“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”
Psalm 145:8-9
Hello dear readers. I hope you all are having a good week so far. It has been a rainy one here, but today is supposed to beautiful with lower humidity and temperatures. That is always a plus in the South. Right before the lockdown began, you might remember that I spoke at my hometown’s Antiquarian Society. My topic was tabletop styling and gardening. During the presentation I shared eighteen tips for tablestyling. Several readers emailed me and asked if I would share them in a blog post. Of course, I don’t claim any expert status, just a lot of experience setting hundreds of tables. I have definitely learned a few things along the way. I am happy to share ten of those tips today.
“If the home is a body, the table is the heart, the beating center, the sustainer of life and health.”
-Shauna Niequist
Tip 1: Create tables with memories attached.
The tablecloth has memories of a birthday party I gave my Mom. When using memorable pieces, it gives an opportunity to share the precious memories with family and friends.
This beautiful hand-embroidered textile was brought home from a trip to the Greek Isles. Once again, great conversations can take place sharing travel experiences.
Tip 2: Purchase accent (salad) plates to bring seasonal and holiday decor to the table.
Salad plates are less expensive than dinner plates and don’t take up as much storage space…that is a win-win!
Accent plates elevate my everyday white dinnerware!
Tip 3: Repurpose sheets, tapestries, shawls/scarves as table coverings.
A vintage sheet makes a sweet statement used as a tablecloth.
A tapestry that once hung on a wall adds texture and pattern to this table. Make sure before using that the textile can be spot or dry cleaned.
Tip 4: Small takeaway gifts are beautiful gestures for your guests and add lovely details to the tabletop.
The small flower arrangement can be sent home in the julep cup or placed into a jar.
A mini American flag is the perfect little gift for your guests. Children especially love them.
Tip 5: A bowl filled with fresh fruit is a simple but stunning centerpiece.
A wooden dough bowl filled with apples, pears, and oranges!
Granny Smith apples fill a soup tureen and sit atop each salad plate!
Tip 6: A themed table is festive and fun!
An alfresco table is set with a beach theme!
A Halloween table for children and adults!
Tip 7: Mixing china patterns creates interest and allows your style and creativity to shine.
Vintage plates can often be found at good prices and will add great style to your tabletop.
You can see I love pattern play!
Tip 8: The use of a box as a centerpiece.
It can be filled with flowers…
…or baubles, candles, etc.
Tip 9: Add cupcakes, candies, and sweets to the table. It will provide lovely table decor!
Red, white, and blue cupcakes for a 4th of July celebration.
All kinds of sweets for a Valentine’s table for two!
Tip 10: Always shop your house.
Fitz and Floyd roosters add charm to a French-style table!
A pair of Italian statuettes were placed on each side of the floral arrangement! You never know what you may find if you shop your house. Always think outside of the box when it comes to what might be placed on your table.
I hope you will find these tips helpful as you plan your table settings. Thank you for your lovely visits and gracious comments. Wishing you a joy-filled day!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
All gorgeous and valuable tablestyling tips Pam! I love having a virtual seat at one of your tables, no matter the season or holiday. They are all magazine-worthy! Happy Thursday. ♥
Thank you dearest Mary ♥️
Thank you
My pleasure!
Can’t pick a favorite, love them all. I have the Fitz and Floyd rooster and sitting hen that you have on the tapestry table. I collected them for years but they became to much and sold some however I kept the Fitz and Floyd ones you have. Thats a lot of work to put together that many table scapes. I known they were done over time and hope your guests enjoyed them as much as we did too.
Thank you Alice. Have a lovely day!
Pam, I love this post! I love entertaining, and of course, we are not able to really entertain now like we usually can due to COVID-19, but we can still entertain our close family, those with whom we social distance. “Shopping our homes” is a great idea. Love and blessings to you and the family, dear friend.
