Tablescape Decor Ideas and Tips to Make Every Meal a Special Occasion

I love a well-dressed table.  I am pretty confident I inherited this from my mom, who is the queen of the tablescape. When I was little, I remember our dinner table always had at the minimum matching placemats (which changed seasonally,) and a decorative napkin. Most days there would also be some sort of centerpiece, too.  Now, as an adult in my own home, I do the same. It makes dinner feel more intentional and special – and it should because most days it is the only times where the whole family is in one spot, sharing one conversation, enjoying a meal together.

Plates | Tablecloth | Blue Placemats

My tablescape is usually pretty simple, but every now and then I do break out some special décor and proclaim a “fancy dinner” where the kids drink their milk out of plastic wine glasses and try their best not to spill on the tablecloth.

Sure, creating a tablescape does take a little bit of extra time, but like many things in life, once you’ve done it a few times you learn the do’s and don’ts. Soon it will become as easy as scrolling through Amazon to find a new tablecloth.

But if you’re brand new to the tablescape, I wrote this little guide for you.

What is a Tablescape?

A tablescape is another name for the settings and decorations on your table. A tablescape can be simple  with just a few basic dining essentials, or it can be incredibly elaborate like something you would see at a super fancy wedding or party.

How to create a tablescape

If you scroll through Pinterest or TikTok looking for tablescape ideas you’re going to see over the top displays that might be pretty at first but leave you, the new tablescaper, feeling overwhelmed. Remember, social media is not real! Although, I do think the allure of the perfectly curated life that influencers have tried to sell us is changing – but, that’s a topic for another time. Anyway, you can use the images you see on social media as inspiration, and maybe one day when you feel more comfortable decorating your table you’ll have a set up like theirs, but for now, let’s just stick to the basics. A good tablescape will have these items:

Base: Tablecloth or runner, placemats

Essentials: Plates, silverware, napkins, glasseware, serving dishes

Décor: Candles, flowers, greenery

Finishing touches: seasonal décor, name cards,

Easy, right? There’s a good chance you already have most of the necessary tablescape items boxed up somewhere in your house. Get them out – let them live! But, if you are truly started from scratch and have to make some purchases, I recommend finding piece that are versatile so that they can be used for different occasions with only a few special additional décor items. Here’s a couple of ideas:

Now that the basics are covered, let’s go into detail with 5 steps on how to create a tablescape.

1. Find Inspiration and determine a theme

Whether it’s a special occasion dinner party with friends or just Sunday dinner with the family the tablescape theme will set the mood for your diner. When I’m creating a special occasion tablescape, I like to have a theme in mind since it makes it easier to decide which colors and textures to look for while I’m out shopping for tablescape décor.  Before I start shopping or pulling items out of my tablescape box to see what I already have and what else is needed, I look around for some inspiration. (Yes, I have an entire box of items specifically for tablescapes)

Tablescape inspiration can come from anywhere, really.  You could create a tablescape using the colors you saw on a mural downtown. Or create a tablescape that makes you think of a day at the beach. Or a season. Or a holiday. Or even the meal you are eating. It’s all about being creative and using an image or scenery that you like as a jumping off point to collect colors, textures, and more.

2. Choose your tablescape base

The tablecloth or runner you choose will be the base of the rest of your tablescape décor. It can be a solid color that your build off of, or it can be more ornate and act as one of the focal points while the rest of the tablescape décor is more simple and blends into the tablecloth or runner.

If you’re using a tablecloth for your tablescape base, please girl, take the time to iron or steam it.  Nothing ruins a picturesque tablescape like a wrinkled up tablecloth.

3. Choose Your Tableware

Your plates, glassware, and silverware are the stars of the table so they should look good but also be functional. When choosing what dishes you will be using, think about who will be joining you – you don’t want to break out your grandma’s vintage fine china for a dinner with toddlers – or other clumsy people.

It’s fun to mix and match colors and textures for an eclectic feel, or you could stick to one style for a polished look. Don’t be afraid to incorporate thrifted finds, heirloom pieces, or colored glassware for a unique touch.

4. Add Height and Texture

Including items that vary in height will create depth and make the tablescape décor look more interesting. Of course, you don’t want to get anything that’s too tall since your guests won’t be able to see each other. Although, you could remove some of the really tall items at meal time, which is not a big deal.

I love mixing tall candlesticks with smaller tea lights when I create a tablescape.  The same goes for floral arrangements – I have a collection of thrifted clear glass vases of varying heights and sizes that I place together to create an eclectic centerpiece.  

For texture, you can choose a rattan charger and cloth napkins – maybe something with a little bit fringe, that will add texture and contrast against smooth plates and glassware. You could also head outside to find some branches or greenery into you centerpiece to make it more personalized.

5. Add thoughtful details to your tablescape décor

The little things can make the biggest impact. Including little touches that make the meal feel more special, and show that you really put some thought into this meal and occasion will be the perfect finishing touch to your tablescape.

One Thanksgiving my aunt made place cards using pumpkins.  She gave the kids tiny little pumpkins and it was so damn cute. If you’re really creative, you could print out a personalized menu to place on top of each plate. You could name the dishes something related to the party theme or based on inside jokes you have with the attendees. That would also make for a great keepsake for the sentimental types.

A couple of extra tablescape tips

Now that I’ve answered the question what is a tablescape? And gave you five steps on how to create a tablescape, you should be able to use your own uniqueness to create a special scene for your next dinner.  But, here are a couple of extra tips for you –

Be practical

It’s fun to get creative, maybe even go a little bit over the top, but your tablescape decor should still allow for easy conversation and comfortable dining. Keep centerpieces low enough so guests can see each other, and , please, leave enough space for serving dishes and glasses.

Use the rule of threes

The rule of threes in home décor is the idea that arranging items in groups of threes is the most visually appealing way to place items. For a tablescape, that could look like placing three candlesticks together, or having three floral arrangements placed on the table. Try it, it really does work!

Use unscented candles

I love scented candles, but they can be kind of icky while eating dinner, so stick with unscented for your tablescape décor.

Don’t wait for a holiday or special occasion

Dressing up your table doesn’t have to be limited to special occasions.  Hell – even if you’re just having dinner by yourself tonight, set that table! I recently heard the phrase, “You don’t have to wait for your birthday to eat cake” and I think that is the perfect way to think of tablescape décor. It’s a small thing you can do to make an everyday task feel a little bit more special.

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