No matter the event, special occasion or holiday, every dinner party host not only wants to showcase an amazing culinary feast but they also what to show off a lovely home, and an impeccably decorated dinner table. In doing this, many hosts end up cluttering the dinner table, leaving only a small space for guests to eat comfortably. This always makes dinner guests feel uncomfortable without space to move and can affect the success of the event.
Less is More at the Dinner Table
Don’t make the same mistake at your next dinner party. Instead of displaying the feast before your guests, it is better to keep the selection in the kitchen or a separate room or table. This leaves space for guests to actually be able to see each other and carry on a conversation. If you really want to display your hard work and delicious meal, uses smaller dishes and plates to display your food at the table. This does mean you’ll have to make more trips to the kitchen to replenish the food, but that’s part of being a host.
Use the Centerpiece as a Focal Point
Your table doesn’t have to be completely dull. Moving the food to a separate location or using smaller dishes to display your meal leaves space for floral arrangements, lovely linens and creative centerpieces. Don’t get too carried away. One centerpiece is perfect for a table that seats up to eight people. A table that seats ten or more people should have two center pieces at either end. Keep it simple with a modern arrangement. A fun modern idea is to fill clear vases with round, opalescent ornaments or natural seasonal items such as rose petals or pinecones. Another great centerpiece idea is candles. An antique candelabra or low lying candle display will always make a dinner party table looks dressed up, and never appears cluttered.
Table settings also proves to be a source of clutter at the dinner party table. A proper formal place setting could have up to three forks, three spoons, three knives, three glasses and one coffee cup. That’s a lot of dishes if you think about it. Don’t try to over complicate your table setting. A dinner plate, salad plate, basic silverware, water glass and wine goblet is all you’ll need per person.
If you follow these simple steps, you are sure to have a clutter free dining table that will be both beautiful and functional at your next dinner party.
