Savor the Season: Ideas for Summer Tablescapes

Summer brings a refreshing shift in dining. Meals move outdoors, gatherings feel more spontaneous, and the table becomes a canvas for vibrant colors and seasonal inspiration. The way we set the table can reflect the season's energy, with bright hues, fresh textures, and versatile dinnerware that transitions effortlessly from everyday meals to more formal entertaining.   

Whether you’re hosting a weeknight dinner on the patio, a breezy brunch with friends, or a festive summer soirée, refreshing your dinnerware and tablescape is a simple way to incorporate the joy of the season. Let’s explore our favorite collections for summertime, styling tips, and seasonal accents to help you embrace warm weather entertaining.  

Styling Your Home for Summer  

Summer is the ideal time to refresh your home with décor that feels light and airy. Just as we welcome brighter colors and breezier fabrics into our wardrobes, our home can echo that same seasonal energy. Think vibrant dinnerware, fresh florals, and nature-inspired accents that bring warmth and personality to your spaces.  

When it comes to the dining room, a summer table should feel welcoming and easygoing, blending beauty with functionality. Layering textured linens, natural materials, and lively color palettes sets the tone for relaxed yet elevated gatherings.  

Beyond the table, small home updates can carry the spirit of summer throughout your house. Swapping heavy textiles for breathable linens, lighting citrus-scented candles, or incorporating floral arrangements instantly lifts the atmosphere. Decorative touches like patterned trays, colorful vases, or nature-inspired motifs add charm and character.  

Bright Summer Hues for Your Home 

• Crisp whites – A timeless base to keep your table cheerful and fresh.
• Sun-kissed yellows – A nod to citrus fruits, golden hour light, and sunny summer days. 
• Hues of blue – Evokes memories of coastal getaways, clear skies, and refreshing waters. Lush greens – Inspired by fresh herbs, tropical palms, and breezy outdoor settings. 
• Beaming brights – Pops of orange, citron, and punchy pinks bring playful vibrancy to the table. 
• Light and airy neutrals – Earthy tones that soften and ground a summer tablescape.  

Why Host Summer Gatherings? 

While autumn and winter revolve around major holidays, summer is the season of spontaneous celebration. From longer daylight hours to warmer evenings, summer is the perfect time to slow down, soak up the sunshine, and reconnect with friends. There’s no better way to do that than hosting a summer gathering. 

An impromptu patio happy hour, a seafood boil at sunset, or a breezy garden lunch provides the perfect opportunity to bring people together in a way that feels easy and joyful. Beyond the food and fun, summer gatherings allow us to celebrate the little things – sunset views, seasonal flowers, and laughter echoing through the yard. Hosting doesn’t have to be elaborate; even the simplest get-togethers can spark connection and remind us why community and togetherness matter the most.  

Our Favorite Summer Celebrations  

To make entertaining even easier, we’ve hand-selected a few of our favorite summer parties that perfectly capture the essence of the season. Each curated gathering includes a selection of products, styling details, and featured recipes to bring the celebration to life.  

Havana Nights Gathering 

Inspired by Laura’s hometown of Miami, Florida, our Havana Nights Gathering transports you into the lively and colorful vibe you experience in The Magic City. Bold black accents, Cuban-inspired décor, and a menu featuring Cuban sandwiches with tomato jam and the iconic 1905 Salad come together to create an immersive summer celebration filled with rich flavors and a festive ambiance.  

Summer Citrus Celebration  

Feature lively hues and seasonal flavors when you host a vibrant Citrus Celebration for your next summer gathering. Drawing inspiration from sun-kissed citrus fruits, this event combines bold oranges and yellows with refreshing greenery for a radiant atmosphere. Incorporate elements like our Citrus Traditional Tray and Citrus Ruffle Salad Plate to enhance your tablescape, creating a memorable experience that captures the zesty feeling of these warmer days.   

