How to Decorate a St. Patrick's Day Dinner Table

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On St. Patrick's Day - everyone has a little Irish in them, and setting your table for a St. Paddy's Day dinner can be your chance to show your Irish. Your setting can be just a nice green tablecloth with a coordinated green and white, or green and gold centerpiece, or you could go all the way with color-matched linens and plating, Irish-themed tableware, and a grand floral centerpiece. Here are a few choices for a complete St. Patrick and Irish-themed dinner table setting

The Tablecloth - The foundation you build on

Your St. Patrick's Day dinner table decorations will almost certainly start with a tablecloth or table runner. Maybe both. (you can add another layer of color and dimension by using a contrasting table runner over a solid color tablecloth). But your tablecloth will be the foundation that you build the rest of your table decor' upon.

Working with the Irish colors of - green, gold, and white, you could choose either as your base color, or you could use a base cloth and an overlay tablecloth to get contrasting colors.

Tip: If you are planning a more casual adults table, or even a young adult or kid's table you should check out this link first.
How to decorate a St. Patrick's Day Party table

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The plating and tableware you will be using should be a big factor in your choice of tablecloth colors. If you are going to be using vivid color plating or place-mats then you might want to consider a white, or very pale base tablecloth.

Using White or Pale Tablecloth

Using a white, or very pale tablecloth will give you the most flexibility for the rest of your St. Paddy's Day table decorations and dinner-ware.

• use vivid contrasting green or gold colors in plating, service-ware, napkins, and place-mats
• contrasting place-matts allow you to use white or pale plates
• contrasting napkins can be 'banquet-folded' and placed on the dinner plate for contrast, or flat-folded to use as a silverware bed beside the plate

... as pictured above-right: - a white tablecloth is accented by a colored baseplate with a white dinner plate and a contrasting green napkin. This arrangement gives depth to the table decor'.

Here are some selections available on Amazon now.

Battenberg Lace

Vinyl Lace White

Damask Round

Blossom White

(ps. Use this link to see all white tablecloths)

Using Colored Table Runner

Using table runners is another way to add contrast and depth to your St. Paddy's Day table decorations and dinner-ware.

• Table runners can be used instead of tablecloths if you wanted to show-off your dining table surface
• a contrasting table runner over your white tablecloth can add a streak of color, and give you more plateware color choices
• a center-running table runner will serve to 'focus' your design on your centerpiece and service-ware

... as pictured at above-right: - table runners are used instead of a tablecloth - a great option for that gorgeous tabletop you want your guests to see.
Just click on the photo to see table runners available on Amazon
. (or this link also)

Tip: Your tablecloth should have a 6" to 12" over-hang, so to pick the right size tablecloth, pick one that is 12" to 24" larger than your tabletop measurements'
(*more than a 12" over-hang will tangle in your guest's laps)
For Instance:  • a rectangular table: 42" x 58", should have a tablecloth that is 54" - 60" wide x 70" - 84" long
  • an oval table of the same size would use a 60" x 84" oval cloth - or you can use a similar sized square tablecloth  • a round table: 42" across would use a 54" - 60" round or square cloth

To use a tablecloth as an overlay - it should be just the opposite: 6" - 12" smaller than your table measurements.

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Turn your Irish loose with a colored tablecloth for your St. Paddy's Day dinner table. Go bold with a vivid solid color, or patterned tablecloth, and contrasting plate and service-ware. Or get a more subtle contrast with a pastel or embossed pattern tablecloth. Your plating and service-ware colors play a large role in your choices when you are planning to use a colored tablecloth.

