|
|
How to Set a Valentine's Table on
a Dime!
by Kathy Wilson
Valentine's Day is a special day in my household, and I try to share the
feeling of love and romance with all my family! One of the best ways to
do that is to set a holiday table, and spend time enjoying good food and
drink with your loved ones. (Include your kids in dinner, and save a
special after dinner dessert for romance!) Here are some great ideas for
setting the stage for a romantic dining experience, without breaking
your budget.
Set a background for your Valentine's Day dinner. Layer your table with
fabrics to invoke the sense of a luxurious hotel. Use sheets, quilts,
tablecloths and placemats in coordinating colors. Pink, red and white
are all indicative of love, but so are deep jewel tones. Look around
your linen closet to find what you may already own! Flat sheets can be
found at the discount shop for $3!
Invest in a roll of wire edged ribbon from the discount store. Tie bows
around chair backs, glass stems, and silverware bundles for that extra
touch.
Use a paper punch and create confetti to sprinkle over the table. This
is a great use for used wrapping paper, greeting cards, or even the
funnies! It adds a great festive touch, and you can even put the kids to
work on this one!
Buy a few boxes of Valentine's message hearts (they are only a $1 for
three boxes!) and leave special love messages for each family member on
their plate. Or use chocolate bars and cut out the letters to spell
their name or initial as a sweet place card.
Make each family member a "Scroll" of love. Write them a personal note
telling them all the wonderful things you love about them, then roll it
up like a scroll, and tie with the ribbon. Tie to their chair with the
ribbon, or tuck in with their napkin. Make sure their names are marked
on each scroll.
Use the best dishes you own! Layer plates and soup bowls, make sure
(just for tonight) there is a salad fork and a dessert spoon. Pamper
your family with simple indulgences such as fresh flowers tucked in wine
glasses, or a line of chocolate kisses down the center of the table. Use
candles as a centerpiece, you can pick them up at a dollar shop! You may
wish to save lighting them until the kids are all in bed, for safety
reasons.
Just a few easy and inexpensive changes to your nightly dinnertime
routine, and your loved ones will feel special and precious, as well
they should.
Kathy Wilson is an author, columnist, and editor of several popular home
and garden websites. For hundreds of free do it yourself home and garden
ideas, please visit her websites now at
www.TheBudgetDecorator.com,
www.DecoratingYourSmallSpace.com and
www.TheGardenGlove.com. Also visit her work at home site at
www.Women-on-the-Net.com.
|
|
