• FLOWERS & FOLIAGE-

Quite simply, flowers can create a theme. They can also indicate a seasonal direction to your celebration. While it would be nice to be able to afford a fresh cut bouquet from even the grocery your arrangements do not have to include even a single bloom or blossom. For instance, a contemporary theme, one of bold sparseness, can be reflected in a tall glass vase, weighted with river rocks or glass baubles and holding long, wispy wooden stems or branches cut from your yard. Seasonal fruit vines or branches, again found in the great outdoors, filled and flowing from a vase speaks to the local fruits you may serve. Even a bowl of colorful vegetables can add a pop of color.

By placing a coordinating wreath at the door you can easily carry the theme from your threshold to your foyer and living room and then to your Amish custom built dining room suite. If you have an old wreath just recycle and reclaim it by adding fresh touches to it, or create one from vines or bendable branches. A door piece does not have to be round but instead can be a gathered and beribboned bunch of florals or foliage.

Inexpensive candles always highlight the most simple table arrangements. If the theme is a tea party, why not fill the tea pot with blooms? A garden theme looks great with already owned garden tools as a center piece. Stop and look around before going out to buy a new centerpiece, but never skip on the center piece, since it is high impact for low cost and a focal point of the meal.

• TABLE LINENS-

Table linens can range from a coveted vintage lace table cloth, to an Amish quilt or to a crisp and inexpensive fabric piece or sheet. A set of plain white napkins is always a great investment. The napkins can be bound with something carrying the theme of the day or the theme of the floral and foliage arrangements. A simple ribbon makes an understated napkin ring. Large napkins can even be converted to placemats when unfolded. Stained napkins and table cloths can be bleached out or tea stained into a recycled and highly fashionable shabby chicness.

• WHO’S WHO-

If you want to provide a sense of elegance and thoughtfulness, make each guest a place card. The art of using place cards kicks any tea, lunch or dinner up to the next level and can be created for virtually nothing. While even nicely printing each guest’s name on a simple tent-folded, plain 3 x 5 card is a statement, you can also pick up a favor for each guest at a dollar store. A small frame holding their place card, a basket of candies with their name attached, a candle with a labeled name, a sachet with the name in marker…the list of place card favors is endless and very affordable.

Another fun thing to do is to create a menu for each plate. Today’s computers usually come with templates to create cards and menus, or you can search online. It adds a touch of fun and class.

• COLORS-

Something as simple as color can actually be a theme for your event. All white, or the latest trend of using only black and white, can develop a boring dinner party into something spectacular for no added costs. If you use bold colors remember do not mix even one pastel and visa versa and keep the coloring throughout the arrangements and the linens.

• MIX AND MATCH-

Can’t afford additional place settings or maybe you don’t have a set of fine china at all? Thrift stores hold treasured pieces of china and glassware that can be bought for pennies to create an eclectic and enviable dinnerware collection that no one else has. While an entire table of matching dishes is indeed very elegant it can also be cost prohibitive and even blah. Why not show some imagination and pick out the best of each find you can. You can even mix it with your own set of dishes to extend them when the guest list grows longer than your place settings.

 By using these tips and more to come here at Amish-Furniture-Home.com you can host and enjoy many cost effective and unforgettable events with your well appointed Amish built furniture investments.

While homeschool families utilize the whole world from home to yard to neighborhood and beyond, as their classroom, at some point even the freest thinking parent-teacher must dedicate a room or sections of a room to the home school. Logically, home schooling families quite often use the dining room table as command central. Even “out of home” schooling families use their dining room table for homework assignments, craft projects or as the family gathering place.

A visit to many of the home schooling forums shows one consistent wish from many of the home school mom-teachers – a giant dining room table for them to work at. Dining room tables like the ones crafted from solid woods by the Amish provide high quality, high endurance, and wear tolerant spacious work places for large family classrooms. Add an armoire or dresser dedicated to supplies, some sturdy solid wood chairs and quite functionally a dining room is converted into a one room school house. Some great tips gathered from these forums on how to best utilize the dining room as a classroom are:

1. Keep the table covered with a protecting pad and a plastic table cloth. The Amish have available elite custom pads to add many years to the table top. This investment will pay off after years of small hands pressing pencils into wooden surfaces or science experiments gone awry.