Thank you dear friend ♥️
Good Morning! Thanks for sharing this collection of tablescapes. A lightbulb went off when I saw the Greek textile used. I have some Asian fabric in the attic I used for displays when we shared at different times as missionaries. Why I never thought to use them for our table??? I’m getting them out today! Have great one!
I am so glad you had that lightbulb moment. Thank you and have a lovely day!
Pam, I have so enjoyed this post this morning.You have given us some wonderful tablescaping tips. All of your tablescapes are absolutely beautiful and are always a treat to see. Happy Thursday, sweet friend!
Thank you my sweet friend. Enjoy your day ♥️
These tips are all wonderful and terrific reminders of using what we have and love, whether it is a tablecloth, quilt, fruit bowl or a lovely piece like your rooster. I try to always shop my home first (especially these days) and even when it’s Rick and me try to set a pretty table. Now I have lots more ideas!
Thanks Jeanie, you are so kind. Happy Thursday!
Enjoyed the tips so much Pam. I have a friend that said years ago, “SHOP YOUR HOUSE” when rearranging, decorating and revamping. It’s amazing at how moving one little thing from one room to another can make a difference too. Plus, we save money! LOL! Love all your wonderful tables. You are very talented. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thanks so much Cindy. Wishing you a lovely day ♥️
Pam, I enjoyed your tables and tips so much. Over the last few years I have learned so much from you. I agree using those things we love and those that have memories really makes our tables take on a special beauty. Thank you for sharing your unique talents.
Thank you Dianne. Wishing you a lovely day ♥️
Pam, this was a great post and I enjoyed each of your tips. I enjoy very much setting a pretty table. To me it shows love. Thanks again for your tips. Wishing you a lovely day, my friend. Enjoy your nice weather.
Thank you dear one. The weather is beautiful and I have much garden work today. Have a wonderful day ♥️
A wonderful post with great ideas Pam! All the tables are so pretty and inviting. Thanks for sharing your tips. I now look outside the box for table textiles and centerpieces thanks to these tips. Have a great day! Clara ♥️
Thank you sweet Clara. Wishing you a wonderful day! ♥️
Thank you so much for these lovely table setting ideas. They are all so gracious and inspire me to plan another “tea in the garden” with my friends.
A tea in the garden sounds so lovely! Have a wonderful day.
Perfect list of tablescape tips Pam, and your tables are always gorgeous! I love to mix and match to create new looks with what I have, and my goal now is to NOT buy anymore dishes!!! The weather on the coast is picture perfect today too, yay for low humidity! I hope you can do a lot of alfresco dining this weekend!
Jenna
Thank you Jenna. I should never buy another dish 😂 Enjoy your weekend!
It will not come as any surprise to you to know that most of my tables have a memory and as each one is shared the memory is added to. Your tips are helpful to anyone new to table styling and your examples are picture perfect.
Thank you Linda. Your tablescapes are all memorable!
Quite a complement from you! Thanks
I remember that post about your speech, and I am SO glad you shared your wisdom with us here! I don’t even know where to begin to say how much I enjoyed this. You are SO good at thinking out of the box and repurposing things found in different places in your house! I put something somewhere and think it has to stay there forever and only be used for that one purpose and in that one place. I have some beautiful white pitchers that I keep in a corner shelf my Daddy made for me. It has four shelves (they vary in size from smallest to biggest bottom to top), and I have one size-correlating pitcher on each shelf with a pretty doily under each one, but you have inspired me that it wouldn’t break any rules to remove one from time to time and fill it with pretty flowers for our table! LOL! I could spend hours on your blog. It always refreshes my soul and mind to come here and visit with you. So thankful for you and your presence in blogland, sweet friend!
Thank you dear Cheryl. Yes, definitely use those pitchers for flowers my dear one! I so appreciate your visits and your encouraging comments!
All of your tables are lovely and it shows that you have put a lot of thought into each setting! It’s always fun to sit at a pretty table and enjoy any stories that the hostess can share about her pieces!
