How Can I Decorate A Table For An Event

table decorating ideas black and white veranda

LAUREY W. GLENN

Entertaining at home is a deeply personal thing, inviting guests to run across inside your world and make themselves at home in your inviting dining room, prospering garden, or chic patio for hours on cease. A beautiful setting not only sparks oohs and aahs, but it inspires lively conversation and sets the tone for the gathering.

In that location may be no greater occasion to showcase heirloom dinnerware, polished-upwards argent, and a collection of colored glass than when dressing a dining tabular array. That antique plate hidden in your party closet can instantly feel more youthful and modern when layered with colorful tablecloths and tailored linens. It'due south all almost balancing sophisticated pieces with vivacious patterns and natural details.

Whether you lot're hosting a laid-back summer dinner alfresco, a multigenerational holiday meal, or a chic dinner political party, our favorite entertaining experts from effectually the country take shared some of their favorite tablescapes and table decorating ideas for any and every occasion. We take you lot covered for your table decorating needs all year long, from New year's brunches to spring garden parties to rustic holiday dinners.

Layered Antiques

A light spring lunch at Jan Shower's home in Hillsboro, Texas, doubles as a valuable tutorial on layering antique tableware. Tory Burch lettuce plates, vintage linens, and heirloom glassware grace a French merisier dining tabular array. Garden pots filled with wildflowers and daisies serve equally a lively centerpiece.

California Classic

Chairish cofounder and president Anna Brockway embraces California cool for a memorable dinner in the garden of her new Sonoma dwelling. "We've mastered the mix of high and low, layering unexpected textures, colors, and materials," says Brockway.

Brockway paired antique chinoiserie salad plates (Chairish) with an electrifying tablecloth (Lisa Corti) and a braided natural placemat (Juliska).

Masquerade Soiree

Extravagant masquerade balls of the by informed the au courant nature of this black-and-white tablescape. Geometric patterns on the Sieger Ca' d'Oro plates paired with playful polka dots (fabric; Nobilis) usher in the high movement style of the 1960s. The handpainted candlestick shades by Ross Alexander were inspired by masks worn at Truman Capote'southward original Black and White Ball.

Soulful Supper

For a soulful get-together at her New York loft, designer Joy Moyler leaned on deep red and purple shades (fabric; Dedar) to warm up the monochromatic tone of Art-Deco plates (her own pattern). Mercury glassware (Saint- Louis and Nason Moretti for Artemest) and polished silvery add simply the right corporeality of sparkle to the table.

Collected Dining

At a Montreal penthouse for a old prime minister, blueprint firm Les Ensembliers mixed French antiques with contemporary pieces and an array of Eastern decorative accents in the dining surface area. Antique patterns flourish in a collected arrangement of Chinese export porcelain, Versace chargers, and Imari vases.

For floral designer Lewis Miller's holiday tablescape, a canary xanthous linen (Gray Line Linens) provides a tonal foundation for lemons, along with claret oranges, pine cones, and cedar clippings every bit the centerpiece. Punchy blue check napkins (John Derian) and tumblers (Carlo Moretti) artfully contrast against the sunny tones.

Layered Luxe

"Much like in my pattern, I appreciate a layered arroyo to tablescapes," says Cheryl Luckett, principal and owner of Dwell past Cheryl Interiors in Charlotte.

Hither, Luckett artfully layers design, texture, and color with blue-and-white ceramics from her personal collection, Dunes & Duchesses candelabras, assuming magnolia leaves, and natural woven placemats for littoral-inspired luxe.

"Dramatic manus-turned candelabras and simple votives offering mood-lighting and add a romantic element perfect for outdoor dining," she says.

Understated Urban Supper Club

Renowned hostess, author and Town & Country United kingdom columnist Alexandra Dudley shared a scene from a recent supper gild she hosted in her personal outdoor infinite in London.

"E'er invest in a good gear up of napkins," Dudley advises. "I beloved these classic white ones from The Linen Works every bit they piece of work with anything."

