Issue Date: April 13, 2008

Party ideas with Spring style

9 expert tips to celebrate the season in style

By Kelly Dinardo

The cheerful warmth and vibrant colors of spring are well worth celebrating. We asked some of the top lifestyle experts for their best party-planning tips so you step into the new season with a few bright ideas.

BE EARTH-FRIENDLY
Go a deeper shade of green by throwing an eco-friendly fete. "You want to throw a waste-free type of event," says Sophie Uliano, author of "Gorgeously Green." Try reuseable plates from Recycline, which are made out of recycled yogurt cups, and Bambu, which are made from bamboo. Consider the Earth when you are decorating for your party, too. "I use seed-infused paper as place cards," Uliano says. "Then my guests can take it home and plant it."

MIX AND MATCH "Don't worry about everything matching," says Anna Wallner, co-host of Fine Living and W networks' "The Shopping Bags." "An eclectic table is much more current. Treat your table like your wardrobe. You're putting together an outfit. Complementing colors and patterns look great together. If you are shopping for table linens, bring a piece of your china with you so you can see how it looks together." Use different prints and colors to create an eclectic table setting.

DITCH THE EXCUSES "Sometimes people get nervous about hosting parties and come up with all sorts of reasons why they can't," says Francine Segan, author of "Opera Lover's Cookbook." "There's always an answer to your excuse. For example, if cost is a problem, pick something fun and whimsical that's inexpensive. You could do a popcorn, beer and soda party. Have everyone bring a unique soda. You can flavor the popcorn with truffle oil or cocoa powder. Remember, people appreciate the chance to get together with friends."

FORAGE YOUR YARD
"I like bringing the outside in when I decorate," Uliano says. "I'll go outside and gather whatever is in my yard. I'll use herbs like rosemary and lavender and pile them in a pretty glass or tumbler and use several of those as a centerpiece." Decorate with lavender.

LOOK AROUND YOUR HOME "When you decorate, use items or objects from around the house," says Nate Berkus, interior designer and host of "Oprah's Big Give." "If you have shells in the bathroom, arrange them in a glass bowl on the dining room table. I've taken pottery, vases or candles and clustered them on the table or around the living room. Look around your house to see what kind of interesting things you can use."

Go green with mint leaves.

GO GREEN Let the color green be your guide. "It's the color of renewal," says Maria McBride, the author of "Party Basics for New Nesters." "It continues to be a hot color. There's an underlying eco-friendliness to it." From decorating (think foliage or green votive candles) to adding a touch of green to your food and beverages (white sangria with green grapes), it's easy being green. One way to make a cool splash with green is to add a clover or mint leaf to your ice cubes. "Just make sure they are pesticide-free," McBride says.

Add fruit to fizzy drinks.

ADD FRUIT "You want to add a little bit of springtime elegance to your drinks," says Stephen Phillips, host of the Fine Living network's "Great Cocktails," who suggests adding soft fruits like peaches, apricots and berries. "Add fresh chunks of peaches to a nice chardonnay or a strawberry to champagne. For kids, makea punch float with fruit and sherbet. It's quick, easy, and it looks nice."

FOCUS ON THE SEASON "I use a theme to pull the party together and choose the decorations, food and cocktails," Segan says. "In the spring, I like to celebrate the seasonality of food. We get food flown in from all over the world, so sometimes we forget that food has seasons. It's nice to focus on local asparagus or apricots. And it's fun when you can think of something surprising, like a savory apricot dish. People think of apricots as sweet."

BE PREPARED "There's something spontaneous about the season, so prepare your home for impromptu spring gatherings," Berkus says. "Have 12 of everything (plates, forks, spoons, etc.), some simple serving pieces and plenty of linens. You can store napkins in baskets and then serve rolls in them." Berkus suggests sticking with white porcelain and changing the feel of a party by using different types of place mats or decorative plates underneath your everyday dishes.