Banquet Reception Table Decorating Tips

High ceilings. Tall windows. Massive floor space. You've fallen head over heels with a room that needs some filling. The solution (yes, there is one!): Stretch your tables. Set these long, lean shapes in organized rows or in a U-shaped formation. Watch how the lines of color saturate your party room.

Here are some tips on how to decorate for banquet setting:

1. Reach High Break up the long, narrow tables with height. This will give your tables some dimension. Be creative: Alternate between ceramic vases and candlesticks. 

2. Balance It Out Consider the space. Oversized windows need to be balanced out. Longer tables are the perfect solution for giving more depth to a bare room and keep it from feeling cold. 

3. Play Up Shapes Don't settle on round, standard plates. Let the place settings work together by mimicking the table's shape. And make a subtle point by using sharp sides. 

4. Run Long Elongate the table by working the middle zone. Add texture by layering a graphic runner over a solid tablecloth. If you aren't into doubling up on linens, then let your centerpieces step in. 

5. Disperse Details Rectangular tables have a lot of space to fill. (No pressure!) The trick here is to keep in mind that not every inch has to be covered. Prevent this potential color overload by using accent hues in a couple of strategic spots, like on the ballroom chair cushions, lining the middle of each table with tall candlesticks and on place settings by way of the menu or place cards.