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Purple and Green and Gold all over

The traditional color scheme of Mardi Gras is a combination of purple, green, and gold. According to Mardi Gras history, purple represents justice, green represents faith, [...]]]> Mardi Gras is coming up, and even if you’re not in New Orleans, you can still celebrate in style. Here’s how:

Purple and Green and Gold all over

The traditional color scheme of Mardi Gras is a combination of purple, green, and gold. According to Mardi Gras history, purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold represents power. Keep this in mind when you’re decorating. These color combinations are bold and fun—everything the Mardi Gras holiday stands for!

Let them eat cake!

We might sell tablecloths, but we also spend a lot of time around the table. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the last day before Lent officially begins. That means, if you’re fasting for Lent, it’s your last chance to stock up on all those fatty, unhealthy foods until you raid someone’s Easter basket in April.

My favorite Mardi Gras food is King Cake. Not only do I enjoy a nice cake, but a King Cake has a prize hidden in it (the person who finds it is the “king” for the day!) When I was in grade school, this usually meant that if you were the lucky kid to find a trinket in your piece of cake, you won something bigger, like not having to do your homework for the night. Regardless, you really can’t go wrong with cake and trinkets, and if you’re celebrating with older kids (or adults who wish they were kids) or throwing a party, a King Cake is a great way to educate about the history of Mardi Gras, play a game, and eat some tasty cake!

In my experience, a lot of people give up chocolate for lent. If you’re one of the brave souls embarking on that journey, make sure you eat up all the Valentine’s Day candy!

It’s all about the beads!

Mardi Gras is known for its heavy use of beads and trinkets. Around this time of year, colorful beads can be found at many stores, and the simple ones are generally pretty inexpensive. They work great for integrating into decorations, but they also serve as a great addition to a costume!

In New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a huge weeklong celebration with lots of parades. With the parades come audacious costumes. Even if you’re not up for dressing up in an elaborate costume, you can still get into the Mardi Gras spirit with beads and masks.

This Fat Tuesday, you can expect to find me shoving my face full of King Cake and sporting a beautiful array of beads. Who knows, I may even spring for a mask!

We sell and rent tablecloths and provide furniture to a lot of different people who use them for a variety of reasons. Some of you just need a new tablecloth to [...]]]> We’re holding a contest. Share your photos of our products in use, and you could win $200 towards your next Bright Settings order.

We sell and rent tablecloths and provide furniture to a lot of different people who use them for a variety of reasons. Some of you just need a new tablecloth to cover your dining room table, some of you are hosting a special event for family and friends, others need new folding tables and chairs for the community center, and some of you are trying to increase your business by using our digitally printed trade show tablecloths. Well, now we’d like to see whatever it is you’re doing. And we want our customers to see how people just like them are using our table linens and furniture.

If you want your shot at $200, all you have to do is:

1. Post a photo on our Facebook wall: http://www.facebook.com/BrightSettings

2. Include a brief caption explaining the photo. Where/when/why was it taken? How did you use the products?

3. Get your friends and family to “Like” the photo on our wall. Comments are encouraged!

4. The photo with the most “Likes” at the end of the contest at midnight on March 1, 2012 will win $200!

It’s as easy as that! If you don’t have Facebook, but you’d still like to participate in the contest, we’d be happy to post the photo with your name and caption, and invite you to encourage your friends and family that are on Facebook to “Like” your photo.

About the Photo:

• Photos can be old or new, as long as they include at least one Bright Settings product. Whether you ordered from us 10 years ago, or just placed your order yesterday, we know you’ve got great ideas, and we invite you to share your images with us.
• Photos do not have to be professional– we don’t care if you took it with your phone, or if your wedding photographer happened to snap a shot of your breath taking tablescapes, we just want to share how people are using our products.
• We won’t use your photo without your permission, BUT if we like it, we may contact you to use it on our blog or website.

