Prepare for summer party season by following this how to dress a table guide. Perfect for an informal family gathering indoors or a summer celebration in the garden, add interest to your table setting using these simple yet effective decorative ideas.
Eclectic mix
A mismatched collection of china, combining graphic stripes, trailing florals and other small-scale patterns like the one above, instantly adds charm and decoration to a white tablecloth and pared-back pale scheme. Easily combine both new and vintage pieces by choosing patterns that link by colour, sticking to one or two shades such as this soft red and mid-blue for a relaxed and calm feel.
Refreshing change
Turn colourful fabric remnants into unique table-linens like those shown above to partner with plain crockery. Pretty designs such as florals or sprigged motifs combine well with more contrasting graphic checks and stripes, but the beauty of this idea is, it can be tailored to suit your taste, guests or simply the season and can incorporate as many or as few different fabrics as you wish. Linen and cotton work best for this, as they wash well and can be reused.
Flora and Fauna
An eye-catching singular flower display, or a group of arrangements in a collection of vessels, can create a beautiful centrepiece for a special occasion. Above, a large ceramic bowl filled with moss, primulas, violets and hellebores surrounding small speckled eggs makes a colourful springtime display. Enamel buckets or teapots, along with vintage wooden crates can also make interesting pots to plant up with seasonal blooms.
Perfectly presented
Treat diners to a small gift with a packet of seeds at every setting as shown above or alternatively, turn these into name place holders using a luggage tag, tied around the packet using bakers twine. Continuing the rustic theme, mix and match china with vintage glassware and use a roll of kraft paper as a disposable table runner.
Decorative details
Handmade decorations hung above the table are an easy and quick way to embellish a simple table top for very little cost. Pretty concertina pinwheels like the ones shown above in a variety of sizes made from patterned papers are relatively easy to make and work effectively for decorating an impromptu lunch.
Summer celebration
Summer celebration
Gather colourful fabrics, a collection of different chairs including folding camping and garden seats and bright paper tableware to create a fun and comfortable spot for a celebratory lunch outside as shown above. Create a temporary tablecloth using torn sections of lightweight fabric overlapped over a refectory table and simple bunting can be made using roughly cut triangles of fabric pegged to string, held up using tall branches dug into the ground.
Alaina is the Style & Interiors Editor at Country Living (previously Home & Crafts Editor). Her creative eye stretches over decorating, style shoots, seasonal inspiration and craft, as well as event styling and licensing creatives. She has a BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Design and started her 17 year career at Hearst on House Beautiful  before discovering a love for nature, the country home and bird watching. Alaina also works on Modern Rustic where she champions talented makers, and Vintage Home. Alaina has held several craft workshops and talks and styled a Country Living with Raymond Blanc's at Le Manoir.
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