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How to Create a Simple Summer Tablescape

July 30, 2022 by Kimberly Snyder 9 Comments

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Looking for a way to create a simple Summer tablescape? I’d love to share how I combined old & new to create a simple look!

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Creating a late summer tablescape is simple!  Summer and simple/easy  just seem to go together!  Who wants a lot of fuss when it is hot and humid?  I know that I prefer to keep it super simple!

Let’s Create A Simple Sunflower Tablescape!

simple summer sunflower themed dining table

Before we really get started

No matter how you arrived here today, whether you are one of my regular readers or you found me on Google or via Hometalk, I am so glad you are here!  My name is Kimberly and I have a passion for flowers (a former florist) and flour (a former pizzeria owner) and many things in between!  Especially rusty and chippy items!

I love to share all the things I have learned over the years.  Sometimes I tell stories about my life.  Other times, I will share a craft or a recipe. I hope you enjoy your thyme here today and learn at least one thing during your visit!

Let’s get ready for some simple tablescape tips!

What is a Tablescape?

Tablescape is a term that blends the concepts of table setting and landscaping together.  It is a word that was first coined by Sandra Lee in the early 2000s according to Wikipedia.  I actually met Sandra years ago when she was on the set for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition build in Philo, IL.  Participating in that build is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

By combining table setting with landscaping, you are helping to create a mood and an atmosphere for your celebration.  Tablescaping allows you to use your creativity to make the gathering more special for your friends and family members.

The Steps to Creating a Simple Summer Tablescape

My first step is to find my inspiration or my “muse”.  Sometimes it is a particular color combination or a particular object.  My muse for this simple summer tablescape was this sunflower themed tablecloth.

My “muse”helps me decide on a color scheme and an overall theme.  My color scheme for today is yellow and blue.  My theme is Simple Summer Poolside Picnic.

Next, I walk thru my home collecting items that reflect the color scheme and theme.  I call this the gathering process.

I love to use sunflowers to decorate in the late summer!  I already had a festive looking sunflower tablecloth that I thought would work on our outdoor dining table.

The gathering process continues until I feel like I have enough elements to get started.  Once I have enough elements gathered, I will do a trial run of the tablescape to see what I might be missing.  I had most of the other things I would need.  I did decide to order some new denim placemats.  They were just too cute to resist!

Elements of the Tablescape

Your tablescape will need a base such as a tablecloth or runner and possibly placemats.  The size and shape of your table help determine what shape of tablecloth and placemats you will need.  For example, our outdoor dining table is rectangle. Therefore rectangle placemats look better on it.

While we are on the subject of the place mats, the basic elements of a tablescape include the plates, cutlery, glasses and napkins as well as your centerpiece.  The centerpiece may include some candles or perhaps battery operated fairy lights.

Blue Mason jar centerpiece

I will get back to the centerpiece in a bit!

After clearing off the table and cleaning it, I covered it with the tablecloth and added the 4 placemats.

starting to decorate the table

Close up of the placemats:

pair of denim placemats

Isn’t that little pocket just the cutest thing?  I found these on Amazon!

Next I Set the Table

simple summer sunflower plates

Since we were going to be eating outside, I decided to use paper plates and plastic silverware.  The pocket was just the right size to tuck the silverware in.  I rolled up the paper napkin and tied it with a piece of sunflower ribbon.

Using paper & plastic will make the clean up super quick & easy as well!

I couldn’t resist these 8 inch sunflower paper plates!

These are cute, too!

If you prefer to use something other than paper, these melamine plates are great for outdoors!  I purchases these yellow plates in the Spring.  They are lightweight and easy to clean!

http://www.amazon.com

I fell in love with the ribbon too! Not only does it have sunflowers, it is wired so it is easy to work with!  here is the link for it!

Let’s Talk about the Centerpiece

The centerpiece portion of the tablescape is where you can really let your creativity shine!  The size and shape of your table will help dictate how long your centerpiece can be.

One of my decorating go to’s is a dough bowl.  I have several in my dough bowl collection.  When I am planning a tablescape for our outside  dining table, I will most likely use my extra large dough bowl.  I love the size of it.  Like most of mine, it is a reproduction.

outdoor dining table with sunflower tablecloth

For the centerpiece for this tablescape, I used two dough bowls.  My extra large one and my rectangle one, as well.

Sunny sunflower dough bowl centerpiece

For all the information on how I put this centerpiece together, please see Simple Summer Dough Bowl Centerpiece

Important Things to Remember

Tablescaping allows you to release your creativity but you don’t want to be so creative that it interferes with your guests ability to enjoy their meal!  Centerpieces should be kept to a reasonable height so that the guests can still see each other.  Don’t over decorate the tabletop, leaving nowhere for the guests to put their plates and glasses.  Keep in mind the age range of your guests and their physical mobility.  If you have children attending your event, keep the tablescape child friendly.

early evening on the lanai

I used these battery operated waterproof fairy lights in the mason jars.

 

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A Few Other Outdoor Dining Tablescapes

As I mentioned earlier, our dining table outside on the lanai is a rectangle and rectangle placemats really work better.  However, sometimes I have to use what I have on hand so one Easter,  I used a red and white runner without placemats.

