| Ribbon Napkin Rings |
 | Why buy fancy napkin rings special for holidays when one large roll of beautiful ribbon costs less, is extremely versatile and looks just as beautiful? You’ll need about 14 to 18 inches of ribbon per place setting, and tying each one in a simple bow takes only minutes. If you are using re-purposed ribbon, iron it first for a crisp, fresh look. |
| Use Greenery from Your Yard |
 | You can fashion a gorgeous centerpiece or buffet display using fresh greenery from your yard intertwined between candles and seasonal décor you already own. Sprigs of rosemary, pine or sage make wonderfully fragrant displays, but boxwood and lemon leaves look just as beautiful with no scent to agitate allergies. Use mismatched décor items by balancing the heights and visual weight, grouping smaller items in threes. |
| Cloth Napkins Tie Together Mismatched Serving Bowls Beautifully |
 | There’s no need for matching serving dishes in different colors for every season, either. Pick up a set of seasonal matching cloth napkins and tie together the look by wrapping or lining different serving containers with all the same festive pattern. A perfunctory aluminum cake pan becomes a seasonal breadbasket when you line it with one cloth napkin and use a second napkin to cover the warm rolls inside. Roll a napkin up and tie it around the handle of a clear plastic water pitcher to elevate the summery look carrying into the fall. Not every serving dish can be accommodated, of course (the one holding the cranberry sauce, for example), but dressing up a few simple serving containers this way and pairing them with the in-season or plain white ones will give you the seasonal vibe you want without wasting money on dishes you only use once or twice a year. |
| Laminate Kids’ Artwork for Placemats |
 | How do you preserve all those precious pieces of pre-school artwork in a useful way? Laminated placemats make wonderful memory keepers that you can use on holidays for years to come! Lakeshore Learning in Pasadena has an industrial-sized lamination machine that they allow customers to use for just 99 cents per linear foot! If you trim the artwork to the size you’d like before heading to the store, you can get 6 placemats laminated for about $3 - $4. |
| Layer Tablecloths to Hide Stains |
 | Has your favorite tablecloth been used too many times? Has it accrued stains you’d rather not show? Layering tablecloths in coordinating colors lets you get more use out of them while giving off a warm, autumnal feel. My beige tablecloth goes with every season, but it has a salad oil stain on the corner that I can't get out. I often drape the tablecloth kitty-corner over the table with another plain tablecloth underneath and lay a runner across the top, covering the stain. Or, as pictured here, I laid the runner diagonally and tied the corners around the leg with a piece of home decorator trim. The bonus is that with the excess fabric gathered around the table leg, there’s a reduced chance of a young child (or my father-in-law) getting tangled up in the extra layers. |
| … and Remember, Less Really is More |
| It really only takes a few festive touches to make your home feel seasonally decorated. Cluttered looks can be visually exhausting and may detract from the event if an over-decorated table crowds your guests. Going for a clean, modern look is often more appreciated than the host realizes, and takes less time and money to assemble than over-done styles. Your guests won’t remember the specific décor, just the overall style and the feeling it gave them. |