If you’re trying to make this Valentine’s Day a special one, here are [...]]]> Whether you’re married, engaged, or just have a special someone you want to share your time with, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect day to show your significant other just how much they mean to you.

If you’re trying to make this Valentine’s Day a special one, here are some ideas to create an ambiance that’s perfectly tailored for you and your sweetie.

1. Choose décor that represents your relationship.

Just because the token colors for Valentine’s Day are red, pink, and white doesn’t mean you have to abide by those imaginary rules. The same goes with hearts; I’m a fan of the shape, but too many hearts on Valentine’s Day and I feel like mine might explode. Instead, opt for colors that suit you. Whether it’s table linens that match the color of the sunset you watched together when you first started dating, or the colors of the school where you met, breaking free of the red and pink will help your night feel more special and less like a Hallmark card.

2. If you’re staying in, add an extra element to make the evening stand out.

You certainly don’t have to go out on Valentine’s Day. If you do decide to have a romantic dinner at home, you don’t have to go overboard, but a few extra elements can turn your everyday stomping grounds in to a romantic setting. My suggestions? Switch up the décor, add some candles, and create a personal touch (such as a picture or a love letter). Those elements will transform your home into something different and special.

3. Be yourself.

We’re surrounded with media suggesting that big gestures should be the norm, and that puts a lot of pressure on holidays like Valentine’s Day. Glitz and glam are great to incorporate at the right occasion, but choosing elements that really represent who you are will go over much more smoothly. It will also remind your partner why they love you so much in the first place—because you’re you. Plus, if you’re staying true to yourself, you’ll be much more relaxed and better able to enjoy your time with loved ones.

No matter what your plans are, remember that this holiday is all about who you share it with. As much as we’re about décor, we’re still believers that the best ingredient to any successful event is good company.

12 out of every 100 visitors to our site are accessing it from their mobile devices. We get it. You’re busy. You’re not always sitting at your computer. With a [...]]]> We’ve got great news. We’re launching our mobile website. Well, we think it’s great news, and we think quite a few of you will too.

12 out of every 100 visitors to our site are accessing it from their mobile devices. We get it. You’re busy. You’re not always sitting at your computer. With a lifestyle that constantly has you on the run, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to get the info you need, when you need it, wherever you are. So if you’re sitting in traffic, stuck in a meeting, waiting for Suzie to get out of ballet class, or just need quick access to your order info, now you can pull out your smart phone and access it.

You can reach our mobile site at m.brightsettings.com.

Here’s how we’ve broken things down:

Useful Web Apps

Under this menu, you’ll find your favorite Bright tools, including:

• Tablecloth Calculator to determine your custom size tablecloth
• Set the Table, a guide to formal table setting, customizable after selecting which courses you’ll be serving.
• Table Setup for figuring out how to maximize your space with table and chair placements
• All of our Napkin Folding tutorials—videos included!

Order Status

Want to know the status of your order? Just enter your order number and billing postal code. This will give you access to your shipping information, including the estimated delivery date—without even having to leave the site.

Contact Info

All the info you’d ever need to get in touch with us on the go. Our address, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and even our Federal EIN and DUNS# are on this page.

Ask a Question

Getting your questions answered has never been easier. Whether you want us to e-mail you or call you, submit your question, and we’ll be in touch within 1 business hour.

Customer Service

Under this menu, you’ll be able to find answers to some of your most pressing questions. You’ll find return and cancellation policies for all of our products, as well as other frequently asked questions.

Mobile Sales Coming Soon

This part of the mobile site is under construction (that’s why you can’t click on it yet), and we’re hoping to roll it out sometime this spring. We’ll start with linen sales, and then add rental, trade show linens, and furniture as we progress. You can already order from the regular website now using a tablet, but we’re miniaturizing our navigation and purchase screens to make it easier to buy on the run from a smartphone.

