Garden cuttings and vintage finds create spectacular spring tablescape
Simple, inexpensive ideas for spring tablescapes
You don’t need a lot of money or time to create this incredibly beautiful spring tablescape, just fresh cuttings from your garden and mix-and-match layers of vintage linens and dishes. Nothing has to be perfect, it just needs to coordinate.
Step 1: Build your base: Start with a vintage tablecloth
I found this beautiful floral tablecloth at a local estate sale. It’s actually a round tablecloth, although my table is rectangular. But this doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s more important to have the color scheme and vibe you’re looking for than to have the perfect tablecloth size and fit. For me, it was the perfect base for this spring tablescape.
Step 2: Add the plates and glassware
- Vintage dishes: These vintage plates, rimmed with yellow and orange flowers, seemed to go perfectly with the tablecloth. The plates, discovered at a local thrift store, were scratched in the center. But again, I decided it didn’t matter. The overall effect will make up for any small imperfections.
- Chargers: Chargers are a great way to add depth to your table setting. I keep an eye out for interesting chargers like these rattan chargers. They can be pricey at new stores, but I can often pick them up at estate sales for less than $1 each. I didn’t have enough of one kind, so I mixed slightly different chargers for the table.
- Glassware: I mixed two different kinds of vintage glasses, one an avocado green and one a harvest yellow. The patterns are different as are the colors, but it just adds to the depth.
- Utensils: I used these vintage wooden eating utensils for even more texture.
3. Create your centerpiece
I used more rattan placemats to create a space for the centerpiece and then layered cuttings from the garden and potted ferns. Here’s what I used:
- Simple glass bottles in different shapes and sizes
- Small potted ferns
- Clippings of ferns, oak leaf hydrangea leaves and ivy
- Rattan placemats lined up down the center of the table
Things to remember when creating your spring tablescape
- Don’t try for perfection. Everything doesn’t have to be in perfect condition or the exact fit. If it coordinates, it’s going to be beaufitul.
- Use what you have. I mixed things I already had and use — chargers, dishes, linens, bottles. And I just used the plants and clippings that were blooming around me. I didn’t buy any flowers or extra plants.
- Layer. Of course, you can simply set plates on a wooden table, but I like the bohemian aspect of the layers of textures, patterns and color. It’s the anti-Magnolia!
More tablescape ideas
Although I designed this table for springtime, it could easily fit into a woodland theme. Here’s another post I created on designing a woodland tablescape for a woodland themed party.
Collectible vintage dishes
If you’re interested in finding a particular vintage pattern for flatware, glassware or dinnerware, Replacements Inc. is an incredible place to start. They can help identify specific patterns and even repair broken pieces. And, of course, you can buy replacement pieces there — although it is at the high-end of pricing.
