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Spring Tablescaping Ideas That Will Elevate Your Next Dinner Party

3 hours ago

Floral (tables) for spring? Groundbreaking

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The seat for family board games, well-thought out menus and deep chats over a glass (or two) of wine – your dining table takes on a lot of responsibility. And with spring now on our doorstep, it’s time to start thinking about all the parties, dinners and get-togethers you’ve probably been putting off all winter. Whether you’ve got a small gathering of friends or the whole family round for dinner, these (expert approved) spring tablescaping ideas will no doubt impress. (And provide a feast for all the senses.)

How To Curate The Ultimate Spring Tablescape

What first comes to mind when you think of spring? Maybe it’s the scent of freshly cut grass, the colourful wave of tulips swaying gently in the breeze or just the sensation of gentle sunshine on your skin. ‘Spring for me begins with a feeling of freshness,’ says homeware designer Rebecca Udall. ‘I am drawn to softness in both palette and texture following the deeper, more cosseting winter tones and heavier materials. It is a time for lightweight fabrics, in colours that feel light and airy – I am particularly drawn to greens and yellows at this time of year, inspired by nature.’

She adds that, at home, the best place to welcome the arrival of spring is the table. ‘The table is an ideal place to start for an easy seasonal update,’ she emphasises. ‘Understated yet beautiful linens crafted from the finest materials set the tone, I love a modern take on a classic stripe, or to embrace seasonality with a favourite botanical inspired print. Rattan lends itself perfectly to the season, adding texture without feeling heavy. I often reach for favourite pieces that set a playful tone without focusing too heavily on everything being matching and “perfect”. Adding fresh blooms, narcissus and tulips are a favourite for a pop of bright colour, creates the perfect spring mood.’

Naturally, the outdoors is a treasure trove of inspiration at this time of year. ‘In early spring, I want to evoke the sense of brightness, optimism and fresh growth that you can sense is beginning to emerge in nature,’ says Carole Bamford, founder of Daylesford Organic Farmshop, in her book Daylesford Living: Inspired by Nature.

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Top Tips From The Experts

Invest In Reusable Pieces

Start with pieces you love – and will use forever – says Rebecca. ‘I would always encourage buying the finest quality you are able to afford, particularly for linens,’ she says. ‘Beautifully crafted European-made fabrics will be something you use year after year, they drape beautifully and even with the most simple of settings create a backdrop that feels elevated.’

Lean Into Playful Glassware

Time to crack out the eccentric glassware. ‘There’s a lot of fun to be had with unusual glassware, and we’ve seen some really playful and fun designs making their way to tables in recent months,’ says Dayna Isom Johnson, a trend expert at Etsy. ‘From tumblers in unexpected shapes and colours, to vintage jugs and whimsical straws, gorgeous glassware is a great way to elevate your table this spring.’

Adapt With Seasonal Colour Palettes

With your base of linens and crockery ready to go, you can then adapt your setup for the season. ‘Lean into your own personal style, but bring the seasons in through the colour palette,’ Rebecca suggests. You can also match the seasons with your choice of blooms. ‘If the occasion doesn’t call for elaborate floral displays, intersperse hand-cut wildflowers in bud vases along the length of the table for a convivial, seasonal touch.’

This approach can also extend to your choice of linens, adds Carole. ‘Textiles are an important part of dressing any table,’ she emphasises. ‘Aside from their practical use, napkins are one of the easiest ways to introduce colour – no matter what time of year it may be. I will often match them to the dominant flower of the season: crisp white for snowdrops, blue for cornflowers, pale pink for tulips.’

Bring The Outside In

Speaking of flowers, no spring tablescape is complete without a few nods to the great outdoors. ‘Spring is centred around celebrating nature,’ agrees Rebecca. Her approach draws on natural materials that echo the textures and colours found in nature. ‘Rattan placemats, linen napkins tied simply with brightly coloured ribbon – a sprig of something seasonal tucked inside – alongside bamboo cutlery or accessories to create a backdrop that is grounded in the season.’

Another way you can embrace the season, says Carole, is through scent. ‘Scent is something that has always been very meaningful to me. I love to bring the fragrance of nature indoors with big bunches of cut flowers and foliage from the garden – or perhaps bulbs that have been lifted and potted and can be returned to the soil.’

When using fresh flowers in her tablescape, she suggests ‘keeping flowers to a single colour, alongside foliage and other greenery, such as pots of herbs – and then add accents of other colours through my choice of glassware, napkins and tablecloth.’

Simplify The Details

Sometimes simple really is best – especially when it comes to the finer details on your table. In the case of napkins, for example, Carole says she ‘takes a very simple approach rather than anything too formal or fussy. Perhaps a loose, unstudied knot or simple rectangular fold to let the beauty and texture of the fabric speak for itself.’ This will also prevent ‘wow moments’ on the table from being swallowed up by too much detail.

Set The Tone (& The Table)

While the table is often the star of the show, it’s important to think about it with relation to the space around it. ‘Think about the general ambience you’d like to create rather than solely on the aesthetics,’ emphasises Rebecca. ‘This might come through introducing candlelight as the sun begins to set, the playlist you choose, or simply by throwing open the doors to let the spring air in!’