A beautiful table setting is not about pretty flowers, elegant chargers or expensive china. All of them together often form a pretty mess that can hurt the eyes and clutter the mind. The art lies in color coordination, and most of all, balance. Big, puffy peony napkin rings, for example, only look beautiful when paired with the right minimalistic centerpieces and china.
There’s a midrash that says that Hashem created flowers specifically to adorn our Shabbos tables. The flowers I choose — their type and their color — are usually what inspire the rest of my table décor. According to the fresh picks of the week, I decide whether to go with gold, silver or both. (Yes, you can mix the two!) I might also match up napkins or napkin rings of the same color to complete the tablescape.
Since I appreciate the finer things in life, especially l’kavod Shabbos Kodesh, I generally don’t like using printed paper napkins on their own, because I prefer an authentic, richer look. When I do use paper napkins, I place each one over a basic white fabric napkin to take it up a notch and make it suitable to top fine china.
Over the years, I’ve managed to collect quite a variety of different napkin rings. Here are my two favorite ideas of pretty napkin rings you can make that won’t break the bank: 1.
The easiest way to create beautiful DIY napkin rings is by picking up nice faux florals. Then cut off the stems and attach them, with hot glue, to hard plastic disposable napkin rings. (These disposable napkin rings are available at Amazing Savings, usually in packages of six.) And you don’t have to stick with just flowers — be creative. In the photo (top, right), I used these gorgeous napkin rings made with pretty glistening silver snowflakes that I found at the dollar store. I like incorporating these rings into sparkly wintery white tablescapes.
2.
A velvet ribbon tied into a pretty bow is reusable and looks so elegant, especially when it matches the flowers.
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