Step 1: Occasion
What is the occasion? Is it a casual barbecue, or a fancy dinner? This makes a lot of difference when it comes to decorations.
Step 2: Cloth
Start at the beginning: the cloth. A white cloth is always a good idea!
Step 3: Plates, flatware and glasses
For a modern look, you can mix and match different plates and different flatware sets. Choose 2 or 3 different types of plates and flatware sets, so you don't go over the top. Make sure the colors and patterns match. You can tie up your flatware to the napkin.
Step 4: Decoration
The next step is decoration: choose different flowers and put them in small vases and spread them around the table. Make sure the vases are not too big, otherwise there will be no room left for the most important part: the food. Light some candles to make the table cosy.
Stap 5: Enjoy!
And the final step is: enjoy your meal!