds of rings, pipe, and square objects with holes are available. Small plastic items can be found on Ebay or Oriental Traders online or at any party supply store. For more information and photos of this tablescape, please click here.

I was working on a John Deere tractor and farming themed table setting and I couldn’t find any napkin rings that fit the tractor theme anywhere. I finally looked on Etsy for some John Deere scrapbook paper to buy and download. I found exactly what I needed and then we cut it and taped it to a simple napkin ring I already had. Using this technique the possibilites are endless! You could actually recycle the same napkin ring over and over many different times for different themes (or different colors too). To see more information and photos of this tablescape, please click here.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

Tablescaping DIY; Place Card Holders, What, Where, and When

December 27, 2022 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

Everything you need to know about place card holders

Place card holders are a great way to add a personal touch to your dining event. They can also be used to help direct your guests to their seats. Here is a guide on how to create and use place cards for your next dining event and where you can find them.

Tips on setting up the table for a dinner party with place cards

Start by designating one end of the table as the head of the table. This is where your guests will sit who are hosting the party. Next, determine where each guest will sit. If you have an even number of guests, simply put them in pairs and alternate their placement around the table. For more information about this Valentine’s Day place card holder and this Valentine’s Day tablescape please click here.

If you have an odd number of guests, place the extra person at the head of the table. Once you’ve determined where each guest will sit, it’s time to start setting up the place cards. More information about this stacked dice place card holder and this Playing Card Tablescape here.

While you are looking for place card holders keep in mind that whatever you find can sometimes be painted another color if needed. This metal pine tree place card holder was black when I bought it but Hubby painted it forest green for me. More information about this pine tree place card holder and this Winter Pine Trees tablescape here.

If you’re making your own place cards, print out each guest's name on a small card and then attach it to the front of their respective place card holder. More information about this Black Widow Spider place card holder and this Black Widow Spider tablescape here.

Alternately, if you’re using pre-made place cards, all you need to do is take out each card and set it in front of its corresponding seat at the table.

Place card holders provide formality and personalization

At a dinner party, guests are typically assigned seats according to their relationship to the host. This practice helps create a sense of formality and order at the table. It also ensures that everyone has an opportunity to converse with one another. Placing guests in assigned seats also allows the host to control the conversation by seating people who they want to talk to together. The easiest way to nudge your guests to sit where you want them is to literally put their names on the table. A simple gold place card holder is a good addition to your tablescaping collection. Read more about this place card holder and Old Country Rose Tablescape here.

From formal wedding to personal

To take the edge off of getting forced to sit in your assigned seat, I love the idea of making place card holders into favors. Although I don't often do this for the tablescapes I post on my blog (since I like to reuse my place card holders). Making place cards into favors is a great way to show your guests how much you appreciate them coming to your house. You can either make simple place card holders out of materials like paper or metal, or get creative and make something more elaborate like a miniature photo album or bookmark. At the last wedding I attended the wedding place cards were all custom chocolates that each guest could take to remember the big day. Sometimes themed party favor boxes can be used as place card holders to help carry out your theme. This simple decorated box can be written on or a place card can be leaned against it. More information about this place card holder and this 4th of July Celebration Tablescape here.

How to find place card holders

There are many different ways to make or find place card holders for your next event. Here are a few ideas to get you started. This palm trees place card holder is actually a group of two small plastic trees that I purchased online from a party supply site. I am constantly looking for small items that I can use as place card holders even though they weren’t made for that function. Also when I have a theme in mind I do a google search for the theme and the word place card holder and often something pops up that I can use. If you're looking for something elaborate, you can find creative place card holders online or in specialty stores. Some popular places to find these holders include wedding stores online, craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael’s, and online retailers like Etsy and Ebay. I love looking for vintage place card holders because they are so unique. For more information about this place card holder and this Palm Trees Summer Tablescape, please click here.

A simple clear crystal glass place card holder is a great addition to your place card holder collection. I like them because they pick up the color of the tablecloth when you don’t have a place card holder that is the right color. This was a special Waterford Crystal St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape that I created. More information about this place card holder and that tablescape here.

This crystal box place card holder can also be used as the base for a small item to sit on. More information about this small Santa that I used as a place card holder and this Santa on a Christmas Tablescape that it was a part of here.

Write-On place card holders are available and can easily be reused over and over. More information about this write-on pumpkin place card holder and this Pumpkins on a Fall Tablescape here.

I found these colorful butterflies online. They are not really place card holders but they have wires on the back that I bent into a stand for them. I knew the place card would slide in front of the antennae. More information about these butterfly place card holders and this Butterflies on a Spring Tablescape here.

These plastic black cat place card holders are magnetic. Such a clever design, it looks like they just cut a small plastic cat in half and glued a magnet to each side. More information about this black cat place card holder and this Black Cat Halloween tablescape here.

There are so many wonderful place card holders available for your tablescapes and they can add so much to the illustration of your table theme. This music stand place card holder is one of my favorites. More information about it and this Musical Tablescape here.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

Storage for Your Tablescape Collections

March 29, 2022 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I was asked to write a brief post about storage on a tablescaping Facebook site that I belong to and I decided to add more content and post it on my blog too. If you read my blog you saw this photo before with a blog post about storing napkin rings and place card holders. I decided to repeat that information in this post and add content about the storage of other tablescaping items. To start, I have been tablescaping for about 16 years. We are empty nesters and I have taken over some of the space that our three children used when they lived at home.

