The holiday season is the perfect time to bring friends and family together, but creating a festive table doesn’t have to break the bank! With a little creativity and inspiration from your garden (and some help from your creative gardening friends at Garden Master), you can craft beautiful, eco-friendly, and affordable table settings that are as meaningful as they are stunning.
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party in your garden, or simply enjoying a meal with your loved ones at the kitchen table, Garden Master’s products, and your own garden, provide everything you need to set the scene for the perfect South African holiday celebration!
Everything you need for the perfect festive centrepiece is right in your garden.
Using Your Garden for Table Decorations
This festive season, why not let mother nature do the work for you? Instead of spending extra money on expensive table décor, take a stroll through your garden and gather beautiful flowers, herbs, tree branches, and pebbles.
These natural elements can create an earthy, inviting atmosphere while adding a personal touch to your table. By making use of seasonal plants and blooms from your own garden, you not only save money but also celebrate the beauty of South African flora.
Our festive table setters suggest using real plants (we love basil, rosemary and a flower or two) potted into small pots that match the earthy look that you’re going for. Keep it simple with a set of Garden Master Super Pot 15cmx3 Raw Clay pots.
Go fresh & fragrant with neatly potted herbs & flowers for your centrepiece.
5 Steps for Setting Your Garden-Inspired Table
Creating a table that reflects the beauty of your garden doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some simple steps to help you set the perfect festive table using plants and Garden Master products.
- Gather Elements from Your Garden (or potted plants): Collect seasonal flowers, herbs, leaves, and other plant materials from your garden. Make sure to include elements that are both visually appealing and fragrant, such as proteas, lavender, and rosemary.
- Choose Your Table Setting: Opt for neutral-toned plates, bowls, and cutlery to allow the natural elements from your garden to take centre stage. Layer plates with matching colours and patterns to add charm.
- Create a Stunning Centrepiece: Choose a decorative pot from Garden Master to house your flowers or herbs. For a more rustic touch, use your garden’s pebbles to anchor the plants in place, adding an earthy feel to your table.
- Add a Personal Touch: Write your guests’ names on a paper tablecloth or place cards for a fun and personalised touch.
- Lighting: A string of warm-toned fairy lights across the table adds a magical glow and enhances the festive ambiance. The soft, golden light is perfect for creating a cosy setting.
Layer plates with matching colours and patterns for that natural charm.
Incorporating Fragrant Flowers and Herbs
A key part of a memorable table setting is not just how it looks, but how it smells. South Africa is home to a variety of beautiful flowers and herbs that can elevate your festive table setting with fresh, aromatic fragrances. Some plants you might consider for your holiday table arrangements include:
- Proteas (SA’s pride!) These stunning, bold flowers are perfect for adding a pop of colour to your table and are always the best conversation starters – because who does not love a protea!?
- Fynbos (Looking at you, Capetonians): A variety of fynbos flowers, such as leucadendrons, are great for centrepieces and add an earthy texture to your décor.
- Lavender (Add a little ooh la la): Known for its soothing aroma, lavender works beautifully as a fragrant garnish for your table and pops of purple colour.
- Rosemary and Thyme (Tease your guests’ appetite): These herbs are not only great for cooking but also perfect for adding fragrance and texture to your place settings.
- Succulents (Play with shapes and colours): Succulents such as aloe vera, crassulas, and echeverias are not only eye-catching but also provide subtle fragrance to your festive display.
- Basil (double up as a fly repellent): Basil not only looks nice and smells divine, it also keeps flies away, win-win!
Make it a memorable occasion by personalising the table with your guests’ names
Eco-Friendly Table Décor Ideas
We’re South Africans, of course we care about the environment! The holiday season is the perfect opportunity to embrace sustainability, and with the guidance from this blog, your table setting can reflect that.
Eco-friendly table décor not only reduces waste but also promotes a connection to nature. Using plants from your own garden means you’re reducing your environmental footprint and enjoying the beauty of sustainable décor. If you’re using disposable items, choose biodegradable or recyclable options, such as paper tablecloths.
Another eco-friendly idea is to reuse and repurpose items around your home. For example, if you have empty glass jars or bottles, fill them with water and use them for as candle holders or vases for your flowers. This approach not only adds charm but also minimises waste.
Set the Tables!
Creating a festive table doesn’t have to be expensive. By using plants and flowers from your own garden or patio pots, you can save money while celebrating the natural beauty of South Africa.
Garden Master’s decorative pots, combined with seasonal plants, herbs, and flowers, offer an affordable way to create stunning table settings. Whether you live in the Western Cape, Gauteng or KwaZulu-Natal, your garden provides everything you need to craft a memorable, eco-friendly, and plant-based holiday table that will impress your guests.
Share the joy (and the effort you put it – we see you!) of your beautiful festive table with the Garden Master community on Facebook or Instagram, and let’s inspire each other to have a happy, horticulture-filled holiday!