Check it out and let us know what you think. We’re here to make your hectic life a little easier, so if it’s working for you—let us know. If you think we need to change something or have an idea or other comments and feedback, we definitely want to hear that, too! We really care about what you think, I promise. If it will make your life easier, it will make our job a more enjoyable one. So please take a look at m.brightsettings.com with your smartphone and let us know what you think by submitting your comments below.

Decorating this year couldn’t be easier. Both teams have [...]]]> Superbowl Sunday is quickly approaching. Whether you’re a die-hard Patriots fan, have a big thing for the Giants, or are just watching because you can’t resist the commercials, Bright Settings has some ideas to make the most of the biggest football day of the year.

Decorating this year couldn’t be easier. Both teams have almost the same colors, save for the variation in shades of blue. Why is this a good thing? Because a little friendly competition at home makes the competition on screen ten times more exciting. The similarity in supportive colors will allow all of your guests to feel included, even if you’re cheering for opposite teams.

If you’re not enthusiastic about a solid red, white, or blue tablecloth, try patterned table linens instead. Football is a truly American sport, and what better way to show your support than some classic stars and stripes? When the game is over, you can fold them up and store them for your 4^th of July blowout. Now, that’s what I call WINNING.

If you’re a Tebow fan…

Okay, Tim Tebow won the hearts of men and women alike this past season, and some people were a little distraught when the pure-hearted 24 year old didn’t make it to the Superbowl. If you’re still mourning Tebow’s too-short season, save the Bronco’s décor for next year, but feel free to Tebow at will.

No matter who you’re rooting for…

White tablecloths match every team’s colors. Plus, when paired with the right accents, they’re perfect for just about any other occasion you could think of. If you’re worried about wing sauce forever staining your pristine white linens, why not try a brown tablecloth instead? The darker color will help hide stains, if there are any. Just make sure nobody gets too rowdy during half-time and mistakes the tablecloth for a football!

Here at Bright, we’ll be holding out hope that the Steelers pull through next year so we can decorate in Black And Yellow.

I like to consider myself of the crafty variety; I know how to sew, [...]]]> For a true do-it-yourself kind of person, buying something like a tablecloth can seem like too much of a cop out. If you can make it yourself, why spend the extra money to have someone else do it for you?

I like to consider myself of the crafty variety; I know how to sew, I have a good eye for color and design, and I find myself utterly engulfed in my projects far more often than I might like to admit to others. Unfortunately, I end up buying a lot of things I know I could make because I just can’t find the time.

But if you do have the time and the DIY bug, sewing your own table linens is a great way to create something that’s not only beautiful, but totally functional as well.

As any crafter knows too well, the tools and materials you have to work with can determine how successful the outcome of your project is. Too many times I’ve been in the middle of a sewing project only to realize that I clearly should have chosen a different fabric. By then it’s usually too late, so I just soldier on and fight with the fabric until I’m mildly satisfied (yet unbelievably frustrated) with the result. I know if I put the project down, I might never come back to it.

Well, crafters, I’ve got good news for you. Bright Settings sells all of the fabrics we use for our linens by the yard. For those of you that just aren’t satisfied with having someone else do the work you love to do yourself, you don’t have to settle.

You might be asking yourself, “Why would I order fabric online when I could go to my local craft store and buy the fabric instead?” When I say we sell our fabric by the yard, I mean it’s the same exact fabric we use to make our table linens which means most of the fabrics are scotch-guard treated to prevent stains and general wear and tear. The only thing worse than struggling with a project is to have it finally finished and set on the table, just to watch someone knock a full glass of red wine or splatter spaghetti sauce and ruin all of your hard work. With our Fabric By The Yard, you can rest assured that you’re using the best quality fabric for the job.

So, we get that sometimes you just want to do things yourself. Kudos to you. We want to help kinder your inner-DIY spirit, and our Fabric By The Yard will do just that. If you have questions about how specific fabrics are treated, sizes, or how workable a fabric is, check out the Fabric By The Yard section of our site, or get in touch. We’re happy to help.

Certainly, your products and services are the most important aspect of making an impression, but a booth or table that wows can make a critical difference. Even [...]]]> Trade show season is quickly approaching as vendors from all over the country contemplate how to make their tables stand out amongst a sea of their competitors.

Certainly, your products and services are the most important aspect of making an impression, but a booth or table that wows can make a critical difference. Even if your merchandise is unique, a trade show tablecloth will help you seal the deal and encourage visitors to remember your product and your brand.

There are a number of ways to make your area stand out, but it’s up to you to make it happen. Remember, there’s no limit to innovation, but, if you’re stumped for ideas, consider some variation of the following:

1. Incorporate your logo

Especially if you’re going to a trade show where there will be a plethora of products similar to yours, incorporating your brand logo and colors throughout your booth will help visitors associate the products you’re showing with your brand. The last thing you want is a potential customer to be impressed by your product and then forget your brand. Strong and repeated color and logo integration will ensure that that doesn’t happen.

2. Use a keyword

We’re in the age of Google, so keywords are more prevalent in our lives than ever before. Is there a keyword that describes your business in a way that sets it apart from the others you’ll be surrounded by? If there is, use it. Just by reading your tablecloth show attendees will then be able to decide if what you’re selling is of interest to them. When visitors approach your table with the idea that they’re already interested in what you have to say or sell, you’ll be better able to convert them into customers.

3. Use a shocking image

If you’ve ever been to a trade show or convention, you know how crowded it can get. There are tables with eager distributors everywhere, not to mention the other attendees who look almost as clueless as you feel. (Okay, that might just be my experience.) So as you’re walking past table after table of displays, what makes you stop and really interact with one in particular? Curiosity. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not harness that to get the attention of passers by?  Make sure the image is related to what you’re selling. Not only will it grab attention, it will also serve as the perfect conversation starter to dive in to a spiel about your product or service.

Check out our previous post to see the pros and cons of digital versus screen printing, and, as always, if you need any additional help, feel free to call our knowledgeable sales team.

May this year be prosperous for all!

But just because you’re trying to save some money doesn’t mean your décor has to go completely out the window. Making some simple adjustments to your plans may even make you (and your [...]]]> Hosting a party or event can get pricey, and in this economy, sometimes that means giving up elements we really want.

But just because you’re trying to save some money doesn’t mean your décor has to go completely out the window. Making some simple adjustments to your plans may even make you (and your bank account) happier with the end result.

First, consider your surfaces. If you have old folding tables with beat up tops, forgoing a tablecloth probably isn’t in the cards. However, renting table linens is much more cost effective if you’ve got a lot of tables to cover and you’re only going to need to cover them once. Tablecloths, napkins and table skirts can all be rented.

Now, let’s say you’re throwing a smaller get together, maybe a dinner party for your friends or family at your home. Rental is still an option, but if you want to buy and still save some money, consider skipping an element or opting for a less expensive fabric. I am clearly a proponent of tablecloths, but, depending on your table and your budget, picking and choosing some combination of a tablecloth, a table runner, placemats and napkins can still create a lovely atmosphere. If you definitely want the surface of the table covered, play around with the other elements of the table to see what you like best, and ditch the ones you think you can live without. I’ve seen some absolutely gorgeous tables dressed just in a runner and placemats.

Once you’ve chosen which linen pieces you want, think about the center of the table. Centerpieces can set the mood at the table, so even if you had to give up some of the fancy linens, you can still dress up a simple table setting with some snazzy centerpieces. There are limitless options here, but since you’re on a budget, check out these ideas from Martha Weddings. (I know they’re supposed to be for weddings, but a variation of any of them will still look stunning on any table!)

Voila! You have a beautiful table and managed to save a bit of cash, so maybe you can splurge on a nice bottle of wine or some fresh shrimp cocktail! Now it’s time to sit back and relax until your guests arrive. Happy hosting!