Elevate Summer Entertaining with these Inspiring Finds and Ideas

While I embrace the easy-breezy nature of summer entertaining, I still love to set a beautiful table. For a Southern gal like me, it’s in my nature. Nothing too fussy, though. Just an intentional display that makes guests feel special.

So, I’m always on the hunt for new tabletop finds that will strike a festive mood at summer soirees. Here are a few of my current favorites, plus a look back at a stunning tablescape we designed for a client’s outdoor gathering.

Favorite Finds for a Summery Tabletop

The tablescape sets the mood at any bash, and linens are always a good place to start when establishing the vibe. The embroidered Wave collection from Matouk captures all the summer feels.

The Hazy Blue colorway pictured above is lovely; I’m drawn to the deeper blues of the Aquarius colorway too. There are four other color options – all of which would make a gorgeous table.

I tend to add a bit of natural texture to my outdoor tabletop (and my indoor ones too, for that matter). These wicker charger plates from Bodrum fit the bill nicely.

They come in nine colors so there’s sure to be hue that coordinates with your scheme. The navy ones are calling my name!

I love, love, love festive glassware, especially for summer entertaining. And I’m like a kid in a candy store when I visit Estelle Colored Glass. So many options! These scalloped-edge, cobalt-blue lowballs would pair nicely with the Matouk Wave linens above.

The Sunday Collection from Estelle Colored Glass includes highball glasses too. These special pieces are hand-blown by artisans in Poland.

I’m also obsessed with Estelle’s Colorblock Champagne Coupes, available in a variety of color combinations from pastel to bold. They would certainly make a statement on any table.

And while we’re on the subject of colorful glass…I’ve been a huge fan of the whimsical offerings from Tracy Glover Studio for a long time. I’ve specified their eye-catching pendant lights in a number of projects. Now their hand-blown vases have caught my fancy!

These petite masterpieces are made from leftover canes from the studio’s lighting. That means no two pieces are alike!

The artisanal bud vases are actually a vase within a vase; a multi-hued flower frog sits inside a clear glass cylinder. A myriad of shapes, configurations and colorways are available – and I adore them all!

This blue-and-green grouping would make an especially lovely centerpiece on a summer tabletop.

No outdoor tablescape would be complete without lighting. Candles are always a nice addition, but we’re loving rechargeable lamps right now too.

Visual Comfort’s lineup of rechargeable lamps offers something for everyone, with styles from
sleek to coastal-chic.

Capitol Hill Garden Party

Back in Summer 2022, our amazing client, Bridget, enlisted us to help plan and prep for a Southern-style soiree she was hosting in the backyard of her Capitol Hill row house. Together, we created gorgeous tabletop displays for her summer garden party by combining pieces Bridget already had with new finds and tons of fresh flowers.

As you can see, the tabletop compositions marry color and texture. We started with beautiful linen tablecloths in pastel shades and layered on dark rattan placemats. For the whimsical place settings, we mixed and matched china and glassware to keep the mood lighthearted.

But the flowers steal the show. Ursula Gunther at fleursDC created the stunning centerpieces using hydrangeas in various hues and jewel-toned anemones. At each setting, we added a mini hydrangea moment (the perfect take-home party favor) and a hand-written placecard.

Bridget and I were both delighted to see the home’s colorful, updated-traditional interiors and our backyard party preparations covered in Flower Magazine’s “Southern Hospitality on Capitol Hill” feature.

Summer Entertaining in Style

I hope you have many opportunities to gather with friends and family around the outdoor table while the weather is balmy (and not too steamy!). And I know your guests will appreciate the thought and care you put into creating a memorable occasion. Cheers to summertime!