What is the rule for centerpieces? There are so many things that you want to take into consideration when planning your table. Here are 5 basic rules to follow.
In my brief time on this spinning planet, I’ve discovered that there are rules for everything.
At least according to my mother.
Don’t chew with your mouth open.
Don’t forget to floss.
Don’t forget to buckle up.
Don’t dry something before you check for stains.
Don’t keep the conversation ball to yourself.
Don’t leave leftovers in your car overnight.
And the rule I’ve lived my life by…
…nothing good ever happens after midnight.
But did you know there are rules for centerpieces?
Right? I’m kind of as surprised as you. Some of them are Captain Obvious, but some of the rules kind of surprised me.
What is the rule for centerpieces?
Today on Thistlewood we are talking spring and centerpieces and dining rooms and simple flower arrangements…
…and these five basic rules for your next centerpiece arrangement.
Simple Spring Centerpiece Idea
1. Choose a container
Before we get to the centerpiece rules, I wanted to share this super simple (yet SO EASY) centerpiece idea I came up with.
Start with a bowl or tureen like this.
Any bowl will work—you just need to make sure that it has sides that will hold floral foam in place.
2. Add foam
Fill the bowl with floral foam like this.
This is old floral foam that I had in the craft room.
I just have random pieces that I wedged into the bowl. You want to wedge the pieces so they are firmly in place.
3. Stick in flowers
You want to use flowers with a sturdy stem like these Gerbera Daisies.
Cut the stems at different lengths.
Stick the flowers into the floral foam at different heights. You might need to adjust the foam to make sure the pieces are securely in the bowl so the flowers stay upright.
4. Add moss to bowl
Then, just add the moss to the top of the floral foam.
You want to make sure you cover all the foam and let it hang over the sides.
Keep adding moss until you have an entire moss “base” for the centerpiece.
// wavy melamine plates // block print placemats // gold silverware (similar and on sale) //
Here’s the finished centerpiece on the table.
I repeated this arrangement idea all over the table—from one end to the other.
In the center bowl, I added five flowers and then I added 1 or 2 flowers to smaller bowls and lined them up on the table.
// blue and white dining room rug // tulip pillow cover //
What Is The Rule for Centerpieces?
And now?
What are the rules for centerpieces?
Here are 5 rules for setting the table:
(total aside: since there isn’t an official rulebook for centerpieces—I kind of made these up for all of us.
1. Your centerpiece should be 2/3 the length of the table
Most of the time you’ll want to sit someone at each end of the table.
Leave space at either end of the table for a place setting.
If you are having food on the table, you’ll want the centerpiece to be smaller.
// blue and white dining room rug // pink tulips // tulip pillow cover // wavy melamine plates // block print placemats // gold silverware (similar and on sale) //
2. Make sure there is space in the centerpiece for conversation
There’s nothing worse than an elaborate centerpiece that takes up the entire space.
I have literally moved a centerpiece at a fancy dinner because we couldn’t see.
You can always adjust the height of the centerpiece to encourage conversation or leave space to see across the table.
3. Choose either symmetry or variety
This is one of my best rules.
I either go for all symmetry (everything lined up perfectly and the same item).
Or, I add variety to my centerpiece with diffeent things at different heights.
A word of centerpiece caution—don’t add too much variety so the centerpiece doesn’t make sense.
// blue and white dining room rug // tulip pillow cover // wavy melamine plates // block print placemats // gold silverware (similar and on sale) //
4. Remain practical
There are so many fun ideas with centerpieces.
But sometimes we all need to calm down.
I saw a centerpiece yesterday with giant tulips. What if the tulips fell over? What if the tulips ran into the light fixture?
Get creative with centerpieces, but think about your guests having fun without being in peril.
// wavy melamine plates // block print placemats // gold silverware (similar and on sale) //
5. Stick with two or three colors
It’s so much easier when you are planning a centerpiece if you stick to two or three colors.
For example, I added red daisies and yellow daisies and blue place settings.
And speaking of place settings? I also wanted to give a shout out to these plates.
SERIOUSLY.
They are melamine and wavy with beaded edges–the perfect plate for summer.
You can see the plates here.
And aren’t these placemats the cutest? They come in two different patterns.
Here’s the larger block print pattern.
And here’s the smaller block print pattern.
// blue dress // raffia bow shoes //
So what do we think?
Are we all about a centerpiece rule?
Is there something that I overlooked? A life rule you want to share? Something you live your life by?
Let me know in the comments. And if we have any questions about the rules….
…I can always check with my mother.
PS You can see my dress here.
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