Linens and Place Settings

• Since purple, green and gold are the official colors of Mardi Gras, you can use the colors together on your table--such as through table linens--to add a Mardi Gras feel to your event. For example, use a purple tablecloth, green fanciful folded napkins and a gold charger on the table, which looks like a plate and shows where each guest sits at the table. Working the Mardi Gras colors into the tableware is an inexpensive way to integrate the Mardi Gras theme, and it helps keep the focus on your partygoers and their costumes instead of the table decorations.
  
  

Beads

• Use traditional purple, green and gold beads or mix it up with other colors too.Liquidlibrary/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
  
  During Mardi Gras parades, float riders throw colorful beads to people watching the parade. Although most beads are purple, green and gold, you can use other colored beads on your table for decorations. Decorate the table by piling beads inside shallow bowls or tall cylinders centered on the table. If you'll be using candles on your table, glue beads on the outside of the candleholders for added texture and color to the table. Add even more beads to the table decorations by using beaded napkin rings.
  
  

Masks

• Couple wearing masks while celebrating Mardi Gras.Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  Mardi Gras parties often feature masks, similar to what people wear when celebrating Carnival. If you want a table centerpiece that evokes the mystery of Mardi Gras, purchase masks with sticks, and place them in a tall cylinder in the center of the table, or set masks at each place setting as a sort of seating assignment or placeholder. Consider decorating blank masks yourself with things such as glitter, feathers and sequins; decorating the masks yourself enables you to personalize the decor and make masks that coordinate for each table.
  
  

Desserts

• The king cake is the official dessert of Mardi Gras.Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
  
  Instead of just buying disposable decorations that serve no other purpose, consider combining the table centerpiece with the dessert for the night. For example, the ring-shaped pastry called the king cake is the dessert most commonly associated with Mardi Gras. Decorate the table with a king cake by positing the dessert on pretty cake stand in the center of the table. Offer guests a variety of dessert options by using king cakes on some tables and Mardi Gras decorated cupcakes on a cupcake stand on other tables at the party. Using cake and cupcake stands for your desserts not only lifts the desserts off the table so people can see them better, it adds visual interest and the height enables people to use the table more easily when moving their dishes around.