Creative table decoration ideas

Fresh flowers and live plants always add a nice touch to any room, and spring is the perfect time to bring some of the outdoors inside. Try these creative ideas for displaying flowers and plants throughout the house.
Tin Can Planters and Vases

Recycle tin cans by using them as pots and vases. Place a potted plant inside the tin can top, pot and all, or re-pot the plant into the tin. If re-potting, add a layer of small rocks in the bottom allow for drainage. To display fresh-cut flowers, place a narrow glass jar inside the tin, fill it with water and then place a few flower stems in the jar.

Wineglass Vase

Make a creative statement by displaying a single blooming stem in a patterned wineglass. Fill the glass with glass pebbles and then insert one dramatic bloom. For flowers with smaller stems, use a raffia ribbon, bear grass or other ornamental grasses to tie the flowers together so they stand in the center. Position one of these creative vases at each place setting for dinner party guests.

Demitasse Cup Vase

Enhancing a table setting by placing a single stem of a Gerbera Daisy in Italian espresso or demitasse cups. Use gold or silver markers to write the name of the dinner party guest on the cup.

Toothbrush Holder Vase

Enclosed toothbrush holders are perfect for arranging small flower displays. Add water to the cup half of the holder, replace the top, and slip flower stems through the toothbrush holes.

Crate and Carry-All Planters

Old toolboxes, milk bottle carriers and other interesting carry-alls are suitable containers for small potted plants. Mix a variety of plants or plant colors in each partition of the container for a dazzling springtime display.

Old Jar, Jug and Bottle Vases

Old jars, jugs and bottles make very interesting vases, even if they're rusty.

Old Shoe Planter

Fill an old shoe with dirt and add a small plant to serve as a decoration on a table or simply as a conversation piece. To protect the shoe, wrap the plant in some floral or aluminum foil, or pot the plant in small container before placing it inside the shoe.

Indoor Bulbs

Grow springtime bulb flowers, such as paper white narcissus, inside. These bulbs are easy to force into bloom and do not need to be planted in soil. Place the bulbs on a thin layer of small rocks or pebbles in a low bowl such as a casserole dish. Position a few extra rocks around the bulbs to keep them in place, and fill the container with water just up to the rock line. Keep the water up to the rock line, adding more water as needed, and the bulbs will bloom within a few weeks. To keep the tall blooms upright, tie the stems together or plant the bulbs in a few rocks, at the bottom of a tall cylinder vase or spaghetti canister. The cylinder will keep the blooms upright.