Give your food station interest with height.
A basic food station table with a white tablecloth and chafing dishes is serviceable but not very decorative. Add color, pizzazz and interest to your tables with design elements that coordinate with your theme and colors, but also take into consideration the need for space and stability on a table that get a lot of guest traffic. Does this Spark an idea?
Linens
Build the base of your table decor with table linens that are not basic white tablecloths. Begin with a neutral base color with a skirt that reaches the floor. Add a second tablecloth on top in a color that coordinates with your event colors. This cloth should be smaller, leaving six to eight inches of the base color showing below. Look for or sew a cloth with a decorative scalloped or fringed hem. Continue layering with a centered table runner in a third coordinating color; this may be the same color as the base tablecloth for a streamlined look. The ends of the runner should fall three to five inches above the second tablecloth.
Adding Height and Depth
To give dimension to the food station, add height with boxes placed under the tablecloths. Use sturdy shoe boxes, small, round hat boxes or postal boxes filled with clean rocks or marbles for stability, or wooden blocks in groupings of four or six. From the back of the table, lift the tablecloths and arrange the boxes. Try a symmetrical look, with the same box groupings on either side of the center of the table, or a triangle look with short boxes on one side building to larger on the opposite side. Keep the boxes near the back of the table to leave room for food along the front. Leave room in the center for the table attendant, if needed. Drop the tablecloth back down and smooth the cloths around the boxes.
Decorative Elements
Arrange decorative structures that match your theme on the boxes. Choose vases, candles, urns, decorative ceramic or wooden bowls, baskets, footed glass bowls, pedestal cake plates, ceramic pitchers or abstract metal art. Begin with the tallest items at the back or on the tallest boxes. Work toward the smaller boxes with shorter or smaller pieces. You may match the pieces for a homogeneous look, or mix them for a shabby chic or retro look. Keep design elements similar to avoid a messy, thrown-together look. For example, if you are using cut lead crystal vases, match additional pieces to the same level of elegance. Fill the spaces on the table to avoid sparse-looking decor.
Fill the Elements
Add more height, color and interest by filling the structures on the table. If your pieces are lightweight or tall and narrow, add weight to the base to keep them from being knocked over by elbows or reaching hands. Fill flower vases with decorative marbles, then add a bouquet and water. Baskets also ,ay be filled with a layer of marbles, then add raffia or cloths. Add design elements such as painted eggs for an Easter display, or food items such as rolls and bread. Footed glass dishes with lids look pretty filled with colorful candies. Tall, natural elements such as pussy willow or cherry-blossom branches add drama at the rear of the table. Stack skewered food in a pyramid shape on metal trays.
Tags: design elements, filled with, food station, back table, base color, Begin with, center table