Preparing a Beautiful Mother's Day Table

Whether you celebrate Mother's Day with a full-course meal or a simple brunch, nothing says how special a meal is like a beautifully prepared table. After all, the table is the stage for whatever scrumptious meal or decadent dessert you have planned for Mom. Making a beautiful table is simple and can be done ahead of time if you're prepared. Choose your table linens, dishes, and supplies in advance and you can focus on the more important things-like celebrating Mom.

Your table setting should be appropriately in line with the grandeur of the meal you are preparing. A full-course meal is nicely set against a fully dressed table, complete with tablecloth, runner, placemats, and napkins. To conserve space until mealtime, stack your dishes at each place setting. Set the salad plate on top of the dinner plate, the dessert plate atop the salad plate, and the soup bowl atop the dessert plate. Linen napkins, complete with napkin rings, will finish the place setting off nicely.

For smaller meals like a brunch or dessert, a simpler table can be just as elegant if you choose the right table linens. Placemats with matching or coordinating linen napkins make a nice canvas for a simple breakfast casserole, fruit salad, and sweet rolls. Set each place with a dinner plate and coffee and juice cups. You can also elect to use a lone tablecloth or table runner to accentuate the simple place settings. The general idea is to not let the table overwhelm the meal.

When choosing table linens, it isn't necessary to consider the decor of the entire room, as a well-dressed table stands alone. For formal meals with a complete table dressing, choose coordinating linens. A solid, spring-colored tablecloth is perfect for Mother's Day. Select placemats, napkins, and a table runner in coordinating colors or prints. Try to avoid using more than three colors or two colors and one print in order to minimize busyness. If you use serving dishes of specific patterns or colors, try to match at least one table linen to your dishes. When purchasing dishes, keep in mind that a nice, neutral set in white, bone, or another neutral color will go with any table dressing.

After you've selected your table linens, finish dressing your table. No table is complete without a centerpiece and flowers are the perfect accessory for any table setting. Whether you choose an artificial arrangement or fresh cut flowers in a vase, choose flowers that Mom favors most and give her the arrangement after the meal. If you are planning a get-together for more than one special mom, use smaller bud vases with only a few stems and arrange them strategically on the table, creating a take-home souvenir for each mom.

Flowers are great for dressing up the center of a table but also great for creating detail. For instance, if serving wine, wrap the stems of wineglasses with a bit of greenery or a sprig of dried lavender. Garland is another option and makes a nice replacement to a table runner for a formal brunch or afternoon dessert and coffee celebration. For a romantic dinner for new moms and moms-to-be, dads might want to consider adorning the table with rose petals. Flowers have endless possibilities when it comes to completing a beautiful table. Candles, tapers and tea lights are great for creating warmth and added beauty.

If your Mother's Day celebration is slated for the outdoors, your patio and bistro tables can be set in similar fashion to your dining room table but you might want to consider vinyl placemats and tablecloths. Vinyl has come a long way in terms of appearance and durability and an array of patterns and colors are available. Due to the unpredictable nature of the outdoors, vinyl is much easier to wipe clean and dry should a quick spring shower threaten the festivities.

With the right selection of table linens and place settings, you can create a beautifully dressed table for Mother's Day or any special occasion. By choosing linens and dishes that go well together in colors that could be used for other occasions, you can get more use for your money. For instance, crimson red placemats can do double or even triple duty as part of a Mother's Day setting and later for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Build sets of casual and formal linens, dishes, and accessories and you'll be well stocked for any celebration.At TrendexHome.com we offer thousands of coordinated styles and sizes reflecting the latest pattern and color trends. It's simply an entertainers' paradise. From casual at-home entertaining, to weddings, showers and special events, TrendexHome.com will help you create the perfect setting every time. Find the right placemat, chair pad or napkin ring to take your table from ordinary to extraordinary. Visit online today.