Entertaining Dinner Party Ideas Last-Minute Party Decorations You Can Make in Minutes By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Published on September 24, 2015 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos It's 6:00pm, and your friends let you know they might "drop by" for dinner. Next thing you know, you've got a head count of more than 10 and you're hosting the shebang of the century. How to jazz up this fete? Make these fast and easy decorations and you'll look like you've been planning this party for years. 01 of 11 Easy Summer Flower Display Juliana Sohn Step one: Pick flower. Step two: Put flower in vase. Repeat until you've accrued the appropriate amount of vases. Finally: Enjoy lifelong eminence as heralded decorator. 02 of 11 Floral Confetti Mmm ... It's the middle of winter and there were no nice flowers at the supermarket. Even the petals of the cheapest flowers are pretty and elegant when artistically sprinkled across the table like confetti! 03 of 11 Customized Party Cups Jen Causey The easiest way to decorate for a party? Pawn off all the hard work onto your guests. Set up a decorating station near the entrance of your home and encourage guests to personalize their cups. Every party needs a little arts and crafts. 04 of 11 Cupcake-Paper Carnations You most likely have cupcake wrappers left over from your last baking experiment. So, quick: Make a few of these adorable cupcake-wrapper carnations and use them around the house as decor. 05 of 11 Washi-Tape Tray Washi, the ever-popular patterned tape, can be used for nearly any decorating purpose. Make stripes on a serving tray or make a statment with large, patterned letters on your walls. 06 of 11 Stamped-Paper Tablecloth Paul Raeside Butcher paper and a few stamps can go a long way, especially when there's a party at stake. If you don't have rubber stamps around the home, try using an old wine cork to make a polka-dot tablecloth. 07 of 11 Votives with Herbal Accents Aaron Dyer Get twiggy with it: Attach sprigs of various herbs (i.e., that bunch of rosemary you'll never actually use) to candleholders for an easy, woodsy accent. 08 of 11 Zip Tie Garland Kate Mathis Plastic zip ties prove their use outside of luggage tags! This loopy, lovable garland will come together in minutes -- just in time for the guests to arrive. 09 of 11 Natural Elements Centerpiece Grab rocks from your backyard (or other neighboring green space) and arrange nicely in the center of the table. Voila! Time to "rock" and roll. 10 of 11 Basket Centerpiece Fill a few baskets with assorted fruit and use them as a seasonal centerpiece. Hard-core decorators can add tiny bows for an adorable touch. 11 of 11 Fun Floral Straws All the napkins are in the wash? Never fear! Here's an easy way to jazz up that stash of paper napkins. Pro party planner? Yes. You. Are. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit