Seven easy ways to add interest to your summer table by using what you may already have around the house.
- Use seashells for salt and pepper. Handy for grilled corn-on-the-cob and baked potatoes.
2. Before you recycle a drink carton, up-cycle to hold napkins, utensils and a fresh herb bouquet.
3. Cloth napkins add a touch of elegance to any table setting. A simple ribbon around a cloth napkin to hold utensils in place, becomes an instant table decoration.
4. An old bucket used to hold plants, becomes an impromptu ice bucket, for beer or wine. A large mixing bowl would work just as well, to add a country flare.
5. Buying flowers is always a treat but in a pinch, pick flowers, greenery or herbs from your own yard. Tuck a glass of water in the drink carton, then add whatever herbs you may have growing. I love the combination of basil, lavender, flat leaf parsley and rosemary.
A small bouquet of Mexican petunias, hibiscus, spearmint and hummingbird bush cuttings are placed in an old milk bottle for a quick centerpiece.
6. Mix and match flatware. My grandmother’s silver was a mixed set from the beginning. Sometimes, I add a mix-n-match of my own, with elk handle knives.
Helpful hint: We use my grandmother’s sterling silverware daily and when it gets a little dingy, I use the following method for sparkling results. Line your sink with foil, place silver on top of foil, sprinkle 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup salt on top, then pour enough boiling water to completely cover the silver. A chemical reaction transfers the tarnish to the foil. No polishing required.
7. Add a touch of humor to the table by adding photos, famous movie quotes or horoscopes to each place setting. I created some fun predictions and advise, that might be found in a fortune cookie. I’ll be using something like these at our next get together.
Quotes or fortunes could also be fun to personalize for kids, or a conversation starter at a dinner party. Let’s see how many of these you can use, to add interest to your summer table.
Cheers!