25 Summer Table Settings - Party Centerpieces for Tables

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Barn Bash

Gear up for a barn party with down-home decorations like galvanized metal plates, burlap linens. bandana napkins, and blue mason jar vases for a look that's colorful and country chic. Milk jug vases and hay bales (used for seating) also set the scene.

SHOP BLUE MASON JARS

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Farm to Table Feast

Pair fresh fares with a variety of silver and glass vessels and summery blue linens to recreate this field feast look, which—you guessed it—feels right at home in fields of flowers or crops. Leave scissors at each place setting to encourage your guests to go out and pick flowers to fill your table's empty vases.

SHOP GARDEN SHEARS

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Porch Party

Twirl up a porch party with with neighbors with terracotta pieces and pots used to house utensil, centerpieces, and food. You can even DIY your own cake stand by turning a large planter saucer atop an upside-down planter.

SHOP TERRACOTTA POTS

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Boot-Scootin' Texas Picnic

Down-home bandana "place mats" set an appropriately casual tone, and cowboy boot "vases" kick the Lone Star factor up a notch. (Simply place a water-filled glass inside each shoe.) Plastic toy horses (spray-painted gold) run—make that trot!—down the length of the table. Finally, a sleek leather pouch place card, filled with bronze flatware and paired with rope-trimmed melamine dinnerware, reins in the rustic look.

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Steel Magnolias Dinner Party

Reader Missie Crawford, who hails from Jackson, mixed Mississippi-made McCarty pottery with her great-grandmother's transferware. Plucked from her yard, the magnolia is a nod to the state flower.

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State Fair Affair

This whimsical table pays homage to the Minnesota State Fair. Topped with sunny gingham and birch wood cutlery, the small sheet pan "place mat" is a smart choice for buffet-style gatherings. Game balls and tickets, tossed casually down the table, reinforce the casual vibe. But the fairest of the state fair flair is the "cotton candy" place card, which is simply a fluff of cotton stuffing coated in pink floral spray paint (available at craft stores), then tucked in a paper cone.

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Cute Clambake

A simple tin of Old Bay Seasoning—a Mid-Atlantic must-have!—sparked this table's casual coastal feel and color palette. Here, the tins, used to corral safflower blooms, sit atop a kraft paper tablecloth featuring an appropriately crabby (but not kitschy) print. Seasoned country favorites such as hand-dipped spatterware and striped bistro napkins add a pinch of charm, and a simple lemon place card (paired with a claw cracker) provides a sunny pop of yellow.

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Colorful Luau

Inspired by the lush scenery of The Big Island, this blooming tablescape is a happy blend of patterns (floral, coral) and textures (raffia, bamboo). The embroidered fan place card is pretty and practical, and other tropical touches, like tiki mugs, paper umbrellas, and plain old pineapples up the "aloha" factor.

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Festive Fourth

Red-and-white ikat check fabric and American flag napkins turn your picnic table into a patriotic statement.

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Shell Style

Boston reader Rachel Norman shared this "high-meets-low" approach: nice dinnerware paired with plain newspaper and casual linens. A sprinkling of painted seashells shores up the waterfront look.

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Dressed-Up Cookout

"Complete with campfire mugs and fresh greenery, this no-fuss table reminds me of summer mountain adventures with my dad," says reader Lauren Jones of Denver.

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Citrusy Setting

San Diego native Katie Craig created this sunny homage to the Golden State. "The vibrant yellows and happy citrus notes represent California dreamin' to me!" she says.

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An Inspiring Outdoor Dining Room

A vase and basket of lemons add subtle texture to this summer tablescape.

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Lemon Place Cards and Sunflowers

A refreshing palette of golden yellow and robin's-egg blue sets the scene. For a casual yet stylish affair, mix upscale elements with down-home details. Burlap, bandannas, and disposable pleats mingle effortlessly with fresh flowers and herbs.

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Classic Americana

Mix solid red and blue dishware with polka dot plates and a striped tablecloth. Place small American flags and star-spangled cocktail umbrellas in jars as centerpieces.

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Sunset Fish Fry

Brimming with dill and Queen Anne's lace, an old fishing creel finds new use as a planter, and a vintage store display gets reborn as a menu holder. A camp blanket doubles as an unexpectedly lovely summertime tablecloth.

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Hay Bale Seating

Rustic bales of hay make more theme-appropriate seating than basic folding chairs. Find them at a local farm-supply store.

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Bandanna Table Runner

Add a cheerful touch to the summer table with this patchwork-style runner. Line up enough bandannas to fit the length of a table, leaving some overhang, and stitch together. To back the runner, cut an old cotton tablecloth (any light-colored one will do) to match its width and length. Sew together along the edges or attach with iron-on bonding.

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Green Table Setting with Roses

Don't be afraid to use crystal goblets outside. They add elegance to the table and look right at home next to antique flatware and long, tapered candlesticks.

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White Table Setting with Flowers and Pears

Improvise a "cloth" tablecloth by criss-crossing strips of burlap from a garden-supply store, then layering lengths of crinkly white gauze over them. The effect is reminiscent of antique linen culled from Grandma's attic.

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