How to Create a Simple Summer Tablescape

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!

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.

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.

Close up of the placemats:

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

Next I Set the Table

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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!