A good centrepiece makes a dinner feel like an occasion. Here is how to arrange one in ten minutes.
Flowers are the quickest way to dress a table. Keep them generous for a celebration; keep them low and loose for supper with friends.
Match the height to the meal
For a seated dinner, stay below eye level so guests can see each other, or go tall and slim so they can see underneath. Anything in between gets moved to the sideboard by the second course.
Let one colour lead
A single colour in three shades looks more considered than a rainbow. Blush, peach and cream; or coral, raspberry and pink.
One generous arrangement, everything else quiet.
Repeat, don't scatter
Three small vases in a row down the table do more than one large one in the middle. Bud vases with a stem each are the easiest version.
Mind the scent
Strongly scented flowers compete with food. Save the lilies for the hallway and use roses, ranunculus or dahlias at the table.
Then enjoy them
Move the flowers to your bedside afterwards. They were always for you.