Tapas and a Toast Gathering  

Who doesn’t love tapas? This classic summer celebration allows you to savor small bites, a light charcuterie board, and a refreshing seasonal cocktail. Our Tapas and a Toast gathering creates a casual, intimate event that exemplifies the joy of sharing good food and drink with loved ones.  

By the Bay Gathering  

We love hosting a By the Bay Gathering with our extended family on holiday weekends at our beach home in Alligator Point, Florida. Inspired by the colors and textures of the beach, this summer gathering emphasizes simplicity and togetherness and features our go-to dishes like fresh-caught fried fish and head-on shrimp. This family favorite includes classic designs such as our Signature White Ruffle Dinner Plate and Fundamental Wood Ruffle Small Bowl, enhancing the experience with clean whites and natural wooden touches.  

Styling a Summer Tablescape  

A summer tablescape should feel laid-back, inviting, and seasonally inspired. Whether you’re dining indoors or al fresco, the key to a well-styled table is layering colors, textures, and functional designs that reflect the season. Start with a light and airy base like neutral linens or woven placemats. Then, add fresh florals, rattan accents, or citrus-filled bowls.  

A summer party is the perfect time to blend casual and refined looks by embracing mix-and-match styling. Pair refined dinnerware with linen napkins, colorful glassware {we love Estelle Colored Glass}, or playful printed accessories. Opt for lightweight yet durable styles that transition easily from the kitchen to the patio.  

Summer Dinnerware Favorites  

Your dinnerware sets the stage for a beautifully styled table. Swap out your everyday dishes for designs with bold citrus hues, timeless neutrals, or coastal cool tones, and enjoy memorable summer dining occasions that feel effortlessly curated.  

This season, we’re reaching for playful patterns, organic textures, and styles that feel just as at home on the veranda as they do in a dining room. Here are a few of our favorite collections for summer dinnerware:  

Citrus Collection – Nothing says summer quite like bright, sun-kissed citrus hues. Inspired by fresh lemons, limes, and oranges, the dinnerware in our Citrus Collection instantly adds energy and vibrancy to your table.  

Fundamentals Collection – Boasting mix-and-match essentials, our Fundamentals Collection features natural acacia wood and ruffled edges that bring an organic feel to any table. The neutral tones make it easy to layer with seasonal accents.  

Iris Blue Collection – Inspired by coastal charm and botanical beauty, the designs in this blue-hued collection feature hand-painted patterns that add a cool, refreshing feel to your summer tablescape. Our Iris Blue Collection can be easily paired with other styles for both everyday meals and more formal entertaining.  

Summery Table Linens  

Table linens are the foundation of any tablescape, setting the tone for the entire dining experience. In summer, we lean into lightweight, breathable fabrics that feel as breezy as the season. Our soft and durable table linens in cotton, linen, and cotton-linen blends are perfect for warm-weather dining.  

The hues featured in our Iris Blue, Deco, and Fundamentals collections offer a variety of backgrounds that work beautifully on their own or paired with seasonal hand towels like our Palm Medium Hand Towel or Oyster Towels. The right linens create a subtle summer touch that brings a fresh feel to any space.   

Table Accessories for Summertime 

Small details make a big impact. Thoughtfully chosen accessories such as woven chargers, decorative napkin rings, or patterned appetizer plates bring personality to your table. We offer plenty of table accessories that will add an extra layer of seasonal charm to your summer celebrations.  

• Oyster Trinket Bowl – Perfect for holding small items or acting as salt and pepper cellars for pinching or pouring. 

• Palm Platter – Serve up fresh seafood, summer salads, or tasty treats with a touch of tropical charm. 

• Citrus Lemon Toothpick Holder – Keep toothpicks handy with a side of summer style. 

• Iris Blue Rectangle Board – This design brings a pop of blue to your table and is ideal for presenting smaller spreads like artisanal cheeses or delectable desserts. 

   

Summery Home Décor Accents  

Woven baskets, seashell accents, and fresh greenery instantly add a relaxed, beachy vibe to your home décor, while lightweight linens and sheer curtains let natural light flow in. Swapping out heavy throws and dark tones for lighter materials and colors can refresh a room with minimal effort and maximum seasonal impact.  

