So often, when someone hears what I do, they say something like, “Oh, I can’t set a nice table – all I have is stuff for an everyday table setting!” And my response is always the same, “Yes you can.”
One of the ways I demonstrate that, is by setting tables for my friends, using their own things. Now granted, my friends are probably a subset of people who enjoy fine dining. But the theory still holds – everybody has some kind of tableware – even if it’s plastic! And if they don’t, and they really want to set a nice table, they can get very inexpensive pieces all over the place, from Walmart to Goodwill.
In fact, if you want to see a little video about me proving this to a colleague one lunch hour, check out the Yes you really can set a beautiful table for cheap! post.
An Everyday Table Setting for Friends
But let me tell you about a recent Table for Friends! Or in this case, Family! We’re also lucky with this particular table, to have a spectacular view. That always helps!
The occasion was a first visit to my brother and his wife’s new house. Their home was lovely, but my favorite part was the porch. When I stepped out, my first thought was “Wow – that’s the perfect place for a tablescape!”
That wide open porch with a perfect view just called to me! So one day we dragged the table out, I grabbed their tableware and got to work.
The Basic Tablescape Building Blocks
Of course, one of the basic building blocks of any tablescape is the dishware. In this case, it was basic Ikea stoneware. It’s not fancy, it’s not expensive, but it is pretty. I love the soft green!
Having the dishware be all the same pattern can lend a bit more elegance to your place setting. Same with all the same color.
Next is the flatware. This is a very modern minimalist pattern that goes really well with the plates. I love a heavy, well balanced, solid-feeling piece of flatware, and these are really nice to hold and use.
The Thing About Some Glassware
And then we have the glassware. My brother is a wine person. (In fact, years ago he introduced me to a wine buddy of his, who went on to become my wonderful husband!) So I was sure he was going to have some great wine glasses, and he does.
I’m not going to recommend these, though, unless you’re a serious, serious wine appreciator, and have a very, very delicate touch. Not only are they expensive and hard to get, but they’re really light weight and breakable. In fact, I didn’t put them on the table until the very end, because they’re so light that they blew over in a strong wind the night before! But, I do have some other excellent wine glasses for you in the Boutique Selections below.
The water glasses are lovely too. A beautiful streamlined shape, and nice thin edges. They felt very special to use, even in an everyday table setting. And while delicate, I’m not too worried about them breaking in the wind!
Minimal Metals & Decor
One thing that I thought was really interesting about this particular table, is that it doesn’t have a lot of repeating colors. For instance, sometimes I have lots of one color – maybe silver – for the chargers, flatware, napkin rings, vase, or other decoration.
But this table doesn’t have any two colors the same. The flatware is one color, the plate stack, another, and the napkins, yet another. The glassware doesn’t have any color at all!
So we don’t really have a cohesive theme or pattern to the place setting itself. But even though the napkins and the plates don’t “match,” they don’t clash with each other on their own, either.
(Yet another example of “if you’re only going to have one set of dishes, go with something neutral. I usually say white, but I think we can stretch that to include this soft green. The napkins are neutral too. So they can go with pretty much anything.)
But I’m sure you’ve guessed what it is that ties them all together – the flowers!
What Takes an Everyday Table Setting From Regular to Stunning?
The other part of this story is that I had just gotten flowers from my son, literally as I was walking out the door to make the drive, so I brought them with me! (The rose on the right was going to be a gift for my hosts!) Not a bad way to travel – surrounded by flowers!
Any table setting can be nice. But, I think flowers are what change an everyday table setting into something fabulous! Whether they’re fresh or faux, flowers on your table can seriously elevate your tablescape.
And these just happened to be beautiful flowers! My son sends them to me from Sammy’s Flowers in Portland. The florists at Sammy’s are so talented, and they often use really unique flowers and greenery.
The colors were so bright and springy, and pulled the green from the plates, while adding some deep color to the otherwise low-key tablescape. And they were extra gorgeous with the sun shining through them!
The Full Effect of the Everyday Table Setting
Once the flowers were on the table, the whole effect was just stunning. Especially with that view!
This picture above is one I took early on in my table setting adventure. I hadn’t put the wine glasses on yet, and most of the table was still in shadow. But you can see the way the green of the baby hydrangeas matches the green of the plates. Just beautiful!
Extra Pictures Just for fun
As you can guess, I took about a zillion pictures. So I’ll share a few more with you! You can see what a beautiful day it was, and a little more of the woods around their house.
I was having fun with the changing light and shadows too. I thought this one below was a bit moody, and looked a little like an advertisement!
So there you have it! A lovely example of how you can make an everyday table setting look extra special! Thanks so much for stopping by! Leave a Comment below and let me know what you think.
Barbara’s Boutique Selections
Click on the pictures of the pieces I used in this post. If the exact item isn’t available any more, I chose a similar option.
* This post includes affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you click on a link and buy anything from that site during your visit, I get a small commission and there’s no extra charge for you! It really helps toward the cost of publishing Mantel and Table, and I seriously appreciate it. (You can read the whole disclosure policy here.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!
And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!
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Beautiful job, Barb! Not only is the table lovely, your explanation of how it came together hits all the right notes—encouraging and pragmatic.
It really is possible to set a lovely table with very few elements, and IKEA is a terrific source. The flowers carried the day!
Boy, do I get what you’re saying about the wine connoisseur’s glasses. They’re sooooo fine—tricky to wash and even more difficult to dry without getting lint all over the place.
Best,
Helen
Hahaha – I can tell you’ve washed and dried your share of those fine glasses! I keep telling myself it’s worth it to get the extra wine nuances. Thanks for stopping by Helen – I always love to see you here!
Barbara, what a backdrop! WOW! What a gorgeous view they have! And I love the simple styling of your tablescape. Nice when nature is the true star and you just pull together the colors to make it work so beautifully. Well done, friend.
Thanks so much Michele – it was just too beautifully irrisistible!! Hope you’re doing well over there my friend!