interior-decorating-ideas.com

Looking to shake off the winter blahs? You’re not alone. Tender blossoms aren’t the only harbinger of warmer weather, so is the rush to decorate for spring entertaining. But design experts warn that many people fall into the trap of spending a lot of money for a new look, when you can actually scratch that spring fever itch on a budget simply by giving new life to things you already have around the house.

Bodum Pavina 2-Ounce Double-Wall Thermo Glasses (Espresso/Shot), Set of 2

Features:
• Set of 2 Bodum Pavina 2-ounce espresso glasses
• Mouth-blown of 2 layers of lightweight, durable borosilicate glass
• Keeps drinks insulated; won’t form condensation on outside
• Winner of the prestigious European iF Design Award
• Scratch-resistant; dishwasher- and microwave-safe

“Start by rethinking how you use your tableware,” says Dubravka Vujinovic, a showroom stylist with Replacements, Ltd. the world’s largest supplier of old and new china, crystal silver and collectibles. “So many people use their fine patterns for special occasions and then they’re locked into thinking you can only use a certain piece for its intended purpose. By thinking outside the box, you can find so many more uses for your collections.”

Vujinovic and teammate Annie Williamson are constantly experimenting with colors and patterns looking for new uses and the next big design trends. “You don’t have to use a cake stand just to serve cake,” says Williamson. “Instead, you can place seasonal pastel candles in a nice design to create a great accent or centerpiece for evening entertaining. You can also fill larger serving pieces like a soup tureen with water and add fresh spring blooms from your garden to create a floating flower display.”

Get Creative

Plant fresh herbs in cups and saucers to go around the kitchen or window sill. This not only adds a splash of fresh green color, it’s handy for healthy cooking.

Fill a water goblet with fresh spring flowers for individual place settings. You can also add food coloring in festive hues and float lit votives in martini glasses.

Ornaments aren’t just for winter holidays, use them year round. Fill a wine glass with small pastel glass balls, or use larger ornaments in bigger serving pieces as a way of adding sparkle to your table.

Take Advantage of Color

Spring is the best season to mix and match all colors. Create a bright infusion by pairing a tinted glass salad plate or goblet to complement your china pattern. Use a colored glass plate as a charger.

Chocolate isn’t just for Easter fun. It’s one of the hottest colors for spring 2008, mixed with other hues like apple green, dark fuchsia and yellows.

Use kitchen twine to affix fresh flowers around linens instead of using napkin rings.

Incorporate the Holidays

At Easter, fill unused coffee cups/wine glasses with jelly beans for a fun twist.

Use dyed eggs or hand blown ornaments at each place setting to add color and give your guests something to take home as a keepsake.

Don’t forget mom’s big day. Buy a serving piece in her favorite pattern and fill with fresh flowers for both a centerpiece and a special Mother’s Day gift. Don’t know her pattern? No worries. Replacements offers a Free Pattern Identification Service to help folks who don’t know the manufacturer or name of their patterns.