With long weekends to look forward to and the weather warming up, we want to savour moments of togetherness this summer. To make every gathering – whether it’s a long overdue date night, a celebratory birthday lunch with friends or an impromptu dinner party – all the more special.
So here are a few ideas for creating a beautiful, seasonal, tablescape – whatever the occasion.
FLOWERS & FOLIAGE
Adding foliage and flower sprays can really help to bring a tablescape together. It’s a brilliant nod to the season too. Dried flowers create a lovely atmosphere during the autumnal months with their neutral tones, while greenery, whites and pinks work wonderfully for this time of year. Try bringing in scented cut flowers like roses and sweet peas – or aromatic pots of rosemary and lavender.
Our new collection of faux flowers make a lovely and long-lasting display that can be used throughout the summer months too.
Reuse old jam jars and bud vases, or this pretty set of 3 vases, for smaller posies. Our large recycled vases – with their tall, narrow necks – are perfect for bigger, wilder bouquets. If you’re arranging a long table setting – around a trestle dining table, for example – you could try dotting smaller arrangements down the middle. That way, guests can still see and talk to one another comfortably.
INJECT COLOUR
Coloured glassware offers a lovely way to inject a little colour to your gatherings this summer. You could mix and match with faux flower stems for a bolder display or opt for simplicity with plenty of foliage gathered from your garden or local hedgerows.
Handmade in Portugal, our white and grey tableware collection complements schemes both bold and muted. Or try our new Nailsworth dineware range for a pop of colour. For more formal gatherings, try layering your crockery by size. Or, for more informal occasions, a napkin tied with a seasonal flower stem (why not try a sprig of lavender for summer) adds a welcoming feel. Our new solid stainless steel cutlery range will make a classic addition to your table setting too.
You might choose to keep your table top bare, especially if it’s got a beautiful wood grain worthy of display. Or, you could add individual placemats. If you’re planning on placing floral displays and hot dishes along the middle, a table runner would work well. This not only brings a little texture to your tablescape but added protection too. For full coverage, our 100% cotton tablecloths can be used inside or out.
AL FRESCO GATHERINGS
While the days are longer during the summer months, garden lighting adds a warmth to evening gatherings.
Try tealights in glass candle holders to add intimacy to a smaller tablescape. For bigger parties, large pillar candles in lanterns make a statement, while our new collection of pizza ovens and firepits will add a welcoming feeling of conviviality.
Scented candles add another layer of ambiance too. We love Gathering from our new home fragrance collection – with its notes of thyme, rose and warming spices.
With thoughts of delicious salads for sharing and spontaneous picnics on sunshine-filled days, we’ve commissioned a menu of seasonal recipes. Easy to prepare and perfect for gatherings. You’ll find our Roasted pepper, spinach and creamy burrata salad with grapefruit vinaigrette recipe on our blog now.
We’d love to see your tablescapes this summer with our beautiful new tableware, glassware or faux flowers. Share them with us on Instagram using #cotswoldco.