Tablescape Storage for Napkins and Place Card Holders

My system evolved as my collection increased in size. This is a photo of a corner of my study. While it isn’t a particularly pretty area, it works very well for me and I am the only one who comes in here most of the time. I spend a lot of my time in here on the computer doing genealogical research and planning tablescapes. Online you will see gorgeous photos of shelves with perfectly staged minimalist decor, that’s not me. I like to be surrounded by all my bits and pieces. This room was my daughter’s bedroom until she grew up and moved out, it isn’t very large. We added custom built in floor to ceiling book shelves mostly for all my genealogy books but many of them were out of date so I weeded the collection to create space for my napkin rings and place card holders. I use clear shoe box sized plastic containers and I label the end. I like them because I can see what is inside. We bought them on Amazon and at The Container Store. If I were a perfectionist I would create and print out labels to use but I just wanted to get them organized quickly so I could find things. Before they were scattered all over the house and I wasted a lot of time looking for things.

The containers are arranged by holiday, theme, or color because that is the way I create tablescapes. These are some of my Christmas napkin rings and place card holders. Keep in mind I have been tablescaping for 16 years, lots of stuff! I have inventoried all of these napkin rings and place card holders. Each one has a photo and a record of how many I have. I have the information stored in folders on my computer. The folders are arranged by holiday, theme, or color. I can easily look at the photos and think about the tablescape that I want to create. I am still working on inventorying other tablescape items. People often ask me how many I have of things and I always say I don’t know. Once I have inventoried them I do know but I don’t say!

We had the custom book shelves turn the corner and had them put a large desk area in the corner for me so I could spread out all my paperwork when I am doing genealogy research. It created a large deep space underneath the desk and to the right you can see more containers of napkin rings and place card holders. To the left are boxes of table scatter and other miscellaneous table decorations. To the left of the boxes are my containers of flatware. I will talk about them next.

Tablescape Storage for Flatware

I store my sets of flatware in clear containers as well. They are easy to see. I tried to keep them alphabetical by color but I finally gave up because they are in constant use and the colors move around. I am fortunate to have all this space under a large desk and out of the way. (My sterling is in silverware chests and hidden elsewhere.) When you are thinking about storage look down and up for ideas.

Tablescape Storage for Dishes and Goblets

My dishes and goblets are stored in the garage on racks that Hubby reinforced because of all the weight. This is a part of my charger collection. When I started tablescaping I decided that storage of the item was just as important as the item itself and I needed to buy whatever was needed to protect it. I have labeled on the lid or the box label what is in the container even if the container has a window. When I started tablescaping I bought the containers at our local Container Store but they were discontinued so I moved to Amazon. I buy a brand called Household Essentials China storage. (Keep in mind that they are made of cardboard and canvas.) If I had a huge house I would definitely have a dish room but this works for me.

The containers come in different sizes depending on the size of the dish or goblet.

The racks came from our local Costco and Hubby bought the heavier wheels at our Harbor Freight store. He added a wood base for more support. Because of the wheels I can move the racks around by myself although they are very heavy. (We have been married 50 years this year and we have never put a car in the garage since the beginning. There was always too much other stuff in there! Hubby does woodworking and we used to camp often.) We live in Southern California so the cars can sit out in the driveway. A few of these racks could sit along the interior garage wall easily if necessary as long as they could be swung out to reach the other side when needed.

Tablescape Storage for Tablecloths

In the top of each of our closets was a long shelf that was about 12” wide. I suddenly realized that I could double the space by having Hubby build another shelf just like it in front of it. You can see under the shelf in this photo how he used a bracket to join the two pieces of wood together. This additional space allows me to add a double row of stacked tablecloths.

My tablecloths are arranged by holiday, season, and color just like my napkin rings and place card holders. I have also taken photos of each one and put them in folders on my computer. You can see in the photo how I can store two stacks with the increased width of the shelving. I suspect that some might bring up the fact that these tight folded stacks are not good for the fabric but there is constant movement with them (I do a new tablescape every week) and from time to time I refold the tablecloths in a different pattern.

In one of the closets I only added the additional width to the top shelf and I left the bottom shelf as is.

The ideal storage for tablecloths would be to hang them in a closet on a special hanger like this one that I bought on Amazon however I have way too many tablecloths to store them like this. I do use these hangers for a few really heavy tablecloths like this one.

This is another special hanger from Amazon that you could use for tablecloth storage if you have the closet space. I use them to hang all my table runners.

Tablescape Storage for Napkins

My napkins are stored just like my tablecloths. I do take a photo of the entire back row of each shelf before I add the front row so I know where napkins are when I am looking for them. I do the same for tablecloths.

Storing tablescaping items by holiday, season, and color saves so much time when you are looking for something. You can see my fall napkins on the bottom shelf in one stack and my patriotic napkins on the top shelf in another stack. To choose what I am looking for I can either look in the appropriate folder on my computer or look at the stack on the shelf.

For lots of other Tablescaping DIY tips and tricks click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!