• Creative centerpieces incorporate a wide range of items to complement the table.asian place setting image by Karin Lau from Fotolia.com
  
  Flowers are not the only materials with which to design beautiful and exciting centerpieces. A little creativity and imagination, combined with ornamental housewares and decorative items, will result in a mood-setting table centerpiece that's just right for the occasion. Whether you make it a permanent or temporary display is up to you, but designing a memorable centerpiece is the perfect table setting.
  
  

Use Glass and Crystal

• Put together a simple and elegant centerpiece with a glass or crystal plate and serving bowl with a pedestal, a pillar candle and some decorative items. Put the candle in the serving bowl and the serving bowl in the center of the plate. Fill the serving bowl halfway with themed items, such as seashells and starfish if a seafood dinner is planned, or fresh fruit as a complement to a summer cookout. Place decorative items on the plate as well. Glass and crystal complement a wide range of decorative and ornamental items to go with any occasion.
  
  

Smoke and Mirrors

• Place a mirror in the center of the table with a thick glass mixing bowl on top. Put water in the bowl until it is half full and drop pieces of dry ice into it. The reflection from the mirror and the fog from the bowl create a dramatic table centerpiece.
  
  

Origami

• Make small origami birds from colored paper and attach them to wooden barbecue skewers. Put the craft birds into a vase or pretty bottle in the center of the table. Make a jumbo origami swan for the middle of the table and miniature swans with guests' names on them for place cards. Fold a dozen mini origami baskets and fill them with dinner mints to put on a crystal plate.
  
  

Baskets

• Use an attractive willow or wicker basket with a fancy cloth napkin or towel filled with dinner rolls and a butter dish and knife. You could also fill the basket with baked potatoes, cob corn with husks, danish, pastries or fresh fruit. An alternative to using a basket would be to use a wicker cornucopia filled with food items.
  
  

Use Jell-O

• A big glass bowl full of firm Jell-O cubes makes a colorful centerpiece. Small cups of different-flavored Jell-O stacked on a glass plate are another fun display. A fancy Jell-O mold on a plate decorated with fresh mint sprigs or fresh fruit is an appetite pleaser as well as an edible centerpiece.
  
  

Feathers

• Peacock feathers in a vase make an exotic centerpiece. Adorn the vase with a ribbon or lace. Add a couple of interesting branches for more effect. Instead of a vase, fold a cloth napkin for a base, lay the feathers on it and add several decadent chocolates wrapped in gold foil to complete the display.