How many times have you heard the phrase “mood lighting?” It’s true that the way you decorate, stage, and light a venue establishes the atmosphere and ambiance of the entire event. Without those elements, you just have a bunch of tables and chairs sitting in a big room.
Coming up with decor ideas can be a creatively stressful process, however, especially if you’re starting with an empty whiteboard. You need to think of every piece of the event and how it contributes to the environment you’re looking to set.
One of the most overlooked aspects is table lighting and decor. If your guests are going to be seated together, you have an opportunity to impress them with some style and flair. We’ll go over how your table setup can help elevate your entire event.
Table Lighting Ideas
Typically, table settings are pretty low on the to-do list when you’re planning an event. It seems like a secondary, if not tertiary, priority. But when you think about it, that’s where your attendees are going to spend the bulk of their time during the event. And if you’re trying to make a great impression, why not set the stage to wow them right in front of their seat?
Your options for table lighting for parties are endless. There are several different factors to consider when deciding how you want to illuminate your event.
Are the house lights going to be kept low? Will the event be taking place outside? During daylight hours or at night? How much natural light will be available?
Thankfully, there’s event lighting equipment that meets the needs of every scenario, venue, and budget.
If you have a decent amount of overhead lighting for your venue, you may only want to accent your table with some LED fairy lights or candles. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you’re aiming for some moodiness with a dark room, then illuminate your guests’ tables with pixel tube lights, intricate lamps, balloon lighting, or even 3D projection mapping onto the table (if you’ve got the budget for it).
Of course, you can’t forget about colored lasers and moving lights if you’re really trying to get the party going!
The look isn’t complete without table centerpieces. Pairing great decorations with incredible lighting is the perfect recipe for creating the ultimate atmosphere. Whether you’re aiming for a classic white rose and twinkling lights combination for a wedding or creating a fairytale forest with birch trees as the focal piece, the tone of the event can be established on the table.
Here are a few ideas to use for parties or corporate event centerpieces:
- Charming containers: Bowls and vases are great ways to bring in different elements, like flowers or candy.
- Cocktail centerpieces: It’s become a pretty fun idea to have the beverage of the night stationed at the center of the table for accessibility.
- Light fixtures: Having your table lighting, whether it be candles, lanterns, or unique equipment, sit at the center can bring a special atmosphere to those at the table.
Our Favorite Event Lighting Designs We Found on Pinterest
No matter the type of event you’re planning for, it’s always a good idea to find inspiration first, and there’s no shortage of places for you to look for table decoration ideas on the internet! One famous stop that’s sure to help fuel your creative fire? Pinterest.
Here are some of our favorite table lighting and centerpiece ideas that we’ve found on the popular social site:
1. Marquee Letters
For events celebrating a person or couple, marquee letters are a great way to light up your tables while also maintaining a focus on the person (or people!) of honor.
2. Party Bulbs
Even though this pin gives off some serious college dorm vibes, it managed to spark some ideas for using balloon lights or experimenting with bliss lighting. Play with colored lights to add a bit of pizzazz to your party tables.
3. Neon Lamps
Neon lights have seen a recent spike in popularity, to the degree that you can find them in chain furniture and decor stores. With so many different shapes available to choose from, and the ability to purchase custom ones, these make pretty cool focal points for any event table.
4. Moon Lamps
For a soft glow, these paper moon lamps are a pretty unique way to decorate your table. They aren’t exactly versatile when it comes to even themes, but if they match the rest of your decor, they’ll spark some “oohs” from your guests.
5. Submerged LED Lights
There’s so much you can do with LED lights. You can chain them together, strobe them, find them in pixel tubes, submerge them… That last one isn’t a common display, but LEDs can be submerged underwater. Pair that with an LED base and some other decor elements, like the flowers in this pin, and you’ve got an enchanting centerpiece.
6. Paper Lamps
Paper lamps are a quaint and delicate touch to add to any table. You can find them in neutral tones or bright colors, so you can utilize them for any type of event.
7. Fairy Lights
Mixing fairy lights with, well, anything will add an enchanting glow to any setting. They’re super popular right now, to the point where they’re a bit oversaturated in the market, but they do offer a pretty calm ambiance to their environment. You can’t knock it if it works.
8. Tea Lights
Tea lights or candles add an element of elegance to any table setting. They’re small and subtle, which makes them easy to integrate with other decorations. They act as a great accent to any corporate, black-tie event you may be hosting.
9. Exposed Bulbs
Your table lighting doesn’t have to actually be bright or illuminated in order for it to be the focal point of your table. This pin makes use of the vintage aesthetic that comes with naked and exposed bulbs.
10. “Floating” Flames
That title might be a bit of an exaggeration of these transparent candles, but it’s still a really cool effect. You can light up your tables without making the decor feel too busy with this unique candle style.
We here at One Way Event Productions have mastered the unique dance that is event execution. Experts in event planning, lighting, and audiovisual technology, you can count on us to help you create the perfect table lighting and decor for your event. Reach out to learn more about how we can assist you through every step.