The worst part virtually hosting a supper club: all the dishes to make clean later on. Dudley loves to use side plates for small salads and starters to save on dishwasher infinite. Hither, she features understated yet elegant plates from Royal Cophenhagen and Skandihus. Dudley made the tablecloth herself and constitute these vintage vases at an antiques off-white to keep the scene informal and casual.

A Beautiful Backyard Brunch

This stunning table is set at result designer Keith Robinson's sprawling homestead just due south of Atlanta. This backyard brunch scene lies under a romantic, swooping arbor of Lady Banks Roses and features hyper-local food: The meat, cheese, and produce are all sourced within several miles, if not from his own farm.

"Using fine things in the garden creates magic," he says. Campanella roses and peaches-and-cream dahlias in a centerpiece coordinate with the china and make a hit combination with lilac linen napkins and a tablecloth with a chocolate-hued abstruse floral motif. "Information technology's like a waterfall of roses becomes a sea of blossoms on the table."

Robinson's tabletop collection includes Old Paris porcelain, Sferra linens, and freshly picked blooms.

Date Night at Home

"My husband loves to cook, so I felt that setting the stage for our family meals during this fourth dimension was a way that I could contribute and make our meals feel special," says entertaining expert and author Kimberly Schlegel Whitman. " I likewise tried to mix it upwards, pull out prc and linens that nosotros didn't unremarkably use so that we could break upward a scrap of the monotony."

Whitman mixes vintage porcelain to create involvement and make a ane-of-a-kind place setting.

Valentines by Candlelight

This feminine and flowery Valentine's Twenty-four hour period party was designed to celebrate the opening of LoveShackFancy's storefront on Bleecker Street in the Due west Hamlet.

Event design adept Rebecca Gardner says her team used LoveShackFancy fabrics to dress the table and tied dupioni silk ribbons on anything they could notice. Moroccan tea glasses were used as votives, bon bon dishes were filled with French cream candles, and cherries were sprinkled on top of the table for what she calls "a lovely, romantic mess."

FLWR Studio was responsible for the stunning blooms sourced from Rose Story Farm, the famed old-fashioned rose farm that has become a Southern California landmark.

A Mediterranean Affair

"I love to create the perfect summer table with fresh flowers, natural textures and beautiful pattern," says Aerin Lauder of the eponymous lifestyle brand. "During the summer, I like to serve a casual menu to make my guests feel at home. Paella and Sangria always work well in warm weather."

Here, you'll notice a informal, Mediterranean-inspired tabular array from Aerin Home. Embroidered Scalloped dinner napkins, Abaca Circular placemats, and the Paulette setting brand this table feel blusterous and inviting.

Indigo Harvest

Riche Homes Grant is a lawyer-turned-tastemaker, entrepreneur, and production designer with a penchant for throwing fabulous parties. She splits her time between D.C. and 50.A., giving her enough of inspiration for inventive tablescapes.

This autumnal dinner political party scene is a vibrant spin on the term "rustic chic" and features Lipper International bark-edge servers used as chargers and organic reactive glass plates from World Market.

"Keep it interesting, only be careful not to overstyle. Sometimes less is so much more than, depending on the occasion," she says.

Mother's Day Lunch

This beautiful scene comes from the backyard of Emily Hertz, founder of the pop lifestyle blog, Born on Fifth.

"Considering the tablecloth and plates were floral, I opted to have small bud vases [Alice Naylor-Leyland] and a statement gardenia on the table instead of a floral arrangement," Hertz says. "I love how it turned out!"

Hertz uses Richard Ginori x Cabana chargers as plates, which are complemented by the Bungalow tabular array fabric and Courtland & Co. salad plates and glasses.

La Vie en Rose

"They're somewhat few and far between, only I love our white-based prints," says Julia Amory, founder of India Amory. "There is something somewhat traditional and elegant nearly the look, and all the same it's still bohemian and casual in its overall vibe. Wicker chargers are a must have for whatever table-setting enthusiast, as are vintage plates."

