Poetry is at the heart of any poetry teatime. However, have you ever thought about what’s literally at the center of your table? A centerpiece is a wonderful way to draw the whole table together and set up the theme for the teatime.

Poetry Teatime mom, Amanda, wrote this about centerpieces:

One of the things that my girls greatly enjoy is that on the Monday before, they create the centerpiece for our teatime. Sometimes it is very mama-led (such as an Easter gingerbread house kit or a small fairy garden) and sometimes it is completely kid-led and they choose to make flowers from construction paper and pipe cleaners or they go out and gather pine cones and such.

Besides having a great centerpiece for our party, it also reminds them that the next day is poetry day and they start thinking about what they want to read (sometimes even something they created themselves!) and it helps to build the anticipation and excitement.

A centerpiece doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Instead, it can be a chance for everyone in the family to put their heads together and come up with a fun and attention-grabbing part of the table. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Nature Centerpieces

• Go for a nature walk and collect supplies--a vase of twigs, handful of flowers, or a bouquet of dried leaves. You can use anything from pinecones and treebark to river rocks or a jar of sand. With supplies from nature, make sure not to collect them too far in advance, in case flowers wilt or branches fall apart before you’re ready for tea.
• Use a metallic spray to jazz up your finds. Spray paint (or carefully supervise your kids) in a well-ventilated area using a box to prevent the spray from getting everywhere. In lieu of spray paint, you can always use acrylic paint in whatever color matches the theme you’ve chosen.
• If you’re more of a traditionalist, check out these tips for floral centerpieces
• Make your flowers float in water using bubble wrap or use tape to space out the flowers. For variety, add a couple of whole lemons and some leaves to a bowl filled with water, you’ll have an aromatic centerpiece. See the same idea using green apples here.
• Display your centerpiece in a teapot or even a teacup instead of a vase.

Other Options

Well-Wishing Bowl

Pass around slips of paper and write down good things about someone else at the table. When everyone has written something, you can curl the paper using a pencil and add it to a bowl in the middle for decoration. Vary this idea by writing down lines of poetry or a favorite quote instead.

Antique or Thrift Store Finds

Give every kid a budget of under $3 (or whatever your budget might be) and let them loose. See what they find--old postcards, vintage glass bottles, or even old toys can make a great centerpiece. Anything that looks old and mysterious, like gilt tea tins, also adds a lovely touch to the center of the table.

Decorate with Books

This may seem like an obvious touch, but adding a few books (especially pretty ones) to the table will make the whole place look so much more ready for teatime.

Candy

Sweets always make good (and tempting) centerpieces. Display any kind of candy (M&Ms, lollipops, tootsie rolls, peppermints, rock candy, etc.) in a bowl or a vase to add color and flavor to your table.

More Inspiration

For even more ideas, check out each month’s themed poetry teatime suggestions. There are ideas galore for easy-to-make decorations to spruce up the table. Or by inspired by other moms’ teatimes featured on our Instagram account to get more ideas for centerpieces.