Oh how I love a good dinner party, and preparing for it is part of the fun! I’ve compiled some tips from a couple incredibly talented ladies that know table styling like nobody else. I’ve also added a bit of my own tidbits that I often use as guidelines. These work for anytime of the year–but are great with the holidays just around the corner. Happy tablescaping! Scroll down for photos!

1. Get inspired! I love perusing Pinterest to get my creative wheels turning, but go take a peek at  Shelly Sarver Designs Instagram for inspiration galore! Shelly is an illustrious florist and has received awards upon awards for her work–think big like The Knot. She’s the florist every bride is longing for and working with her is a dream. Another dear friend of mine, Shawna Miller, could give Joanna Gaines a real run for her money. If you’re in the area, step foot into Shawna’s little shop, Simple Treasures, and you’ll find beautiful displays, unique ideas, and an item (or 20) to take home to embellish your table! Both of these women are inspiring beyond words! Now…on to the other 9 tips…
2. Keep it unique. “I always like to have something unusual, or an element of surprise in every centerpiece a bit of a ‘conversation piece’ of sorts.” -Shelly Sarver of Shelly Sarver Designs
3. What’s on the menu? Knowing the flavors, colors, smells, and look of the food can be an  important part of putting together your tablescape–you want it to compliment, not compete!
4. Let the food take the stage. Let the food you’ve prepared be the center of attention! It can be simple–a turkey or roast garnished with herbs can be a great way to add beauty to the food you’re serving. Think about the dishes you’ll be serving and ways to garnish them in an attractive way–you may not need to incorporate much more!
5. Don’t over power the food. “When selecting flowers that will be on the dining table, I prefer flowers with any or little fragrance not to interfere with the food aroma.”  -Shelly Sarver, of Shelly Sarver Designs
6. Try a collected and layered look. Shawna collects plates and likes to use them in layers. “I use unique bread boards for the first layer and then add in cake stands and hotel silver statement pieces.” -Shawna Miller of Simple Treasures.
7. Add a bit of nature–use natural things. “This could be as simple as fruit or sprigs of greenery tied with pretty ribbon.” -Shawna Miller of Simple Treasures
8. Gather items. Look around your home and use pieces you love. “For me, inspiration sparks as I gather the things I love and a pretty tablescape emerges.” -Shawna Miller of Simple Treasures
9. Make room. Once you include plates, silverware, glasses, and all that delicious food there isn’t always a ton of room for much more–make sure you plan ahead so things aren’t cramped! Often times I’ll use Post-it notes on the serving dishes that I’m going to put food in–this gives me a better idea on space and helps me get organized for large parties.
10. Think outside the box. Sometimes a sit down meal isn’t necessary–perhaps food can be served on a beautifully decorated table while people move around/mingle. Recently I’ve enjoyed decorating my kitchen island and my outdoor table for food “stations”.

Here are a few photos from a table I did this fall…it’s not the professional level of Shelly and Shawna, but I enjoyed gathering items from my house and yard to create this tablescape!

Photos by Jillian Bowes.