Our Favorite Spring Table and Centerpiece Ideas
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There’s nothing like the first signs of spring. Maybe it’s the flowers you see peeking out of their beds, an evening where the sun stays in the sky longer than you remember, or simply a lunch hour enjoyed outdoors for the first time this year. Of course, with Easter and Passover approaching, not to mention wedding season, it’s also time to celebrate a season that’s about renewal. The perfect place to start? With elegant table decorations and centerpieces. “Spring entertaining calls for floral prints, colored glass, old-fashioned china, and fresh flowers,” insists Keith Meacham, the founder of home decor company Reed Smythe & Company.
If you’re not quite sure where to begin, or you’re simply seeking some fresh inspiration, take a look at some of our favorite ideas from Meacham and other entertaining experts. From potted plants to floral arrangements, from layered plates to tonal tabletops, here we’ve rounded up 30 ways to make your spring table decor feel fresh and beautiful.
Use Potted Plants
Spring often signifies that an abundance of cut flowers is becoming available, but that doesn’t mean the table has to be filled with all of them. Instead, take a cue from Carlos Mota: At this Peruvian beach house, the decorator and style expert interspersed mini bouquets with potted plants, which can live long after the party has ended.
Use Small Vases in Multiples
You can never have too much of a good thing—especially when it comes to flowers. But don’t be afraid to think small too. “I love to mass one kind of flower in small vases run up and down the table,” says Keith Meacham of Reed Smythe & Company. Here, he paired a Lisa Fine tablecloth scattered with boughs of lilacs with multiple arrangements of matching fresh lilacs in Reed Smythe & Company wine rinsers.
Swap Pastels for Bolder Hues
If pink and pale blue aren’t your thing, try a richer hue. “There’s no need to be mellow with these crisp stripes and wicker touches inspired by Easter baskets,” says Rebecca Gardner, who’s known for entertaining at her home. “I’m always in search of the golden egg, but this Hermès china may be first prize.”
Let the Surroundings Take Center Stage
If you’re choosing to entertain outdoors in a lush garden or outdoor terrace, keep the table simple. Why compete with the great outdoors? We love how the white tablecloth and tableware create a crisp backdrop for a lovely potted lavender plant and matching sprigs. Easy does it!
Get a Little Cute
Don’t shy away from pairing the table decor with surrounding springtime holidays. Here, birds’ nests, bunnies, and themed sweet treats were included to add some charm.
Pick Two Shades
If you’re aiming to make a statement but also keep it simple, pick two colors and stay in that lane. Here, shades of yellow-green were used in the plates and the festive egg decor. Shades of neutral beige appear on the runner, linens, bird decor, and branches.
Bring the Tree to the Tabletop
Cherry blossoms, daffodils, tulips, quince, and dogwood are just a handful of the trees and flowers that are gloriously blooming in spring. For a seasonal table, place cuttings in a tall vase and lay individual sprigs around the table, as shown here.
Pick One Flower in One Bright Hue
Make a strong statement by picking one flower in one bright shade. The color will pop and become not just the centerpiece but the center of conversation throughout the meal.
Mix Floral Varieties and Colors
“Bright, fresh blooms and greenery are a must for a spring table. We used a combo of magenta pink, green hues, and a bit of brown here to give the table a feminine, earthy vibe,” says Lathem Gordon, of design firm GordonDunning. Bonus points for the complementary green napkins and delicate glassware!
Embrace Forest Friends
Cathy Graham drew upon her love of nature and woodland creatures to create this table setting, which is part of her Woodland Collection with Christopher Spitzmiller. Offbeat vegetables, colorful blooms, and Peter Rabbit–esque serveware make for a tablescape that is as bright as it is earthy.
Choose a Blockprint Tablecloth
If you don’t have time to run to your local florist or craft a DIY arrangement, let your tablecloth do the work for you. Here at their Italian country house, homeowners Paolo Castellarin and Didier Bonnin show us how it’s done. A toile de jouy tablecloth creates an elegant spread with the addition of just a few posies set in vases.
Create an Atmosphere
Alessandra Branca from Casa Branca created this table by using different colors and patterns from their collection. “It feels fresh and dynamic,” she says. “The tablescape is really all about establishing an inviting and fabulous atmosphere.” Bonus tip: Give your table a fun touch by using different napkins to elevate the look.
Leverage Greens
Appropriately going under the title of Country Meets Coast, Paige Brown’s design style is “full of color, print, pattern, and fabrics—a mix of old meets new,” as she describes it. Hot tip: Mix prints with coordinating hues—as Brown did with these floral napkins from Furbish Studio, Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage ware, and green confetti Aerin double old-fashioned glasses—for a look that is maximalist in all the right ways.
Bring in Warm Tones
This spare but eye-catching table setting is sure to make your friends and family the happiest of guests. The Clicc created the look with “gingham napkins, mustard swirl candlesticks, and orange Murano glasses.” It's a nod to the long summer days to come.
Layer Your Plates
This table setting is inspired by nature, both in color and form. Jen Leigh Watkins, from Host the Event, was inspired by the organic waves of the plates’ edges and scalloped porcelain bowls, which give tactility to the tablescape. “It is delicate and light, much like the first blooms of spring,” she says.
