Beautiful Reflections
Take an inexpensive, round mirror and top it with candles and flowers or greenery. As with all centerpieces, make sure your flowers or greenery are not taller than 12 inches—otherwise, your guests will have trouble conversing across the table.


Festive Flower Box
Paint an old flower box. For an added decorative touch, "decoupage" it with decorative papers—that is, lacquer or varnish paper cutouts to the box. Fill the box with an arrangement of decorative grasses and exotic flowers (in our arrangement [shown at left], we choose uniform bear grass and fuchsia-colored orchids—we also added a row of chopsticks, which we painted black, to give the illusions that the orchids are surrounded by a forest). You'll need floral foam to secure your grasses and flowers. Requires a bit more time to assemble, but well worth the time.


Bowls of Silver and Light
Find a silver-footed bowl and fill with floral foam. Nest a wide candle into the center of the foam, then drape flowers, swags of ivy or holly, and clusters of brightly colored berries around the outside.


Topiary Trees
Ivy topiary trees are festive adornments for any table (or room). Trim them with clusters of kumquats, baby limes and flower blossoms to add color and fragrance. Remember the centerpiece rule, though: keep the foliage to under 12 inches for easy across-the-table viewing.

Simply Light
If you'd prefer more light and less foliage at the center of your table, here's one way to lightly spruce up your candles. Purchase a couple wide candles, warm the outside briefly with a hairdryer, then press holly leaves into the softened wax, leaving a section bare at the top. Place candles on small saucers and surround with holly and swags of balsam fir.


Pineapple Luminaries
Pineapples are natural candleholders. Nest them in vintage pots to keep them upright.