Seven Ways to Style a Tent

Tented events provide a unique set of challenges. There are logistical challenges, like wall height and table placement, and there are also aesthetic challenges. A tent is a completely different canvas than a ballroom or an event hall, which makes it a great opportunity for us to flex our creative muscles and have some fun! For those of you who are planning your own tented events and are stuck for ideas, here is a quick list of ways you can dress up a tent!

One way to bring life to a tented event is with lighting and gobos! Something as simple as a splash of color can make a world of difference in setting the mood for your event.

Decorative panels are an easy, modular way to add visual interest to any tent. They come in a multitude of styles and can be configured in countless ways to fit any decor scheme.

Bistro lights lend a fun, playful element to your decor. Often an unexpected touch for the inside of a tent, bistros give an intimate, cafe-like vibe that is sure to delight your attendees. (Photo by Jen Fariello)

Another way to add visual interest to a tent interior is with chandeliers! Traditional chandeliers add a sense of elegance and grandeur to a tent ceiling, and come in a variety of styles to suit the aesthetics of your event. (Second photo by Sarah Cramer Shields)

If traditional chandeliers are not your cup of tea, contemporary chandeliers give a more modern feel and can quickly elevate the look of your event! Drum shade chandeliers or column chandeliers, shown here, are fun twists on the conventional hanging decor and are sure to dazzle within a tented environment.

Custom fabric treatments are a high-impact way to increase the wow factor of your event! Whether you want to bring the scale of the space in, add a pop of color, or completely transform the interior of a tent, fabric's got you covered!  (Photos by Abby Jiu & Jack Looney)

Last but not least, our spandex dividers provide a great opportunity to take your event branding full-scale! In giving you a surface that spans the full width of the tent, these dividers provide you with a stunning backdrop that you can transform into anything you like!

Our Take on a Trend: Drum Shades

If you've been following our work recently, it's almost guaranteed that you've seen our drum shades. Our clients are often drawn to them because they are high-impact, but also extremely versatile! Our drum shade covers are fully customizable, so they can be used for all types of events - from black tie dinners and sleek conferences to rustic get-togethers. Check out a few of the ways that our drum shades have been used in the past!

Our silver sheer drum shade covers are a refined, elegant choice and lend themselves to more formal occasions. They work well with both chandeliers and antique Edison bulbs, and never fail to elevate the ambience of an event space.

Our gold Frazzle drum shade covers are a fun way to punch up your ceiling decor! They take light beautifully, allowing them to fit seamlessly into most decor schemes while adding a playful touch.

If you're going for a rustic or outdoor-themed look, then erosion cloth is your best friend! Used on our drum shades, it provides an eye-catching light fixture that evokes a sense of authenticity and simplicity - perfect for a relaxed, natural-themed event!

Event Design in Sketchup

Depending on the event, our creative process can look pretty different from project to project. But there is one tool that comes in handy at some point with almost every project:

SketchUp is a program that allows us to quickly draw out ideas at their true scale. It also allows us to design & flesh out new pieces of decor, and export the necessary drawings to produce them!

For some projects, all we need is a floor plan...

Sometimes we need a flat elevation drawing...

And sometimes we need to model an entire venue or event!

No matter the application, design visualization allows us and our clients to make better informed decisions about an event, and gives us a better idea of the impact that the design will have in the space.