Here, Amory features the brand'due south Vie en Rose tablecloth and dinner napkins.

In Full Flower

This gorgeous Easter tablescape was designed by Mariee Ami and The Frances Flair. Its dark-green, floral-forward design evokes new beginnings and vibrance that comes with leap's arrival.

"Local flower shops and nurseries are other corking resources for making celebrations feel more than special at abode," says Mariee Ami founder Neillie Buter. "You'll be helping a modest business thrive while giving yourself a care for—the ultimate win-win. Simple greenery and budding branches from your grand or neighborhood walk can also make for a lovely spring arrangement."

This tablescape features linens from Ami a Vie and florals from Southern Posies.

Uncomplicated and Sophisticated

Interiors and lifestyle expert Becky Shea says the 4 elements of creating a fabulous outdoor tablescape are: location, thoughtful consideration of how your tableware interacts with what you're serving, knowledge of which ingredients are currently in flavor, and utilizing seasonal blooms. Hither, you lot'll find a recent outdoor summertime party Shea hosted in Manhattan.

"We picked midday for our garden lunch at the West Village Maisonette because the sunday hits the patio perfectly at one p.m.," Shea says. "Having rest between the sun and shade allows guests to exist comfortable in an outdoor environment. Nosotros also selected this corner of the patio considering the fountain serves every bit relaxing groundwork noise. It'southward fun to cultivate an experience wherever possible."

Shea used vases from Jenni Kayne, Nayoa Arakawa glassware, and Nordic ceramics by Khwurtz to keep the decor minimalist, allowing seasonal produce, flowers, and greenery to be the stars of the scene.

Informal Bahamian Dining

Amanda Lindroth hosted a dinner at her domicile, Hope Colina, in Lyford Cay earlier this winter with Julia Berolzheimer of Gal Meets Glam in commemoration of launching a tableware collection together this summer.

Along with using the hurricanes, glassware, and linens from the new collection, Lindroth used vibrant crepe myrtle blossoms that bloom all over the island for a chic still coincidental Bahamian dinner table.

Merry and Vivid

Keith Robinson loves to put a fresh spin on classic event designs, and here, he sets a fabulous holiday table without all the traditional kitsch. Seasonal greenery and zesty citrus help fix a warm and inviting scene in his Georgia abode, featuring a mix of Hèrmes and Deborah Sharpe linens and vintage porcelain for a luxe and laid-back Christmas forenoon.

Fabled Fall Gathering

This formal autumn setting serves as fabulous inspiration for hosting a seated Thanksgiving or autumnal dinner party. We love this layered look that combines lavish linens and hitting flatware.

The pumpkin charger from Herend compliments the Chelsea Garden accent plate from Royal Crown Derby and a Mottahedeh dessert plate. The Vera Wang tableware sits atop a placemat from Deborah Sharpe. The napkin is from Leontine Linens, and the tablecloth in a Dedar fabric.

Party in Paradise

Riche Holmes Grant's Spanish-themed L.A. garden party features bright linens, plates, and blooms for a truly cute setting. She says her Sicily Outdoor Melamine Dinnerware from Williams Sonoma helped defined the party'due south theme and colors, while a vibrant floral centerpiece from Mallory with the Florals ties the whole result together.

"Start with a focal point, an element on the table that you can build your look effectually—sometimes information technology'southward a centerpiece, but not always," Grant says. "For example, I found the gorgeous plates for my Spanish-themed soiree offset and and then styled the rest of my tablescape around them."

Whimsical Easter Brunch

This second spring setting designed by Mariee Ami and The Frances Flair features elements to please the children—and the kid at heart. Vintage china from Tea & Old Roses gives a grown-upward element and stunning bouquets of roses, peonies, ranunculus, Scabiosa, tulips, and sugariness peas bring cheerful colour to this table. Pastel-colored macarons make for a sweet treat to crumb on between courses.

