Perfect Summer Centerpiece Ideas
Summer is the time when entertaining is in full swing, and the right centerpiece is the perfect accompaniment to your meals. Whether your event is a formal affair or a lazy barbeque, a centerpiece to match the mood pulls everything together. Gain some inspiration from these tips.
Edible Centerpieces
If it can look good enough to eat, you might as well encourage it. Arrange vegetables in a long, rectangular, clean planter to resemble a garden patch: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and radishes make an artful, and tasty, arrangement. Vibrant tropical fruits can be showcased in the same way: use whole mangoes, pineapples, and exotic melons with small blooms mixed in for good measure. An alternative is to try your hand at a carved fruit arrangement like a watermelon basket or pineapple boat.
Floral Arrangements
Even the most formal of events, such as weddings, affords whimsical creativity when it comes to centerpieces. Summer, signifying harvest and bounty, can translate into a sprawling bouquet that appears just plucked from the garden. Use unexpected containers for vases, such as paper bags with handles for a farmer's market feel, a cake stand or crystal goblet for an elegant aesthetic, or a pretty lantern surrounded by flowers for practical use. For homage to the Fourth of July, use blooms that resemble fireworks, like allium, globe thistle, or agapanthus. Or, opt to go for a minimalist look with maximum impact, like a full-bloomed rose floating in a bowl of water.
Candle Centerpieces
Candles, with their enchanting glow, are the perfect way to help a summer soiree last long into the night. Set a beach theme by filling hurricanes with sand to anchor a votive, pillar, or taper candle; dot the sand with a few shells bought at a craft store. Float tealights or small floating candles in simple, sturdy glasses for a low-budget option. Even some citronella candles, perfect for keeping pesky insects at bay, boast designer looks and can be mixed in with your other candles.
