Mention the word confetti and immediately you think of the stuff that’s thrown at weddings. Be it rice, bits of paper in the shape of hearts and bells or even dried flowers at some weddings, and although I’ve never had a penchant for pot pourri to be tipped on top of my bridal gown, each to their own I suppose.

These days however confetti can also be used in the home and most notably at the table. You can be so imaginative with table confetti and it really is only our imaginations that will stop our tables from becoming not only culinary delights but visual treats also.

So, in the name of all things delightful here are some ideas that you may like to try.

• Petals. You can see from the picture how I have used petals in my own home. The ones shown are silk rose petals and I chose a very soft green to go with a more vibrant pink. Petals of this sort, be they real or not, are my top tip for a day with the girls, a bridal party or a baby shower.
• Flower heads. I think that if you are to use an entire flower head then stick to large daisies, gerberas or Marguerite’s. You can float them in the punch bowl – yes along with the punch, have them poking out of the cupcakes/crust- free sandwiches or use them in the same way as the petals and scatter them near and far.
• Bows and trim. I have used bows, ribbon and trimmings forever and I find this to be the way in which you can give your table a make-over in the easiest, prettiest and surprisingly most cost efficient way. Pick out a length of ribbon that you love, choose another contrasting but complimentary length and tie bows to all and sundry. I mean tie them to the backs of chairs, to your candle sticks, to the bread sticks and to your wrist also. Can’t have you clashing with the table!
• Sweets. Sweeties are a tremendous way of spoiling your guests in a way that they may not allow themselves to indulge in every day. There are some wonderful suppliers of old fashioned sweets on-line so if you decide to go for this theme then try and hunt down the most nostalgic and memory inducing sweets you can find. Flying Saucers, Cola Cubes and Pez Dispensers are all great examples of what to use.

This is not about reality or whether the ribbon will spoil if it gets a blob of mayonnaise on it or whether you should be feeding your guests strawberry bon-bons; it is about your guests “ooohing” and “ahhing” as they see the supposed ‘effort’ that you have gone to in order to make the table they are about to dine at a wonderland of creativity and prettiness.