Birthday dinner parties can be magical, casual, festive – or whatever you desire. With a little planning, a few accessories and a creative mind, you can transform your ordinary dinner party into a night to remember.
Illuminate your dinner table setting
![SIMON bowl, MARK candlestick and JOHAN tealight holder Dinner table setting with tealights and taper candles in candlesticks](/sites/jysk.uk/files/styles/full_optimized/public/2023-10/4912152-MARK.jpg?itok=m-3nOPJ1)
The very most important thing is your lighting. With the right lighting you can highlight what you are most proud of or point your guests’ attention in a certain direction.
Candles are indispensable on a table setting for a birthday party. Use them in the cake to indicate the birthday person’s age or simply to fill the room with a more intimate vibe. Flickering candles set the mood and ambience of a birthday party.
Opt for a monochromatic colour scheme
![GERNER decorative tray, FERDUS dinner plate, lunch plate and bowl and GLEN stoneware teaspoon Birthday table set up with wooden decorative tray, dinner plate, lunch plate, bowl and stoneware teaspoon](/sites/jysk.uk/files/styles/full_optimized/public/2023-10/4911757-4911758-4911759-FERDUS.jpg?itok=OvOpejrT)
The classy choice is to go monochromatic when you decide on the table setting colours. Neutral shades such as white, sand and grey are elegant and simple, and they make it easy to highlight selected items with a splash of colour.
Sticking to a theme for the evening might seem like an obstacle but really is a blessing in disguise. It makes it easy to decide for – or against – a tablecloth, flowers or napkins in a certain colour. Fun themes could be “Forest”, “Water”, “Urban” or “Romantic”. Your imagination is the only limit.
Brighten up the space with flowers
![INGBERT vase and VAGN tealight holder Stoneware vase with yellow flowers](/sites/jysk.uk/files/styles/full_optimized/public/2023-10/4912030-VAGN.jpg?itok=ZOP91awI)
Nothing can mark a special occasion like flowers. Flowers are a vital part of any celebration, and birthday dinners are no different. You can set the table like you use to, but the moment that you add a vase with flowers, you have a festive setting.
It is key to place the vases with their bouquets in a way, so they don’t block the eye contact between your guests. Either find some low vases with little flowers, spruces and twigs or place them diagonally on the table so your guest can still see the person who is directly across from them.
Artificial flowers often have a flexible stem that can be bended for the flower to fit the setting and the purpose. Once your dinner party is over, you can straighten them again.
If you have selected a theme or a specific colour scheme, the flowers can be what ties everything in. Artificial flowers can be found in a variety of colours and shades.
Spruce up your birthday dinner table setting
![SKIBET dining table with FERDUS plates and bowls, GERVIG drinking glasses and INGBERT vase Round dining table set for a birthday dinner with vase, plates, bowls, glasses and candles](/sites/jysk.uk/files/styles/full_optimized/public/2023-10/4912180-INGBERT.jpg?itok=D5PeZr_f)
To effortlessly elevate a casual dinner party to a festive celebration, simply update a couple of items. Replace your tablecloth with place mats to show off a bit of your beautiful dining table or put drinking glasses in vibrant colours on the table. With a few changes, you and your guests will see your dining room in a new light.
Designate a gift table
Consider dedicating a table, a console table or merely the top of a chest of drawers to birthday gifts. This will keep your birthday dining table setting the way you intended it. Decorate the gift table in the same look and feel as your dining table to create a uniform and elegant expression. Using the same kind of tablecloth, flower arrangement etc. will also send a clear message to your guests so they don’t have to ask where to leave their presents.
Decorative buffet
When you want to celebrate your birthday in an intimate and informal way, forget all about the dining table’s extension leaves. A small dining table where you all sit quite close is the perfect backdrop for making memories. Just put the birthday menu on a buffet and let your guests bring their plates to pick up slices of pizza, tapas or even steak and fries. Don’t forget to check this guide on how to set a table.
Through thoughtful planning you can create an intimate and classy birthday party, filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments.