Simple Tips for Joyful Entertaining

I wonder if I could make a career out of creating fun table settings? Oh wait, I’ve already sort of done that. #winning Anywho, today I’m back sharing a fun green-inspired tablescape and a few simple tips for joyful entertaining.

This post is sponsored by NESTEA.

As you probably know, I’ve been working with NESTEA as they launch their delicious new and reformulated iced teas with fewer ingredients and a simpler recipe. (By the way, you can get a free bottle of the new NESTEA here.) To help spread the word about their real brewed tea varieties and classic iced tea flavors, they created the NESTEA Tiny House which I helped decorate. The Tiny House showcased the concept of less is more in a beautiful, trendy, and fun way.

Inspired by the #newNESTEA and influenced by their Tiny House (more details on that here), I thought I’d put together a simple yet beautiful green-inspired table setting to continue the fun.

With the table set, I’m going to show you around and share some simple tips for entertaining and creating a fabulous table of your own. There is joy in simplicity, and my hope is to show you how you can easily make something simple that’s beautiful and special.

Let’s get started!

1. Begin with Color
Have I engraved this tip in your brain yet? Whether I’m sharing advice for decorating or party planning, I always tell folks that color is the place to start. Not only does your color scheme guide your decor but it also helps you be less distracted by beautiful things outside your palette.

For this particular tablescape, green was an obvious color choice. It’s the color ofNESTEA’s logo, and it played a big role in decorating the tiny house. To go along with it, I chose two neutral colors: white and brown. The white adds a crisp, modern touch to the table, and the brown wood tied brings in another touch of nature. (It’s also a great nod to the color of Nilgiri tea leaf in the new NESTEA.)

2. New and Old
When creating a tablescape, I recommend mixing old and new. (This is another tip that works for home decor as well.) When you mix old and new, you instantly get a collected look. The mix of items also tells a story, such as “This piece belonged to my grandma. I just found this piece at my favorite store. This was an old sign that I turned into a tray.”

Obviously, having things on your dinner table that tell a story creates conversation and connections. Plus, they sure look beautiful.

3. Nature-Inspired
During the summer months, I love hitting up my own yard for fresh greens and flowers. They’re there for the taking, so why not use what you have? Whether it’s a branch from one of your trees, a potted succulent, or blooms from your cutting garden, nature’s bounty brings texture and interest to your table.

In fact, for these greens, I didn’t even have to step off my porch. These speckled flowers from my climbing hydrangea, along with a few branches from a nearby tree, added height when tucked into a vase. Done!

4. Less is More
Beyond the place settings, I’ve only added six decor items: two glass buoys, one sign-turned-tray, one large vase, and one mini vases. That’s it. When you use interesting and dynamic pieces, you don’t need a lot.

Decorative pieces that are functional (like the sign I’m using as a tray) are a double win. I also think that using larger shallow objects, such as the glass buoys, are a smart idea because they can be quickly removed when it’s time to eat.

5. Think Outside the Box
My final simple tip for joyful entertaining is to think outside the box. That is, how can you use things in a new, different, or unexpected way?

For example, I used long thin cutting boards as placements. Sure, they don’t fit perfectly under the plate, but it’s enough to keep the plate steady and in place while your guests dine. Plus, depending on what you’re serving (How about some delicious summer kabobs?), they could act as a plate for the main course. As I already mentioned, a sign reading “Lake” became a graphic tray with zero time and effort. If I had wanted to make it more functional, I could have added handles, but I decided that wasn’t necessary for my tablescape.

Keep things simple by getting creative with what you already own. The more purposes one item serves, the more valuable it is. It also means you can bring less stuff into your life and home.

That’s it, my friends! Now that the table is set and the iced tea is poured, it’s time for the grub. I hope you enjoyed a look at my table and picked up a few ideas for creating a sensational yet simple tablescape.

Thank you to NESTEA for sponsoring this blog post. All opinions are my own.