Create the Perfect Tablescape For Any Meal, Any Day

HomeLifestyle

Dec 1

Written By Hannah

table set with colorful table cloth, candles, flowers and wine

Whether you have an elaborate outdoor seating space, an eat-in kitchen or a formal dining room, any space can be decorated with intention and serve as a place to break bread and make memories. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion either. Setting the table to enjoy Friday night take out is a way to make the most mundane meals feel ceremonial.

The best decorated tables (and homes) are those that include items collected over time. Whether they be hand-me-downs, second hand pieces or items purchased from brands that you love. All put together they add richness and personality to your space. Don’t worry about getting it “Pinterest perfect”, it’s all about having fun, being creative and celebrating meals with friends and family. We’ve added some of the worthwhile goods that we use to create a colorful tablescape below.

Table Linens

table set with colorful tablecloth and artichokes on a blue plate — *Blockshop*

You may know Blockshop from their signature swoon-worthy bathrobes but did you know they also make table linens?
The Metronome Tablecloth paired with the Tennis Pool Napkin create a super fun mixed print foundation for your feast. Like all Blockshop goods, they are hand printed on 100% organic cotton with non-toxic ink.

Placemats, Coasters, Trivets

speckled recycled rubber placemats on peach table with grapefruit and papaya — *Slash Object*

If you’ve been around here long, you know that we love anything and everything made out of post-consumer materials, especially when the end result looks like a piece of art. Which is exactly how we feel about the placemats, coasters and trivets by Slash Object.

edie parker lucite wavy coasters with vintage goblet — *Edie Parker*

From the moment they burst onto the scene, handbag and home goods brand Edie Parker has produced beautiful pieces that can only be described as functional art. Larger pieces can be an investment but there are budget-friendly goods like the wavy coasters and napkin rings that can really elevate your tablescape and add some fun texture and color.

Tableware

Now that we’ve got the table covered (literally), let’s move on to tableware. You may already have an everyday dish set you love or something used just for special occasions but as they say, “life is short, use the good china”.

beautiful place setting with blue and yellow plates — *Fable New York*

While plates crafted from bamboo and corn starch are hardly fine china, they can be just as enjoyable to use. We love to mix and match Fable’s plates and bowls. They are a great sustainable and economical choice - especially for outdoor dining or kids parties. Plus, they come in so many colors and clean up in a flash.

stack of ceramic bowl navy, white, grey and pink — *Year and Day*

For ceramic tableware at a great price in chic colors, look no further than female-founded company Year and Day. Their timeless designs are easily customizable using the “Build My Set” page on the site so you always get just what you need in the colors your want.

lots of east fork ceramics plates and bowls — *East Fork*

Our pick for small batch stoneware is, hands down, East Fork. A splurge to be sure, but one well worth it based on the quality they are known for and the values the company (and employees) live by. The page on equity is a shining example of a company living their values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and giving back.

Flatware

close up mismatched vintage silverware on a dark wood background — *Vintage on Etsy*

There aren’t a lot of recycled flatware sets on the market but that doesn’t mean you have to buy new. It can be quite fun to hunt for the perfect vintage Mid Century set or mix and match - Etsy is a great place to do just that.

Drinkware

in front of a beige background a glass pitcher and a tall, medium and short glass — *Hawkins*

You really can’t go wrong with Hawkins Recycled Blown Glass Tumblers. They come in 3 sizes for every drink your occasion calls for. Add the matching pitcher and you’ve got a beautiful, sustainable glassware set.

handblown glass champagne flutes on a table next to flowers — *Magda Made*

For toasting, we are absolutely obsessed with these Madga Made champagne flutes. It could be the variation in size of the set that makes them so charming or it could be that they are handcrafted by women in Columbia who are paid a fair wage in healthy and safe working conditions. Either way, we’re raising our glasses to them.

Serving Vessles

Serving dishes can be a great place to have fun with different vessels. A lot of the newer companies making kitchenware so beautiful that we are bringing them straight out of the kitchen and onto the table.

*Sunny’s Shop*

A fun Etsy shop for minimalist and modern designs for your table top is Sunny’s Shop. There you will find fruit bowls, ceramics, fun glass vases, linen napkin sets and more.

modern table setting with pink frying pan and fried eggs and grilled cheese — *Our Place*

We were so glad when Our Place launched and started selling the most beautiful cooking pans we’ve ever seen. They flow seamlessly from your kitchen to your dining table. Get the Everyday Pan and the Perfect Pot and you won’t need much more.

Material

Material re-boards and re-bowls are gorgeous enough to use as serving vessles. That’s not the only reason we love them though. Each one is made from 100% kitchen plastic scraps and sugarcane and is BPA free. The company also is BIPOC-female founded and donates a portion of profits to worthwhile causes.

Scent

amass black candle — *Amass*

As of late, LA-based company Amass is present at all our gatherings, whether that be the all natural botanical spirits or the oh-so-delicious smelling four thieves scented candle. It’s the perfect scent for a dinner party with notes of clove and cinnamon.

lit white santal candle against white background — *Brooklyn Candle Studio*

Another scent that won’t contend with your cooking aromas is the warm scent of santal and 100% eco-friendly soy wax Santal candle by Brooklyn Candle Studio is our pick.

Flowers

silk flower bouquet — *Afloral*

When it comes to choosing a centerpiece, flowers are an easy choice. A floral arrangement can add height to your tablescape and bring in natural elements. The most sustainable way to add fresh flowers is to get them from a local flower shop. A fantastic way to always have a bright bouquet on hand is to use dried or artificial flowers. They are a sustainable choice as they can be used for years and you can mix and match to create new arrangements for every occasion. For stunning dried and silk flowers, Afloral is our pick.

hand painted ceramic pillar vases by franca — *Franca*

Of course you’ll need something to put those flowers in. Might we suggest a hand painted Pillar Vase from the lovely folks at Franca in Brooklyn? The vases are hand made in small batches in their Brooklyn studio.

white peace vase with dried flowers — *The Jungalow*

If you’re looking for something a little more bohemian leaning, the perfectly eclectic goods from Jungalow can be worked into almost any aesthetic. The designs pop without overpowering your other decor elements. These ceramic peace sign planters, created by Justina Blakeney herself, are perfectly placed anywhere from a window sill to a table top.

We hope these finds will will inspire you to create a thoughtful tablescape of your own and make your next gathering with friends and family even more memorable.

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