Simple and Bright Summer Tablescape

Today, I am sharing a very simple and bright summer tablescape that is so easy and inexpensive to create.  I actually created it with leftovers from our daughter’s graduation that we hosted the weekend before last. 

In this day and time, simple and easy are what many crave. It doesn’t have to be expensive to create a bright and beautiful tablescape. Mix up colors that you already have and add touches of brightness to create a simple and stunning look.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Even in these crazy times, we opted to host a graduation party for our daughter.  Most of the last semester of her senior year of high school was taken from her, so it was important for us to still throw her a party…with maximum social distancing, of course, not to mention other precautions. 

For the entrance to the party, I made 15 of these hydrangea arrangements to feature on shepherd’s hooks lining our driveway and other areas in our backyard.  She wanted a rustic theme while still using her blue school colors. 

Creating this Simple and Bright Summer Tablescape

Once the party was over, I needed to figure out something to do with the lovely hobnail vases with hydrangeas.  I had tied light blue bandanas to coordinate with her blue, rustic theme so I decided to use them as a centerpiece for this summer tablescape. 

And, if you knew how inexpensive these arrangements were, you might be inspired to copy this idea for your own dramatic centerpiece. Our Trader Joe’s sells a set of three hydrangeas for $4.99, so each arrangement cost $1.66 each. 

Hydrangeas are such a great option for centerpieces because they are so big and are easy to keep alive for a while.  Plus, you just stick one in a vase and you have a beautiful arrangement with little to no effort but a lot of drama. 

The Place Settings

To play off the blue, green, and white of the centerpieces, I used those colors for the place settings and then accented them with bright yellow floral napkin rings…super bright and cheery for a summer tablescape!!

I used these blue bandanas all throughout the party, so I decided to use them as the napkins for the table setting. I cut up the bandanas to tie them around the vases to tie in the Valor High School colors (go Eagles!).

For the placemats, I used napkins instead (you probably know that I do that A LOT!).  I love how they provide a little draping off the table for added interest. The green salad plates (from IKEA, believe it or not!) added another soft touch of green.  I have linked similar products at the end of the post.

My Lenox Chelsea Muse Scalloped dinner plates added such a nice, lacy feel to the place settings. This is precisely why I didn’t add a charger so they would stand alone.

Simple place settings…simple glassware too!

Since the bright color palette exudes such a feeling of summer, I kept the place settings very simple.  It was nice to come home to after our week-long annual July 4^th trip.  As the hydrangeas start to fade, I can easily replace them.  It certainly helps that our Trader Joe’s is only about 45 seconds from our home!!

NOTE:  To keep hydrangeas lasting longer, change out the water about every 3 days. Also, check out this post from my friend, Yvonne, of StoneGable Blog, who wrote a very informative post on how to keep hydrangeas from wilting.

If you would like to see how I have used hydrangeas for a similar look for other table settings, click HERE and HERE.  For one of the applications, I just filled my Dollar Store vases with limes and then topped them off with the hydrangeas.  I also created a similar centerpiece for this Easy and Elegant Tablescape.

---

Hopefully, you enjoyed seeing how I put this quick, Simple and Bright Summer Tablescape together that you can easily duplicate.  This concept would work for any holiday table or event! Also, try to incorporate an element of the table in another spot in your dining area for added flair.

I hope you all had a lovely time around the July 4^th holiday weekend.  We went away from Wednesday to Wednesday and had no cell service or internet so it was a perfect way to unplug!  Did you get a chance to unplug around the holiday weekend??