When we think back on Summers as small children, we often think of fun times spent at Nana’s. Her and Pop would drive up to Orlando to help us celebrate the first day of Summer vacation and then drive us down to their house in South Florida, where we’d spend the coming months eating Nana’s many homecooked meals and crafting our little hearts out. Every Summer as we took our first step into their home, we searched each room high and low to find what changes they had made since our last visit (they are DIY’ers at heart). And every Summer, as we made our way through the central dining room, we took note of Nana’s Summer table decor to reflect the present season. She never missed an opportunity to play up the season!
This post is sponsored by Old Time Pottery, but the content and opinions expressed here are our own.
Now that we’re older, we find it hard to miss the opportunity to do the same. All those years ago, Nana didn’t realize her passion for celebrating the seasons by serving others around her themed tablescapes would leave a lasting influence on our impressionable minds. Whether any of the individual place settings were intended for us or not, it made us feel like she had saved a seat specifically for each of us and was eagerly anticipating our arrival.
Years later, as we prepare for guests in our own homes, we hope they experience those same feelings the moment they enter, whether it’s for their first time or their hundredth time. So, as we were searching for Summer table decor at Old Time Pottery this year to create an intimate dining experience, we couldn’t help but think of how Nana’s tablescapes made us eager to gather around her table, tell stories that made us laugh until we cried and indulge in her scrumptious dishes we all enthusiastically passed around the table.
5 Easy Ways to Elevate Your Summer Table Decor
If there’s anything our Nana taught us about table decor, it’s that there are simple ways to elevate the design whether you’re working with a few details or many. With that, today we’re sharing 5 easy ways to elevate your summer table decor with our Old Time Pottery finds to help you create an intimate and inviting tablescape your guests will want to sit at and enjoy for hours.
1. Candlelight
Hands down, the easiest way to elevate your Summer table decor is to add candlelight! Adding decorative candles or simple tea lights will instantly bring warmth to your tablescape while encouraging your guests to pull up a chair and stay awhile.
2. Table Linens
If you pay close attention to formal affairs and fine dining restaurants, you will notice the tables dressed in linens. Typically, the longer the drape, the more formal the affair and setting. In order to elevate your Summer table decor while keeping it less formal, opt for a decorative table runner and casual linen napkins.
We loved this plaid table runner because the pattern and colors were subtle enough to not take away from the overall design. We also opted for these muted red, French striped kitchen towels as dinner napkins for a unique and Summer-casual look.
3. Stemware
Just like table linens, stemware is often synonymous with more formal affairs and settings. Add stemware to your individual place settings to instantly elevate your Summer table decor. Then, complement your stemware with a bottle of wine to encourage your guests to sit back and unwind.
The modern shape of these Bourdeaux wine glasses caught our eyes and are perfect for sipping on red blends during Summer dinner parties.
4. Decorative Serveware
Whether you decide to go homemade, halfway homemade, store-bought or restaurant-ordered, use decorative serveware to plate your dishes for an elevated presentation. Decorative serveware not only highlights your entrees and sides, but it also adds interest to your Summer table decor.
Take this beautiful, porcelain pie dish for example. The French blue and floral details add visual interest to the table design while making the frozen pot pie look like it was made from scratch.
#HostfulHack: Plate store bought entrées and/or sides as well as restaurant takeout on decorative serveware for a homemade look. Then top with your favorite garnish to take it up a notch!
5. Layers
One of our favorite, signature design practices is to incorporate layers of varying textures, patterns and colors throughout a tablescape design to add visual interest. Layering entertaining essentials, table linens and decorative accents throughout your Summer table decor will help make the design look more complex and sophisticated.
Here we layered decorative accents and serveware on a placemat set within a woodchip tobacco basket. Additionally, that basket was layered on top of a plaid table runner. All of the dinnerware was layered on top of the kitchen towel dinner napkins along with half of the flatware.
#HostfulHack: Can’t find dinner napkins to coordinate with your table design? Use decorative kitchen towels as the perfect alternative!
As we removed the pot pie from the oven and set it down on the table, we couldn’t help but to think of all the times we sat down at Nana’s table to enjoy another Summer dinner together. She has such a way with making her guests feel right at home and happy to mingle at the table for hours on end. And now, it’s our only hope that this inspires you to spend more time with your loved ones at the table this Summer, because those are the moments you’ll come to remember.
Summer Table Decor at Old Time Pottery
Want to recreate this tablescape design for an intimate dinner party this Summer? Head over to Old Time Pottery’s blog for a step-by-step guide on how to set a sophisticated Summer tablescape with our favorite Summer table decor finds in store now!
Hap-Bee Hosting, friends! xo
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