The RSVPs have arrived, the meal is prepared, and you’re getting ready to dazzle the guests at your next event. There’s just one problem: how do you transform your ordinary dining room into a memorable setting for the night?
That’s where the right tablescape ideas come in! Your tablescape is a chance to show off your style, wow your guests with your creative flair, and elevate the mood.
Whether you want to pamper family members on a special occasion or create a welcoming vibe for a quiet get-together, it’s crucial to put some thought into the occasion. Read on for our best tips: it’s time to bring your creativity to the table!
1. Experiment With Greenery
A plant-based tablescape is an easy way to elevate your setting with a touch of natural flair.
The tried-and-tested method of doing this, of course, is with bursts of flowers in vases! The right bouquets can be stunning, whether you match them with the palette of your event or opt for contrasting shades to create a pop of color. These blooms can also add softness and texture to contrast the sleeker lines of the table setting.
You can also bring in some greenery by using potted plants. With the right planters, you can add a rustic touch to your decor or clean lines to a more modern tablescape.
Ferns, blooming flowers, and vining plants are very on trend for this approach. Even potted herbs are a great choice!
If you choose living plants, make sure you’ve thought about the setting. The last thing you want to do is opt for a low-light plant in the full sun of your outdoor dining table. This can lead to wilting or drooping leaves, sometimes within hours!
For a simpler way to add some green, consider using moss. This hardy plant is easy to place around the other elements of your tablescape design, allowing you to layer it around candles, platters, and more. Even better, it can create a lush, fairytale look to the scene as a living table runner.
2. Go Organic
To enhance the greenery you’ve put down, consider adding organic materials to elevate the natural tablescape theme.
Place stones around the vases of live flowers or layer dried legumes in the vases of fake ones to prop them up. Add your greenery in terracotta planters, and consider choosing terracotta tableware for an outdoor event.
Use wicker chairs, wrap your napkins with twine, or choose wood-handled cutlery. Even better, consider aiming for soft, earthy tones for a casual look. Green, brown, mustard, burnt orange, and similar hues are the perfect palette for an organic vibe.
If you’re hosting a winter event, consider supplementing any flowers with bare or evergreen branches. This adds a dramatic, natural touch and enhances the cool-weather display. If you can find some, add a few loose pinecones as well!
Even the placemats and tablecloth can echo this organic look. For an everyday table setting, burlap or raffia placemats can be a fun way to enhance the natural aesthetic. For a more elegant design, consider choosing linen.
Last, don’t forget about the finishing touches. Adding pressed flowers to the place cards, wrapping napkins with leather or twine, and adding dried twigs to the wrapping for flair can create a festive, organic aesthetic.
3. Try a Mismatched Look
When you think of elegant table looks, you may envision clean, symmetrical lines and a balanced effect. This symmetry can be pleasing, but if you’d rather do something more eye-catching, try mixing and matching parts of your design!
There’s no easier way to do this than with flower vases. Create a whimsical look by choosing vases of different heights, contrasting but complementary colors, and varying shapes. You can even do the same with your plates and napkins!
Finding elements of different but correlating styles and colors adds a playful, eclectic touch to your tablescape design.
4. Make It Edible
When you’re crafting your centerpiece, whet your guests’ tongues by making an edible one.
For example, you might choose to add seasonal fruit in rich colors to make your tablescape shine. Mandarins, oranges, and pomegranates beside your flowers or candles can create a fresh, fun look. With a breezy summer event, you can’t go wrong by adding bowls of bright lemons to your palette.
Don’t forget about nuts and dried fruits, which can add visual interest to the design.
If you’re hosting an outdoor garden party, pick some of your favorite vegetables, bulbs, and fruits to display. Place them in wicker baskets or bowls, in vases filled with water, or in stacked displays.
5. Glow Up With Candles
Whether you’re designing an everyday table setting or dressing your table to the nines, candles are an easy way to enhance the look. This is especially true for evening events and dinner parties, but don’t skip the classic look of candles earlier in the day, either!
The right types of candles will seamlessly blend in with your palette while adding some visual interest. Use them to play with heights, adding tall taper candles to a lower design or squat votives to a towering display. You may even want to opt for scented candles, though you’ll want to choose subtle, neutral perfumes that won’t clash with the smell of your delicious fare.
Depending on the candle, you can help create a homey, informal look to your tablescape theme or elevate the finishing touch. This will depend on your presentation: elegant candlestick holders create a refined finish, while simpler or bare displays are more relaxed.
Try These Tablescape Ideas
Whether you’re planning a formal dinner event or a fun party for your closest friends, designing the right tablescape is a great way to wow your guests! As you decide on themes and palettes, be sure to consider the tablescape ideas above to bring the setting to life. With the perfect accent pieces and decor, you’ll have no problem creating your ideal aesthetic.
We hope you found this design guide helpful. If so, consider checking out our other posts for insights, advice, and much more.