California Farmhouse themed Easter Table

Vintage Dishes Add Nostalgia

For this tablescape, I broke my own “rule” and used round placemats!  More details about it can be found here: Let’s Show Our Love for Our Country

Patriotic tablescape

Pictured below is my extra large dough bowl filled with violas and a pot of nemesia.  I extended the length of the centerpiece by using the moss ball topped chalk painted candle holders.  The rustic wire bunny adds a touch of whimsy to this centerpiece.  More about dough bowls and the centerpiece above can be found here: Early Spring Rustic Dough Bowl Centerpiece

Early Spring outdoor breakfast place setting

Yellow & Purple centerpiece for Early Spring

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

A Few More Shopping Links:

I love these bright yellow Fiestaware placemats!  They do come in other colors but I really like the cheery yellow color of these! I could have used these today instead of ordering the denim ones.

Instead of paper napkins, these cloth napkins could have been used. The instructions say hang to dry but I dried them in a low dryer and they did fine!

 

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. The opinions here are all my own. It helps me to continue to bring to you DIY and projects on my blog.

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Filed Under: Blog Post, Decorating & Design Tagged With: "Kim" Style, entertaining, outdoor living

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Comments

  1. Meagan Trento says

    July 31, 2022 at 11:40 am

    I love sunflowers! This tablescape came out fabulous! great job. Those place mats are so neat.

    Reply
    • Kimberly Snyder says

      July 31, 2022 at 2:18 pm

      Thank you, Meagan! I just fell in love with the placemats! They are so adorable!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Simple Summer Dough Bowl Centerpiece - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    July 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    […] To learn more about how I put the whole Simple Summer Tablescape together, please see  How to Create a Simple Summer Tablescape […]

    Reply
  2. Quick & Easy Mason Jar Centerpiece - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    August 20, 2022 at 9:59 am

    […] To learn more about how I put the whole Simple Summer Tablescape together, please see  How to Create a Simple Summer Tablescape […]

    Reply
  3. Fall Decorating Ideas for a Fabulous Table - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    August 31, 2022 at 8:25 am

    […] Simple Sunflower Themed Summer Tablescape  […]

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  4. Easy Labor Day Backyard BBQ - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    September 2, 2022 at 11:38 am

    […] To keep things simple for this celebration, I decided to use the place mats and tableware that I used for a late Summer celebration we had a few weeks ago.  All of the details can be found here: How to Create A Simple Summer Tablescape […]

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  5. What is Brocante Style? - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    April 4, 2023 at 8:53 am

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  6. Simple Summer Barbeque Menu - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    June 2, 2023 at 10:46 am

    […] To keep things simple for this celebration, I decided to use the place mats and tableware that I used for a Summer celebration we had last summer.  All of the details can be found here: How to Create A Simple Summer Tablescape […]

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  7. Decorating Ideas for an Autumn Table - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
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Hello! Kimberly (Kim) Snyder and I'm glad you're here. An entrepreneurial spirit, I've owned a flower shop and antiques store, a pizza parlor and now we're in Florida living a new adventure. Join me as we downsize into our new digs and continue the adventures! WRITER & BLOGGER

Kimberly Snyder shares the adventures of moving to Florida and beginning again in a new space as a herbalist, a creative, and a serial entrepreneur

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Pretty in Pink for Spring! Thinking about layering Pretty in Pink for Spring! Thinking about layering in some aqua for Summer. What do you think? #kimstyledecor #coastalfarmhouse #coastalfarmhousestyle #fromfarmhousetoflorida #decoratingwithshells
Summer thyme is just around the corner! Let’s re Summer thyme is just around the corner! Let’s refresh your outdoor area! #fromfarmhousetoflorida #kimstyledecor #outdoorlivingspace #summervibes☀️ #coastalhomedecor #coastalfarmhouse
It is so easy to refresh a wicker basket with a co It is so easy to refresh a wicker basket with a coat of chalk paint! I used some left over chalk paint for this project. After the basket was dry, I filled it with a couple pots of blooming plants! #chalkpaint #wickerbasket #basketmakeover #basketlover #gardenstyledecor #kimstyledecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida
We had the house painted last fall. I finally got We had the house painted last fall. I finally got the vintage urns out of storage and added white mums.  #brocantestyle #brocante #gardenantiques #gardenstyle #kimstyledecor #whitemums #fromfarmhousetoflorida
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I love to use my Mom’s vintage Hamilton Beach mi I love to use my Mom’s vintage Hamilton Beach mixer! It still works after all these years. I did have it re-wired several years ago because the original cord was frayed. #hamiltonbeach #fromfarmhousetoflorida #vintagekitchenwares #mothersday #farmhousekitchendecor
Not sure if I ever shared this version of the pott Not sure if I ever shared this version of the potting bench. I started decorating it with a lavender theme. I must have gotten distracted before I finished it! It just needs a few potted lavender plants ti finish it! #lavender #farmhousedecorating #gardenstyle #fromfarmhousetoflorida #pottingbench
Simple Summer sugar mold idea! I made the flower o Simple Summer sugar mold idea! I made the flower out of the trim from an old pillowcase.  #sugarmoldcenterpiece #sugarmolddecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida #farmhousedecor #fauxhydrangeas #gardenstyledecor #cottagedecor #kimstyledecor
Mother’s Day week is here! If you have been foll Mother’s Day week is here! If you have been following me for a while, you know I can’t resist filling a dough bowl (or2) with blooming plants! I designed this one with a combination of vintage garden tools, an old book and a selection of plants.  It would make the perfect gift fire that special Mom in your life! #mothersdaygifts #mothersday #mothersdaygiftideas #gardenstyle #farmhousedoughbowl #doughbowl #kimstyledecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida

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