A Spring Summer Tablescape & Ideas for Easy Entertaining

Use what you have (and make it feel new)

One of my favorite ways to create a fresh, seasonal table is to start with what I already have. The foundation of this tablescape is my old faithful white dishes (I love them because they go with everything!), along with a green and white tablecloth I picked up last year. Originally, I styled the tablecloth with soft pastel accents for a classic early spring feel (shown below).

If you've been following The Café for any amount of time, you know I love, and have lots of navy and white accessories, so I went in a completely different direction this time, combining my navy with more green and white, a fun, unique transformation!

You don't need lots of new things to create something beautiful. A few thoughtful changes in color, texture or accessories can give familiar pieces a completely fresh look. The prettiest tables aren't about what's new… they're about seeing what you already have in a new way!

Create a Williams Sonoma-inspired tablescape on an Amazon budget

I always love flipping (drooling) through the beautiful Williams Sonoma catalogs that arrive in the mail. Their tablescape displays are absolutely gorgeous and are a wonderful source of inspiration for seasonal entertaining ideas. What I don't love, however, are the prices.

Over the years, I've discovered that you can create a very similar look for a fraction of the cost by mixing in affordable Amazon finds with what you already have. From napkins and glassware to placemats, serving pieces, and decorative accessories, there are so many pretty options available... and the fast delivery doesn't hurt either!

Oh, and if you'd like to see a video of us setting this table, from start to finish, you can check it out right here:

Dinnerware

As mentioned above, I use my everyday/company white dinnerware as a base for both the dinner plates and the bread plates, then layered blue and white plates with varying whimsical patterns on top.

• Pillivuyt Plisse White Dinnerware: I've had a set of these white dishes for right around 15 years and they have gotten a TON of use - yet they still look like brand new! It was an investment at the time but they're so classic that I know I'll be using them for many more years. They would make an amazing lifetime gift, even if you gave just one place setting at a time.
• Vancasso Ceramic Dinner Plates: I love this set of 6 navy and white plates in an array of pretty floral designs. To me, they look like something you'd find at a fancy kitchen decor store at a fraction of the price!
• Selamica Ceramic Dessert/Bread Plates: These mix and match beautifully with the blue and white dinner plates mentioned above. I love that they work well for both bread and dessert plates.

Glassware

• Fortessa Jupiter Beaded Hobnail Glasses: We love these beautifully textured glasses for everyday and entertaining. They had a really nice feel and add a splash of beautiful color to any tablescape. For the winter holidays, you can also get them in cheerful red!

Tablecloth and napkins

• Shalimar Green Rectangle Tablecloth: This is the tablecloth I used in both tablescapes. The design is French Provencal Art-inspired. It's handmade using wooden blocks - we've found that it washes very well.
• Cotton Cloth Napkins with Navy Trim: These are good quality napkins - I love the detailed navy stitching.

Flatwear

• Mikasa, Gold Accent Regent Bead Flatware: We've enjoyed this set of flatware for several years now. It's classic, timeless, and goes well with just about any dinnerware.

Accessories

• Napkin Rings Bud Vase Flower Holder: I've used these charming little napkin rings for more than 20 years. Each one has a tiny reservoir for water so you can tuck in a small flower bloom or sprig of herbs for a simple, but beautiful touch that makes every place setting feel extra special. I love them so much that I frequently order them as gifts for friends and family. I use a small squeeze bottle to fill the water reservoir. Special note: warn your guests about the mini water reservoirs before they try to open their napkins with a splash!

• White Ceramic Water Pitcher: Everyone needs a pretty pitcher that's both functional and beautiful enough to double as decor. I love using this one for water (or fresh flowers). I found mine at a consignment shop, but I'm linking to this similar white pitcher on Amazon.

• Gaolinci White Porcelain Salt & Pepper Shakers. I love the compact size and simple, classic style of these salt and pepper shakers. They work beautifully with just about any table decor and look far more expensive than they really are!

• Glass Tealight Candle Holders. I love these little fluted tealight holders that come in a variety of colors. They add such a fun pop of color and just the right touch of pizzazz to the table.