2. Cut a piece of white board to fit the table top as a giant dry erase surface. Local home improvement stores carry very low cost sheets of white laminate paneling. They can even cut them to size. Place these panels on top of the elite custom pads and pass out the dry erase markers. Kids become very enthusiastic at the chance to write on furniture! This also saves on paper product costs and consumption.

3. Since most families can’t afford to give up their dining room as an eatery why not redecorate the dining room with the theme of your studies? This is particularly fun for unit study type curriculum. Africa this month? Why not coordinate the napkins? Add some giraffes and elephants as center pieces. There are very inexpensive ways to keep the flow of your home while providing a homemade education to your children. Oceans next month? Why not a giant fishbowl as a living centerpiece? Just remember you may not want to serve fish sticks for awhile!

4. If you have opted to top your dining room table with a glass top why not use pictures under the glass as study points? One section of the dining room table can be algebraic equations, another section geographic pictures and another spelling words.

5. The second most desired item observed in the home school forums was an organizational element such as a bookcase, armoire, china cabinet, hutch, dresser or chest of drawers. With the well built, solid wood, dove tailed construction of Amish furniture it is easy to find sturdy organizing elements that match the woods, stains and designs of the Amish built dining room table. Sturdy shelves or cabinets for books, supplies and items like nature collections is important, no matter how small the space.

6. Be sure you have good windows and or good lighting in the dining room. Poor lighting makes the eyes work harder and the child grows weary faster.

7. Do a daily clean up of the dining room. Keep it a focal point of your home. Never let the table become only a place to collect things that need to be put away. A few minutes a day will pay off in peace and function. Keep the room a place that inspires good family meals when appropriate and good creative thinking always.

8. Remember that while Homeschooling is about “togetherness” it does not mean you have to be tethered to them as they work. By utilizing the dining room you are more able to multi-task why the children are working on school. They will know you are right there, in the near-by kitchen or living area but they will learn the much desired art of independence. Homeschooling children are best known for there self reliance, and if you can be multi-tasking and keeping a watchful eye the house and school run smoother.

The most common type of dining room table shape is the rectangular table. Rectangular tables usually accommodate six to eight people and generally fit in the average sized dining room comfortably. The good thing about rectangular tables is that there is usually plenty of serving space in the middle that doesn’t interfere with the diners, but those sitting on the far ends may have a little trouble reaching everything on the table.

Oblong tables have the same pros and cons as rectangular tables, except that there tends to be a little less serving space since the corners are rounded off. However, an oblong table is a nice option for rooms that have lots of other furniture in them because they can offer some additional walking space around tight corners.

Square tables are great for smaller families who only need to accommodate two to four people and fit well in even the smallest dining rooms. However, there is usually less serving space and you will most likely need to have an additional table or sideboard in the room, particularly for larger parties. The best option for those who like a square table is to buy one that can be expanded with removable table leaves. This way the table can stay small for everyday use, but be expanded to accommodate larger groups.

Round tables add a unique look to any room and are the best choice for those who want to encourage lots of conversation because everyone can see each other at a round table. However, larger round tables tend to take up more space than any other shaped table, so make sure you measure carefully before bringing home a round table that won’t fit in the dining room. Instead, choose a round table that seats four, but can be expanded into an oblong table with leaves.

You first need to consider the size of the room that the dining room table will be placed in. A larger room needs a larger table and vice-versa. Ideally the table should measure at least three feet across to accommodate serving space, but no more than four feet or conversation across the table will be inhibited. You also want to make sure there is approximately four feet between the table edge and the wall so that there is enough space for someone to walk around when the seats are filled.

Next, consider how many people will be using the table. If there are only two of you in the home then a smaller table will suffice, but you also need to think about what you will do when entertaining. Even if you only entertain once or twice a year, you will definitely appreciate having the ability to seat those extra guests comfortably. The best solution is to buy a table that is expandable with removable leaves. This way you can keep the table small for daily use while also being able to accommodate larger groups.