Light up the weekend with a star-spangled lantern, red-white-and-blue tabletop, and more
Written bySunsetJune 10, 2009
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Wendi Nordeck
1 of 9Wendi Nordeck
July 4 decorating ideas
Secret garden night lights
Eden Rodriguez, owner of End Design in Santa Rosa and Mill Valley, places garden stake lights or a small battery-operated camping lantern under tablecloths.
To hide an electrical cord, she parts the grass, tucks in the cord, and stakes it with a U-shaped piece of wire. If you're using electric lights, keep fabric 2 feet from the bulb.
For extra shine, you can create a table covering from brightly colored ― and inexpensive taffeta. Use fusing tape to secure panels together and tuck unhemmed edges underneath.
Thomas J. Story
2 of 9Thomas J. Story
Lawn stars
This Fourth of July, let a few lawn stars brighten up your celebration. They're ideal alongside a walkway or next to your picnic table.
1. Use a craft knife and a metal ruler to cut a star-shaped stencil out of a large piece of chipboard or cardboard.
2. Mist the patch of grass with a spray bottle of water.
3. Place the stencil on the grass and, using a sifter or large strainer, sprinkle a very small amount of white flour into the stencil.
4. Carefully remove the stencil and dispose of the excess flour. For a longer-lasting star that can be walked on, use spray or marking chalk. To find suppliers, search the Web using the key words "spray chalk."
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Festive tabletop for the Fourth
Here's a quick way to tap those patriotic colors with contemporary style.
White bags and vellum stars make festive outdoor lanterns.
Use a star stencil and colored vellum to make red and blue stars. Glue them to white paper bags. For beautiful (and safe) illumination, use a small tap light instead of a candle.
Rob D. Brodman
5 of 9Rob D. Brodman
Hanging lights
Give hanging lights a festive kick with blue tea candles, then suspend them by replacing their hanging chains with red and white ribbon. It's your own, updated version of stars and stripes.
For a crisp and casual accent, cover outdoor folding chairs with red-, white-, and blue-striped canvas fabric (ours is acrylic-coated so it won't fray).
For two chairs, each about 13 inches wide, we used 2½ yards of 32-inch-wide fabric cut lengthwise and trimmed to fit. Five-foot lengths of ribbon, tied with a neat bow, secure the fabric at the back of each seat and at the top of the front legs.
Rob D. Brodman
8 of 9Rob D. Brodman
Patriotic pillows
These pillows, from L.A. textile designer Paula Smail, instantly warm up bench seating ― and would look gorgeous on your couch year-round.
Rob D. Brodman
9 of 9Rob D. Brodman
Set a jaunty table
This place setting says Independence Day with a modern spirit that would make our forefathers proud.