Incorporate a Lace Runner
Nothing says elegance quite like lace. A simple yet detailed lace runner is the perfect addition to your spring table. Chloe Ward loves “crisp white blooms and fresh green foliage to give a new-beginnings feel.”
Bring on the Bunnies
This has to be the perfect centerpiece for any Easter table. “I love to mix old and new and add hand-picked treasures from many small shops to create a unique blend of farmhouse and classic home aesthetic,” say Tina and Taylor Oddo—proof that we needn’t be afraid to dive into the closet or storage room. You never know what might be repurposed as a splendid statement piece.
Bring Out the China
Tabletop stylist Suzanne Zing was inspired by an April Cornell tablecloth while creating this table setting. “I am a big believer in using the good china, crystal, and silver, to get it out and enjoy it,” she says. Paired with some rosé and a bunch of fresh flowers, nothing sounds better.
Consider Glassware
Blending into its orchardlike backdrop, this deep green glassware completes the table for a casual alfresco moment, especially when the table blooms are sourced from your own backyard. “I always try to use the things I have on hand and always use the flowers from my garden,” says tablescape artist Maria Paz Rath, who says she enjoys creating table settings that make people feel comfortable and welcome. “My style is relaxed,” she adds.
Pick Picnic Motifs
Nothing says classic outdoor dining like the traditional navy-and-white buffalo check pattern. Let the table linen speak for itself by pairing it with subtle crystal glassware and casually chic rattan cutlery and accessories—a Kylie Redden favorite. For flowers, a giant bunch of baby’s breath is all that is needed to “create a stunning and unexpected centerpiece,” she says.
Embrace the Tropics
The inspiration for this centerpiece comes from the panoramic eco-regions of Hawaii, which are brimming with lush foliage and tropical notes. For this spread, Susana Matías Pacheco was going for the eclectic look, combining old and modern pieces with varying textures. “You get a hint of freshness and fun from the parrots and cockatoos, which is why I added the feathers as a centerpiece,” she says.
Add a Hint of Bamboo
Holly Page designs her tables with one key hero piece. In this case, a gorgeous coral and green hand-blocked tablecloth saved the day. Paired with Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage-ware plates and green handblown Moroccan glassware, the colors in the tablecloth really pop. Page’s favorite detail? “The bamboo handles on the cutlery added to the rustic garden charm of the table,” she says.
Use What’s in Your Fridge
What creates a better centerpiece than items you already have in your kitchen? Nothing! Bright-colored fruits atop a delicate ceramic plate or bowl are simple yet efficient ways to create a beautiful table moment. Inspired by a Coco Chanel quote—“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance”—Kylie Redden is a big fan of paring back and letting a few key items speak for themselves. “Less is more when it comes to styling in general,” she says.
Decorate With Vegetables
A fresh, crispy artichoke is one the best ways to kick off a meal. Created by Plume Table owners Clementina Roversi and Maria Alejandra Coll, these plates celebrate the underrated vegetable and add something special to the table decor. “Mixing a classic piece with daring colors and patterns is what makes a table unforgettable and effortless,” says Roversi. We’re all about getting our greens in!
Use Soft Blues
Blue is often a forgotten color when it comes to spring, but it doesn’t have to be. When Heather Dewberry from Huff-Dewberry prepped this table, she wanted a “relaxed but exuberant setting,” she says. She paired white tulips with the tablecloth’s floral motifs, topped with matching porcelain plates to celebrate the blooming season. “Raffia accessories and block-printed linens always loosen up a table setting and signify a warm-weather fete,” she adds.
Decorate With Pink and Green
Embrace the soft pastels of the season with a complementary pink-and-green motif. Enter Blue Maisonette’s Fifi Matiga, who paired friendly pink embroidered placemats with a patterned sage tablecloth to create a look that is both whimsical and bold.
Make a Show-Stopping Centerpiece
If you want to stay minimal with dishware and cutlery, a fantastic floral centerpiece will call effortless attention to your dining table. Floral designer Cathy Graham played it safe by hand-painting a white metal cachepot with tiny blue flowers and vines. “I embellished paper candle shades to match with the blue hydrangeas, a few white garden roses, ranunculus, and anemones,” she says.
Go All-Out Easter
“For me, an Easter tablescape has to include all the key elements: spring flowers, bunnies, and eggs,” says interiors blogger Melanie Lissack. Go all out with your Easter lunch table, and use natural elements that can easily be reused year after year. As for Lissack? “I used chunky wood slices as coasters and painted ceramic eggs with some leftover Farrow & Ball paint,” she says. Bon appétit!
Create a Cabbage Theme
“I like to use pieces that are vibrant in color and unique in shape but still feel traditional,” says Angela Birchak, the owner of Union Birch. For this table setting, she used a vintage Italian cabbage tureen and layered pastel-colored plates.
Use Blue and White Porcelain
This coastal table setting screams spring. “The trio of chinoiserie bud vases are filled with fragrant Erlicheer,” explains stylist Kylie Redden. This pretty tablescape keeps it simple with striped napkins and all-white dishware.
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