Centerpiece Decor

• Blue and White Ginger Jar, Chinoiserie Vase: These blue and white ginger jars are not only beautiful, they're also wonderfully versatile. I love using them in the kitchen to store pantry staples like kosher salt, sugar, or finishing salt, but they also make fabulous table decor. Filled with fresh herbs (my favorite kind of centerpiece), they bring such a fresh, relaxed feel to the table.

• Blue and White Ginger Jar, Chinoiserie Vase: Another lovely ginger jar that adds timeless classic charm to this tablescape. I love filling this one with hydrangeas and giving it center stage on the table. (And if you love hydrangeas as much as I do, be sure to check out my tip below for keeping them beautiful almost forever!)

• Plan Ahead for Stress-Free Entertaining. One of the best ways to make entertaining feel relaxed and enjoyable is to plan ahead. I love making a simple meal plan along with a quick timeline for what can be prepared days ahead, what needs to be done the day of, just before guests arrive, and right before serving. Seeing everything laid out on paper makes the work feel so much more manageable and allows you to spend less time feeling frazzled and more time enjoying your guests.
• Set the Table Ahead of Time. We almost always set the table earlier in the day (or even the day before) with the candles, centerpieces and serving pieces all in place. Not only does it make the final hours before guests arrive feel far less hectic, it also helps me get into entertaining mode and start looking forward to the gathering. One little tip: Keep the glasses turned upside down until just before guests arrive so they stay sparkling clean.
• One simple little trick that can instantly make a gathering feel warm and lively is to come up with an interesting question ahead of time and casually bring it up during dinner. It helps guests relax, encourages conversation, and often gets people talking and laughing with one another, especially when not everyone knows each other well. Often the conversations that come from one simple question end up being everyone's favorite part of the evening!
  The best questions are light, fun and easy for everyone to answer. A few favorites:
  • What's the best trip you've ever taken?
  • What's one small thing that always makes your day better?
  • If you could instantly learn a new skill, what would it be?
  • What's the best meal you've ever had?
  • What's something simple you loved doing as a kid?
  • If you could invite three people (living or not) to dinner, who would they be?
• One of my favorite centerpiece ideas for spring and summer entertaining is using simple pots of fresh herbs down the center of the table. They add such a fresh, relaxed garden feel (and they smell wonderful too)! I especially love using thyme, oregano or rosemary plants tucked into pretty bowls or ginger jars.
  And you'll laugh at this, but because my dining room doesn't get a ton of light, I often gather up my little herb friends in a tub and set them out on the front porch for a sunny afternoon spa day!

• Hydrangeas are one of my very favorite flowers for spring and summer tables, but they can definitely be a little temperamental! I often find they wilt almost immediately after coming home from the grocery store or flower market.
  My daughter-in-law, Lindsay, taught me a simple trick that not only revives droopy hydrangeas but can also help them last for weeks instead of days.
  • Here's how it works: Remove any wrapping and cut each stem at an angle with a sharp knife, then make a small slit at the bottom of each stem. Next (this sounds crazy, but trust me!), place the stem ends in a container of boiling hot water. Leave them there until the water cools to room temperature, then arrange as desired. Refresh the water every day or two, and you'll be amazed at how long these beauties last. I've had hydrangeas stay fresh and beautiful for more than three weeks using this method!

• A Fun Do-It-Ahead Butter Idea for Dinner Parties: If you're serving bread at a gathering, this simple little (unexpected) trick adds such a pretty touch and will make your guests feel pampered. Fill a small decorative bowl or container with softened butter, then smooth the top with a flat-edged knife. Next, spoon more softened butter into a pastry bag (or zip-top bag) fitted with a Wilton 1M tip and pipe a pretty ruffled swirl right on top.
  It takes just a few extra minutes, can be made ahead (and popped in the freezer), and makes even simple butter feel a little elegant and festive. I like to look for pretty little bowls and/or interesting containers (like the chickens pictured below) at thrift, antique and consignment stores.

• Lindsay created a quick video demonstration of exactly how to do this pretty butter technique. Check it out: