Whether you work full-time, are busy bussing children around all day, or both — I’d wager there’s at least one night a week where you say, “I’m not making dinner. Let’s order takeout.” The daily grind can be taxing, and sometimes ordering that pizza margherita or chicken pad thai removes the weight of one more obligation off of your shoulders. But amid paper plates stained with pizza sauce, you can still make dinner time lovely with a few tips. Adding these items to your table takes less than 10 minutes and will make even the most casual takeout night feel special. 

Candlesticks
Bring the drama to your table with a pair or two of candlesticks. I love dining by candlelight, even if the sun hasn’t set yet. It casts a soft glow over the table, instantly elevating the experience. Not to mention, the soft lighting makes everyone look good. Short and tall candlestick holders in silver or glass varieties work well. Don’t forget about your local antique stores. They are a great source for finding unique, vintage candlestick holders. When it comes to the candles themselves, I prefer beeswax tapers. Beeswax candles burn longer, don’t release any soot, and drip less than paraffin wax. Etsy is a good resource for finding an array of tapered beeswax candles.

Flowers
Putting flowers on the table doesn’t have to be an expensive production. You may not even need to look further than your own backyard for inspiration. Run outside and snip a few azaleas or camellias off of the bushes right before dinner. Bud vases are a perfect vessel for displaying one or two stems, and the low height doesn’t block anyone from your view across the table. The juxtaposition between tall candlesticks and low vases also makes for a nice aesthetic.

Small glasses
Over the years, I’ve noticed restaurants using tumbler or juice sized glasses at the table, and I’ve mimicked the look at home with Duralex glasses. Made in France for over 80 years, their tempered glass is tough enough for even the littlest people at your dinner table to use. The Picardie clear tumblers are a particular favorite. I love a product that offers fashion and function. 

Glass water bottles
Having a glass bottle filled with water on the table not only saves you from frequently getting up to refill your glass, but it also adds another dimension to the tablescape. We have these bottles at home. A ceramic or glass water pitcher would work nicely as well, so use what you have.

Two final notes:
1) There are no hard or fast rules in my opinion. If you want to add a table cloth and cloth napkins, I’d encourage it! Some nights I just don’t want to bare witness to pizza stains on my linens, so I resort to paper plates and napkins.

2) If you can, dine al fresco. Spring evenings are a great opportunity to enjoy meals outside. It requires little effort on your part, and it adds to the ambiance: bright colors in bloom, mild temperatures, and sunsets. Your mealtime experience benefits from all of this, simply by moving dinner outdoors.

Remember: Have fun with it! It doesn’t take much — a small addition of candles or fresh flowers on the table can make a big impact.

P.S.: If you have young kids at home, this effort is not wasted on them. My children love when dinnertime gets an upgrade. They want to help refill water glasses, place the flowers on the table, and blow out the candles after the meal. Whether they know it or not, you’re creating memories around mealtime and enjoying it together.