Mimosas in Paradise

If there'due south anyone who knows how to set a beautiful table, it'due south author and lifestyle maven Danielle Rollins. Hither, in her Palm Embankment dwelling, Rollins hosts a coastal-inspired brunch, featuring Juliska tableware, a custom Sunbrella tablecloth, and Restoration Hardware outdoor chairs. Natural-woven placemats and local blooms keep things low-cal and breezy as her guests dine on elevated breakfast fare—and sip a mimosa or ii.

Gilded Glamour

This gorgeous tablesetting fits correct in with the lustrous metallic hues of the Hamptons home Alex Papachristidis designed for his sister, Ophelia Rudin. Antique glass salad plates from Salviati are layered over porcelain dinner service past Kelly Wearstler. Juliska placemats and napkins bring in softness and brand for a stunning scene to host summer soirees and the fresh catch of the day.

Socially Distanced Garden Party

This second scene from Alexandra Dudley was designed to be a continuing garden party in light of social distancing guidelines.

"It's important to serve nutrient that is easy to hold," Dudley says. "I beloved loading up bruschetta with roasted tomatoes, torn mozzarella, and a basil–pine nut oil or smashed peas with Grana Padano and lemon."

Dudley mixed and matched tableware using vintage platters, plates from Skandihus, and bowls from Tony Joslin Ceramics. The scene evokes a French provincial aesthetic and allows Dudley's incredible carte du jour to polish.

Holiday Soiree

Rebecca Gardner's holiday table steers from the traditional reds, greens, and golds and enchants the eye with a vast array of assuming hues. The table still somehow exudes holiday spirit, inviting illustrious conversation.

"My insane tables set the tone for a lively evening," Gardner told VERANDA in the Nov/December 2019 upshot. I build them with layers and layers and layers of the best silver, linen, crystal, and china. We make guests smile by exaggerating the elements until they explode and and so sprinkling bonbons on meridian. There'southward ever something a little surprising."

A Weston Crystal candlestick fix from Reed & Barton and handblown coupe glasses from Nason Moretti are just a few of the items on this stunning tablescape that offer timeless elegance, while plump citrus adds an chemical element of playful whimsy.

Enchating & Ethereal

This magical table lies in—where else?—the south of France at Lucy Cuneo'south family unit retreat. The Charleston-based wedding and lifestyle photographer prioritizes crafting thoughtful bouquets, mixing and matching tableware, and setting a relaxed, joyful tone from the moment your start invitee arrives. And in that location'due south nothing like some soft candlelight to fix the mood.

"I grew up with my family lighting the candles every dark for dinner, then it's definitely a part of my family's DNA," she says. "The burn is going outside, and I always utilize a mixture of tapers and votives to create levels that make [the lighting] soft and flicker on people'south faces. I'm known for it."

Refined Children's Party

"I recruited my children and used this as an opportunity to teach them how to set the table," says Kimberly Schlegel Whitman. "I encouraged them to get playful with centerpieces when we didn't actually accept flowers. One twenty-four hour period they made paper flowers from tissue and and some other day we painted wooden candlesticks for ornament."

Whitman says including her children in setting the table for an event—or just a weeknight dinner—has become a special tradition in her family unit. Information technology's also a bang-up way to help keep kids busy while you lot're putting the finishing touches on the event's dishes and decor.

Whimiscal Picnic in the Park

This bohemian-inspired summer picnic is fix in Savannah's Monterrey square. Event designer extraordinaire Rebecca Gardner says a street musician "happened" to be nearby with his saxophone while guests sat down for lunch—a classic Southern spread.

This striking tabular array is covered in Gardner's mismatched collection (the undercloth is Graffito by Kelly Wearstler). The assortment of throw pillows for cushion seating including vintage Battenburg shams she bought at the brocante in the s of French republic. Otherwise, the food gets to be the statement decor for the day, and Gardner adds fresh blooms and layered displays to evoke an Alice in Wonderland-esque atmosphere.