Some colored tablecloth ideas:

• Go bold with a solid Shamrock green tablecloth and use white and gold accents and plating to get the color contrasts you are looking for. If you have gold or white-colored plateware, you can use it directly on the tablecloth. If your plate coloring is not as bold as the tablecloth color, then you can use contrasting place-mats under it.
• Just as with the white tablecloth, contrasting napkins can be 'banquet-folded' and placed on the dinner plate for contrast, or flat-folded to use as a silverware bed beside the plate
• Clear glassware looks best on colored tablecloths, but it is a great chance to use that gold-colored flatware you have been saving for special occasions.
• You can also use a table runner with colored tablecloths to get that contrast you are looking for. It can be a solid on solid choice, or you can use opposites like: a patterned runner on a solid cloth, or solid runner on a patterned cloth. Also, depending on your table shape, your runner(s) can run the width of the table, under the place-settings, instead of length-wise down the middle. (just don't get to carried away with your contrasts or your table will look too 'busy'.

... as pictured above-right: - a colored tablecloth is accented by a colored dinner plate and a contrasting green napkin. This arrangement gives depth to the table decor'.

Tip: Don't let your table look 'flat', and one-dimensional, make sure you have different 'elevations' on your table.
For Instance:
  • Use a base-plate under your dinner plate
  • You can even set the coffee cup and saucer on the dinner plate, or place a
    banquet-rolled' napkin in a beverage goblet, or you can even set the
    napkin/goblet combo on the dinner plate.
  • Use tiered 'mint' trays with dinner mints or condiments on your tabletop.
  • Use multi-height glassware.
An old banquet trick to add elevation to tables is to use a piece of service-ware, like a basket or bowl; turn it upside-down and cover it with one of your dinner napkins, (tuck the napkin's loose ends under the hollow bottom of whatever piece you are using), now you have a color-coordinated base to set something on to give 'height' to your table top.

Here are some tablecloth selections available on Amazon now.

Lacy Shamrock

Baltic Flax Linen

Round Hunter Green

Home Collection

(ps. Use this link to see all green tablecloths}

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Tip: Be Careful! Table runners can add just the touch you are looking for, but they can also be 'too much', an addition that causes your table decor' to look cluttered or 'overdone' when they are used with colored tablecloths.

When used without a tablecloth, table runners are much easier to control, relative to the rest of your table decor'. For up to 4 place-settings, you could use table runners across the width of the table, under each pair of place-settings - just as well as you could use one runner down the center of the table. But for more than 4 settings stick with one runner in the center. Otherwise, you coordinate the runner with the rest of your decor' just as you would with a tablecloth.

Using Table Runners with colored tablecloths takes a little more thought. You want to use one to accent your table decor', not compete with it, Your center table runner should work with all of your table pieces and help pull the theme together, not stand-out like a racing stripe on a Camaro. There are a few things to consider.

For Instance:
  • Don't mix a bold color cloth with a contrasting bold color runner, one or the
    other will need to be more subtle, to work as an accent.
  • Your runner color should be somewhere else on the table too, in the napkins, on
    a serving piece, or in the table centerpiece, don't let the runner color be lonely.
  • Never mix patterns, plaids, or prints. If your cloth is a solid color, then your
    runner can be a print or pattern, but if your cloth is a pattern or print, your runner
    should be a solid color.
  • Make sure the runner isn't too wide for your table, it should not be more
    than 1/3 of the width of your tabletop.

Remember - when considering using a table runner, makes sure it compliments your table decor', not clutter it. A table runner can add just the touch you are looking for,but it is easy to over-do it too.

                   Green Runners

                                   White Runners

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Once you have decided on a tablecloth, and whether or not to use a table runner, you have laid the foundation for your St. Patrick's Day Dinner table. Now it will be simple to decide on your napkins, and how you will use them.

Your first choice will be color:
  • Match either your accent or base color
  • Add another contrasting color

Then choose placement:
  • On the table, on the plating, or in glassware
  • If on the table or plating, then, napkin ring, or display or silverware fold.
  • If in glassware - what kind of fold. (a Google search will find plenty of
    napkin folding illustrations)

Tip: A fresh sprig of clover, (from your grocery produce section), tucked into the napkin ring, or a fold of the napkin will add a nice touch of St. Patrick's Day Irish Green to your table.