Thank you so much Patti and for your lovely visit.
Your posts bring me so much joy, I look forward to each of them, sorry I have been slow at commenting and letting you know. I am leaning that even living in a mobile home can be made gracious.
Thank you so much for commenting Nonie. Yes, wherever we live, it can be gracious and a refuge. I appreciate you so much for following. Have a wonderful weekend!
Pam, So good to see so many of your tables in one post. Your tips are very helpful and spark my thinking.
I wish I had known years ago to buy salad plates for accents. When I married everyone got 12 pieces of everything all the same. And when you have several sets of dishes all those pieces take up too much room and are so matchy matchy. It is interesting how styles and trends come and go. I think today’s ideas are more versatile and interesting.
You constantly amaze me with your creativity and ingenuity.
Helpful and lovely post.
Thank you Bonnie. I have several sets of china with all the matching pieces. But, I do like a more interesting table. Happy Weekend!
I am enchanted with such beauty…I am so tired but your post brightened up my soul!Thanks,dear Pam!
Thank you dear Maristella!
Lovely tips for your readers. Each table is so beautiful. Buying salad plates is easier on the budget. Love your garden themed tables. Each one has their own personality.
Thank you Linda, you are so sweet! Wishing you a lovely weekend!
So many beautiful settings, I could not pick just one favorite! I love that your tables have loving memories, Pam. And I also love shopping the house! Years ago when my mother and sister came to visit, we played “store”. We piled all my accessories on the dining table and opened up the cabinets for exploration. Then I sat back while they played decorators! It was so much fun and gave my house a fresh, new look.
Thank you Roxanne. I love your story, how fun to sit back and let them decorate. I always enjoy when you include one of your personal stories. Happy Weekend!
I am so inspired by your beautiful tablescapes Pam! You have quite a talent. I loved your tips on using sheets, a scarf, etc. I used a quilt for the first time for my May Mother’s Day table. I hope you will share with Charming Homes and Gardens Link Party! Wed-Sun
https://shiplapandshells.com/charming-homes-gardens-link-party-10/
Kim, I did link up. Thank you so much for your most gracious comments. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
The family gathering table setting – or the table for two – or might I also suggest the table setting for one?.. many living alone no longer “fuss” with no one to fuss for, but creating a lovely setting
for oneself with an interesting meal in mind can be very rewarding. Every one of your wonderful tips, Pam, still applies. The salad plate highlighting is so practical, creative and allows for diversity. I have put your 10 tips in my “light bulb” idea collection. A blessed weekend to all.
Thank you Mary. I have actually done some tables for one, I should do one soon. Thank you for the suggestion. Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Pam, I always enjoy your beautiful tables. I think you’ve covered the best ideas. I will say I do all ten of these, though I didn’t think about them. This is a great post. Thanks for putting it together.
Thank you so much Sarah. Your tables are exquisite!
Good Saturday Morning to you my friend! Your tips are fantabulous and I look to you for all my inspiration! Your table clothes are superb. Your centerpieces always grab my attention. Your China always brings me joy. Thanks for sharing such loveliness.
Hugs to you my friend… enjoy your weekend!
Thank you Nancy. I hope your weekend at your summer home is beautiful my friend!
Just fabulous, Pam!!! Such an inspiration!! Thanks so much for sharing ❤️
Thank you Ann ♥️
Great tips and gorgeous tables as always!!
Thank you Shirley!!
Holy Cow they are all stunning! I love your sea shell and pinky peach one and the one with the gorgeous tablecloth from Greek Isles WOW! I would love to have you come join us on my blog for my Centerpiece Wednesday Linky Party https://karinskottage.com/2020/06/centerpiece-wednesday-linky-party.html
See you over there,
Karin
Beautiful tables Pam – each and every one of them. Thanks for this smorgasbord of tablescape inspiration. Just lovely!
Thank you so much Kim!