Easter Holiday Decorating

Easter is right around the corner and so is a wonderful opportunity to share time you're your friends and family. Whether you have a small private dinner at home or a large group coming over to have a buffet, decorating your home and table for Easter is easier than you think!

A great way to do decorating is to have a theme. For example, you can use chicks as a theme. Decorate with a yellow tablecloth and yellow ribbons tied around white napkins. Use stuffed chicks and candy chicks to decorate the middle of the table. Place candy chicks in dishes around the house for more decorative touches. Or you can try bunnies! Use a green tablecloth and scatter green Easter "grass" down the middle for your stuffed, ceramic and chocolate bunnies to scamper in.

Another great theme is the egg. Use egg cups or clear glass bowls to stack and arrange either dyed eggs or the plastic variety. Don't forget the Easter baskets! Use a large one as a centerpiece filled high with goodies and make miniature ones to place at each setting - put guests name on them to use as a place card!

Flowers have always been a symbol of Spring, especially tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, and irises to set around the house and on the table. Fill mini vases with these or plant small ones in clay pots with names written on them for place cards. For an extra special look, you will need two vases or glass containers - one should be able to fit inside the other. Fill the large container with jelly beans and place the smaller container hidden inside of them. Then fill the small container with water and arrange your flowers in it.

Other decorative touches can be personalized Easter eggs or cookies, miniature straw hats (can get at craft stores) with flowers decorating them, small stuffed animals with a tag on them designating where someone sits. Make an Easter tree by taking a large tree branch and planting it in a colorful or fabric covered pot. Fill with jelly beans and then hang plastic eggs off colorful ribbons on the tree.