Beyond aesthetics, summer décor is all about creating open, inviting, and easygoing spaces. A few well-placed decorations can help set the tone of laid-back summer gatherings, spontaneous entertaining, and the carefree feeling that summer inspires.  

Summer Centerpiece Ideas  

Summer is the perfect time to embrace centerpieces that feel effortless. Summertime centerpieces tend to feel lighter and more organic – think fresh greenery, bright blooms, and natural elements. Whether you’re hosting an al fresco dinner or simply refreshing your home with seasonal touches, these centerpiece ideas can help elevate your tablescapes:  

• Fresh-cut greenery – Pull inspiration from our By the Bay and Frond Fête gatherings by using simple palm fronds, tropical leaves, or fresh-cut herbs as the base of your centerpiece. You can arrange them in a tall vase or casually lay the greenery along the center of the table. 

• Florals and seasonal fruit – Inspired by our Havana Nights Gathering, a tropical arrangement that mixes florals with seasonal fruit creates an eye-catching focal point. Bold blooms like hibiscus or orchids from Kyle’s mother-in-law’s local company Brookwood Designs, paired with tucked-in pineapples, bananas, or citrus fruits feel lively and celebratory – ideal for summer gatherings. 

• Citrus accents – Take a cue from our Citrus Celebration and incorporate lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruits as both décor and garnishes. Arrange them in a bowl, layer them along the tablescape, or use thin slices floating in vases of water for a simple yet stunning effect.  

 For more inspiration, check out our guide to centerpieces. Whether you prefer a single statement arrangement or a collection of small vases, the right mix of florals, lighting, and decorative accents can bring your summer tablescape to life.  

Summer Accents for Your Home Bar  

Summer gatherings call for easy, refreshing drinks and the perfect bar setup to serve them in style. Create an experience to remember with a signature cocktail, like an Aperol Spritz or citrus-infused sangria, and seasonal garnishes {think fresh mint, berries, or edible flowers}.  

Elevate your bar with seasonal details like hand-painted trays, bright glassware, and our citrus-themed cocktail napkins to create a polished look with a casual feel. Keep a mix of highball and stemmed glasses on hand, along with a stylish pitcher for serving drinks in a functional but aesthetically pleasing way.  

Our Top Summer Recipes to Showcase on Your Seasonal Table 

And, of course, no summer gathering is complete without delicious food. Summer meals are all about fresh flavors, seasonal ingredients, and embracing the best of the season. Fire up the grill, make use of peak-season produce, and mix up a refreshing cocktail with these tasty recipes.  

Grilled Flank Steak, Charred Corn, and Avocado with Simple Herb Sauce  

This flavorful recipe is summer on a plate – grilled to perfection, layered with herby freshness, and packed with seasonal flavors. The combination of charred corn, creamy avocado, and vibrant herb sauce makes it an ideal dish for warm-weather celebrations.  

Fresh Tomato Tart  

There's no better way to celebrate the height of tomato season than with this Southern-inspired tart. Featuring a buttery, flaky crust and layers of juicy, ripe tomatoes, this dish turns simple ingredients into a tasty summer staple.  

The Perfect Paloma  

With its vibrant pink hue and crisp citrus punch, the Paloma feels like a summer essential. This tequila-based cocktail balances grapefruit’s tartness with just the right amount of sweetness, making it perfect for warm evenings from May to July {and beyond!}.  

As summer unfolds in all its sun-kissed glory, there’s no better time to gather with the people who brighten your life. Whether it’s a casual backyard barbeque, a beachside picnic, or a sunset dinner under the stars, a summer gathering with seasonal dishes and breezy décor creates a space for connection, laughter, and lasting memories.  

Embrace the warmth, set the table, and open your doors to the magic of summer. After all, it’s not only about the setting – it's about the people, the stories, and the simple joy of being together.