Tonya Coleman here from Soireé Event Design! I am so excited to be the newest Guest Contributor at HWTM and share my very first post – “Look for Less!” Today I’ll be sharing my tips on how you can have a fabulous high-end looking table for less. Yes…it IS possible and I’ll show you how.

This post is all about the current event trend: RUFFLES! Yes…Ruffles are all the rage right now. We see it in fashion, interior design and now in event decor with ruffled cakes, ruffled tablecloths, ruffled dessert table backdrops and more! Here, I incorporated ruffles on two tablescape designs at two completely different price points {see breakdown below}. One is the high-end designer table and the other is my “budget chic” table.

The HIGH-END DESIGNER TABLE features a gorgeous lamour ruffled table skirt for $58, along with a fabulous ruffled table lamp for $90 and ruffled chargers for $35.

For the “BUDGET CHIC” table, I got creative with crepe paper STREAMERS – of all things! – to pull off the ruffle-look for less. I must say that I NEVER use streamers in event decor…in fact, it is one of my Top 5 “No-No’s” in event styling! BUT seeing how chic these ruffled streamers are from Oh Goodie Designs..I am a BELIEVER! Aren’t they just FABULOUS?!

The color selections and combos that Oh Goodie Designs offers are endless… For $25 you receive 100 feet of ruffled steamers – so you can really get creative in how you use them. Here I created a table trim and dressed up a $20 lamp. I saved so much money with using these ruffled streamers that I could still use the ruffled chargers shown on the designer table – not to mention that there was so much leftover ruffled streamers, that I could have trimmed 2 more tables and lamps! Now that’s getting more bang for your buck! ;)

Check out the cost comparison between the two tables:

HIGH END DESIGNER TABLE

Ruffled tableskirt: $58
Ruffled lamp: $90
Ruffled chargers: $35
TOTAL: $183

BUDGET CHIC

Ruffled streamers: $25
Lamp: $20
Ruffled chargers: $35
TOTAL: $80*
Bring the total down to $57 if you swap out the fancy ruffle chargers for these silver acrylic chargers with a beaded edge.

So next time you see a gorgeous event photo on your favorite blog or magazine and think, “That must have cost a fortune – I can never afford that look!” THINK AGAIN! With a little imagination and creative re-purposing, you too can have that designer look…for less!

For more tips, tricks and insider secrets to achieving a high end look for less, visit my blog, “A Girlfriends Guide to Party Planning“.