How to Style Your Summer Entertaining
Your first memory of setting the table was probably as a child — parents or grandparents bringing out the good china for whatever esteemed guests they’d invited over (usually just more family members who, honestly, probably couldn’t tell the difference). Maybe some themed placemats for events — I’ll admit it, my parents still have special Christmas placements and yes, they still bring a childish thrill.
It’s safe to say that in recent years, tablescaping has seen a resurgence — something the Cambridge Dictionary calls “the arrangement of items on a table that produces an attractive and decorative effect.” Whether it's the rise of TikTok home cooks and trends like monthly dinner clubs, or the popularity of TV shows like The Bear bringing food hype into the spotlight, cooking and dining is having a moment right now.
With the new wave of culinary appreciation comes new attitudes — dining is becoming less formal and more communal, tablescapes included. We're seeing more relaxed approaches to table settings, less focused on being pristine and more focused on creating a space that feels warm and inviting. It’s all about summer tablescape ideas — casual yet cool, more focused on celebrating time with friends and family (and of course, delicious food), than the perfect napkin origami.
Starting with a handful of simple offerings, our designers purposely put together a capsule that can be paired together without any thought — this colour goes with that one, which goes with this pattern, no problem.
And designing with natural fibres — like cotton — was an easy decision to make. Not only is it a soft texture with an easy drape, it's perfect for creating your easy breezy summer tablescapes. Style it crisp and ironed or laidback and flowing, you really can't go wrong.
1. Go Bold with Your Base
If you're looking for a table setting that's set apart from the rest — start with the base. Our Aya Tablecloth is a perfect starting point for fun summer styling. The eye-catching floral brings dimension to your tablescape, with a multicoloured palette that makes it perfect for mixing and matching accessories.
2. Light & Breezy
This colour scheme is perfect for fans of coastal styling, or for any minimalists looking to dip their toes in a splash of colour. It pairs our Frama Tablecloth in salt with the coordinating napkin set – a sleek pairing of crisp white and a textured grid print that's suited to the most elevated of summer soirees. This design also features small embroidered details in a pop of contrasting colour, to really bring your table to life.
3. Mix in Block Colours
Want to create contrast that's a little less maximalist? Try pairing your printed tablecloth with the Mette Napkin in matcha or raspberry. Both shades play perfectly with our Aya and Frama tablecloths, picking up on different colour cues in each print.
4. Pattern on Pattern
Love a coordinated moment? You're in luck. Our Aya design is also available in napkin form, perfect for pairing back with the coordinating tablecloth. Or, if you want to mix in a contrasting print, try a set of Rover napkins — their layered check design is a perfect contrast against freeform florals, with equal amounts of playful colour.
5. A Little Bit of Everything
As we mentioned earlier, summer tablescapes are all about a relaxed, fun approach to dining. To really capture the essence of this, we say it's time to throw the styling rules out the window and mix and match to your heart's content. Patterns, fabrics and colours galore — these unexpected combinations bring an eclectic feel to your styling, ready to go with the flow.
6. Picnic Time
We’re cheating with this one — this summer tablescape idea involves no table at all.
Yep, we’re talking about picnics. You can use your tablecloth as a rug (they’re big enough to be one), or bring along one of our wide-width beach towels if you want an extra layer between you and the grass.
