Assign Seats with Chalkboard Place Mats
Dinner is all fun and games with reusable chalkboard place mats. Write guests' names on them (with nontoxic chalk) and they double as B-I-G place cards. You can check attendance and keep track of everyone's hangman scores. Should things get out of hand, wipe the mess away with felt erasers, set like coasters under the chalk cups. O.R.E. Chalk-a-Doodle place mats (with four pieces of chalk and eraser), $17 each, thestoragestore.com.
Light Your Spread with Lots of Votives
One candle is nice; a cluster is even better. For a soft glow, use pinking shears to cut strips of paper long enough to fit around the outside of thick glass votives, then attach the paper with double-sided tape. Choose shades of the same color for a sophisticated, minimalist look. Line the candles down the center of the table as a runner.
Stash Candies in a Vase
Instead of a regular candy dish on your buffet or drinks table, use a large footed vase for a display that's hard to miss and even harder to resist. Shiny, foil-wrapped treats add a sweet sparkle.
Personalize Guests’ Mugs
Help guests avoid drinking from the wrong cup, and give them something to remember your party by. ZIG permanent markers are designed for use on ceramics and come in a range of colors (the ink should not come in contact with food, though, so restrict your handiwork to the outsides of the cups). ZIG Painty Markers, $3.50 each, markersupply.com.
Float Apples in Vessels of Water
It's both low-key (a single color palette) and low-tech (two ingredients, no Ph.D. in crafts necessary), but the results bring a Zen beauty to your table. Fill large clear-glass vases with water at different levels, then drop in bright Granny Smiths for a whimsical still life that beats faux-looking fake fruit any day.
Bring Foliage Indoors
Striking foliage works well in Mother Nature’s decorating scheme. Let it bring something to yours, too. Use artificial branches, or gather the real thing; then, in a well-ventilated outdoor space, carefully coat them with white spray paint. Arrange the branches in glass bottles or vases for an elegant (and wiltproof) display.
