Edible Birthday Garland

Planning a child’s birthday bash? Forgo traditional garlands, which are often made of synthetic materials, and instead opt for playful strands of candy necklaces. When guests begin to file out, encourage the kiddies to help with clean-up duties (they’ll love snacking on this sweet party treat!).

Photo: Martha Stewart

Aromatic Jelly Jar Candles

Reused jelly jars are ideal vessels for votive candles. Create a rustic table setting by adorning a collection of jelly jar candle holders with pliable plant clipping (rosemary and eucalyptus are good options). Simple secure the ends of the clippings with a small piece of wire to create a one-of-a-kind eco-chic tabletop.
Photo: Martha Stewart

Mismatched Candlesticks

Who says table accents have to perfectly match in order to create a sense of design coherency? An assortment of found candlesticks (scour garage sales, flea markets and the like for inexpensive finds) look chic when paired with elegant tapers in a neutral hue. 

Photo: Martha Stewart

Reuse: Jersey Pom Poms

Floating pom-poms are a playful way to dress up any party space. Consider making an eco-chic version of this party-pleasing craft by substituting tissue paper with recycled jersey.
Photos: Craftaholics Anonymous

Easy Woodland Centerpiece

In a word, eco-entertaining should be easy. That’s why we are so in love with this simple, yet sophisticated, woodland centerpiece. By assembling some found wood, natural moss and a simple vase filled with several textural sprigs, anyone can easily create an affordable eco-chic centerpiece.

Photo: Green Wedding Shoes

A Fresh Centerpiece

Add a bit of cheer to a winter celebration by creating clean and crisp citrus centerpieces. A simple glass bowl filled with lemons, tangerines or other citrus fruits is a simple and cost-effective way to create colorful centerpieces year-round.

Photo: Martha Stewart

Gothic Glamour

Add a touch of gothic glamour to your table setting by substituting traditional vases with vintage pharmacy bottles. Online vendors, such as Etsy, carry an eclectic assortment of the bottles at fair prices (we love the bottles adorned with French script, see below).

Photos: Etsy & Ruffled

Lovely Lace

Nothing says “wedding” like layers of lace. When planning the décor for your homemade wedding be sure to browse consignment shops for scraps of vintage lace. Consider trimming table edges or the edges of your cake stand with this elegant accent. Looking for another option? Thick strips of vintage lace will serve as unexpected “hangers” from which you can drape small glass candleholders.

Photos: Austin Wedding Blog

From Trash to Treasure

One person’s trash is certainly another person’s treasure, as proven by this brightly colored outdoor party. Everything from soda cans to jelly jars to reused pint boxes are given a charming second life thanks to a bit of playful creative vision.

Photos: Green Wedding Shoes

Reclaimed Elegance

When wintry weather blows into town, a burst of bright color can go a pretty long way. Get out of a cold weather rut by setting your party table with brightly colored vintage plates, secondhand pastel-hued glasses and reclaimed bold blue mason jars.

Photos: My Kate Parker Wedding & Gracie Lou Events

Elegant Eco Wall Hangings

Add a bit of drama to an otherwise bland wall or window by creating unexpectedly elegant wall hangings made from recycled bottles and a few locally grown flowers (we also really like the “curtain rod” made from a natural branch, as pictured above).

Photo: Once Wed

Charming Woodland Table Numbers

There is no need to over think creative eco place card options thanks to this simple DIY idea. Simply secure homemade tags made from twine and recycled cardstock onto thick pieces of fallen branches in order to create charming one-of-a-kind table numbers and place cards.

Photo: Ruffled

Spring Seating

Though there are still a few months of chilly weather ahead, now is the perfect time to begin planning for spring soirees. Bring a bit of shabby chic flair to an outdoor affair with an eclectic mix of colorful seating. Scour flea markets and garage sales for inexpensive secondhand finds and ask friends and neighbors for seating options that you can borrow for the day to help you save both money and resources.

Photo: Once Wed

Recycled Paper Streamers

Ring in the New Year with chic recycled décor. With just a few snips and a bit of creativity, leftover rolls of holiday wrapping paper are transformed into decidedly sophisticated streamers.

Photo: Martha Stewart