Dinner Napkins

One of your easiest choices will be your dinner napkins.
Once you have a concept in mind, have considered your tableware,
and decided on a tablecloth - your choice for dinner napkins will
fall right into place.
Dinner Napkins on Amazon

Shamrock Napkins

 Shamrocks for your Table - Napkin on

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Of course, you could just use a nice floral
centerpiece using the Irish colors of green,
white, and gold. But where's the fun and Irish
spirit in that?

Here are a couple ideas combining the
fun of St. Patrick's Day with a little of your
own creativity.

 

St. Paddy's Top Hat Bouquet:

Materials:

• 1 adult St. Paddy's Top Hat, preferably stiff felt, but plastic will work too
• 1 St. Paddy's Day Centerpiece spray (examples below)
• 1 sm. wide mouth fish bowl or vase (at least 5" opening)
• 1 dz. white or gold carnations

Assembly:

1. Turn top hat upside-down and insert fish bowl or vase
2. insert base of centerpiece spray
3. trim carnation stems to 1" - 2" longer than hat is deep
4. insert carnation stems into bowl or vase around perimeter of hat

Notes:

• you can use any appropriately colored flowers you want, and add fresh floral greenery too.
• if you want to save the centerpiece spray for re-use, then fill bowl/vase with damp paper towels instead of water. (they will provide water for flowers, and not soak the spray base)

Optional:

• You can also use a pot-o'-gold instead of a top hat.
• Or you can buy a floral arrangement in St. Paddy's colors and set it in the hat or pot, and skip the other steps

Available Materials:

Here on Amazon now.

    Top Hat

Pot o' Gold

Glass Bowl

Centerpiece

            Click here to see more St. Patrick's Day centerpiece inserts

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Tip: Carefully - should be how you describe your use of table confetti. It can add a nice touch and just the needed sparkle when used as part of your table decor'. But only use what you need to get the effect you want. Just because there is some left in the bag, or your hand, doesn't mean you have to use it.

 

Ideas for using table confetti:

  • Table Centerpiece -Use it to accent your centerpiece -Sprinkle some around the base of your table centerpiece. Even better if you can match the confetti to the theme of your centerpiece. For instance - if you used a pot-o'-gold themed centerpiece, than you could use a gold coin confetti around the base. Or if your centerpiece is shamrock-themed, then shamrock confetti would fit right in.

  • Table Runners - If you use table runner, or a "center-line" layout with your table service-ware, then you can make light sprinkle-trails of confetti between and around them. In this case, contrasting confetti will probably look best.

  • Accent groupings - if you place smaller decor' groupings on your table, i.e. a smaller pot-o'-gold or a companion piece to your main centerpiece(usually used on longer 'lots of seats' tables), then you could sprinkle complimenting confetti around the bases of these accent pieces

  • Place settings - Be careful with this one - some dinner guests might view a lot of confetti around their plates as 'junky'. But ... a splash of confetti just above the setting, or around the beverage glasses might add the color you want.

Available Materials on Amazon now.

Metallic Confetti

  Gold Coins

Jumbo Shamrock

Jumbo embossed

                      Click here to see more St. Patrick's Day Confetti

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How to decorate for a fun and easy St. Paddy's Day Party table. Whether it's an adult fun-filled party set-up, a kid's party table, or just a quick and easy paper and disposables table, this how-to will get you started.
St. Patricks Day Fun-Party Tables

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Be the complete host with these St. Patrick's Day guest packages of hats, tiaras, beads, and more.
St. Patricks Day Hats and Beads

See all St. Patrick's Day Party items on Amazon

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  •  Buy St. Patrick's Day Jewelry Online.
  •  Buy St. Patrick's Day Decorations for Your Pet
  •  Buy St. Patricks Decorations Flags and Banners Online

Tip: Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.

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Appletreedeals is the eCommerce ID for G.A. Anderson

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