EASY COMPANY’S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLE

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

A friend of mine and I were talking about dining rooms recently and she said she was too busy with her business to have big dinner parties and therefore she did not use her formal dining room very much at all. That got me thinking… Why do we need to host a big dinner party to use the dining room? How about inviting another couple or just a few friends over for an easy dinner in the dining room? I’m sharing an easy do-it-yourself centerpiece and an oh, so pretty table that is a no brainer to set!  

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Today is… 

Make sure to check out my blogging friends at the end of this post! They set the most beautiful table!

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

Let’s set an easy-peasy, yet pretty table for four and a centerpiece that you can make yourself in less than 10 minutes!

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE
The centerpiece started with a bouquet of assorted blooms from my favorite florist…

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

And one of my white soup tureens… sans lid… which will be the container for the floral arrangement!

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

I didn’t want to mess with oasis or florist tape adhered to the edges of the soup tureen. This is a very very quick and pretty arrangement! No fuss!

Here’s how I make a super easy centerpiece…

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

1  Begin with great flowers and lots of greens. I chose a very dusty blush to pink color palette with lots of eucalyptus.  Choosing large blooms is also a must as you will see. This bouquet had…

  • blush cabbage roses
  • pink hydrangeas
  • white stargazer lilies
  • small, white calla lilies
  • white astilbe
  • eucalyptus

2  Find a low and wide container to hold the centerpiece. I chose a white ironstone soup tureen. Fill the container with fresh water and add the eucalyptus or greens. Doing this first will hold the rest of the flowers in place. Let the greens drape over the container.

3  Cut the biggest blooms in your bouquet (mine were hydrangeas) short and add them evenly around the container. Keep them very close to the container. See image above.

4  Next start with your most showy bloom (stargazer lilies) cut them short and add them to the arrangement. Again keep them low. Then add the other bigger flowers (mine were cabbage type rose). Cut them low as well. 

Add pods or closed blooms (stargazer lilies) to the arrangement. They can be a little taller because they are not as dense.

5  Finally, add the “fluff” astilbe and calla lilies. Tuck them in areas that need a little coverage or “fluff”! Continue to work the arrangement until you are pleased with it. 

A very eye pleasing arrangement shape is an off center obtuse triangle.

 

The arrangement is the star of this table and all the other elements are very subdued. Remember we are setting this for just four people.  

Most dining room tables are quite large. So, set two place settings on one side of the table and two on the other. It will look much cozier!

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

 Other than the flowers, the table is white or silver! Simple settings, but the white on white and silver makes it look a little more dramatic and let’s the flowers shine!

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

The iridescent goblets were my grandmother’s wedding goblets. They are a great treasure to me!

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE 

To fill out the table, mercury glass candlesticks flank the centerpiece. I added tall white vintage ginger jars at each end of the table. Filling out the center of the table keeps the table from looking too empty.

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

Rethink your dining room table! Set a table for four and use it often!

COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

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COMPANY'S COMING CENTERPIECE AND TABLESCAPE

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83 Comments

  1. Can I come? I want to have a dinner party. Love the soup tureen. I am on the look at for one at my next estate sale.

  2. Dorinda Selke says:

    As always, a most beautiful and inspiring post – Hugs, Dorinda

  3. Lovely, simply lovely! I need to find a soup tureen like that! Thank you for the simple “how to”!

  4. Anne Marie says:

    Beautiful trable setting!

  5. I love hydrangeas and cabbage roses. My grandmother had a beautiful flower garden and her house always smelled of flowers. Beautiful arrangement. It made me think of Grandma’s house.

  6. Beautiful! I agree that the dining room should be used more often. It really makes company and family feel special!

  7. What a lovely table! I always enjoy seeing what you do next. You inspire me to try new things. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day!

  8. So easy so simple and yet so pretty

  9. Beautiful and such a lovely centerpieces!

  10. Beautiful idea! White and silver is very elegant looking.

  11. Very pretty
    I like the soft colors you used.

  12. Beautiful centerpiece, Yvonne! I just love the soft look. I would sit there and stare at the centerpiece all day. Great advice and I’m pinning the idea.

  13. Inspiring! This arrangement reminds me of arrangements my great aunt made with peonies this time of year. So beautiful!

  14. Dianne Lanier says:

    I love that you create such beautiful arrangements that are so simple to make. Love your posts!!!

  15. Beautiful!! I would love to sit down for lunch at your table any day! I love the soft colors you used and I love those candle sticks. Lucky you for having your grandmothers wedding goblets. I have a hankie and leather coin purse of my grandmother that I cherish.

  16. beautifully set table …absolutely lovely

  17. Love the step by step directions for the gorgeous flower arrangement. Thank you for sharing such useful information!

  18. I love the choices of color for your centerpiece! The blushes and whites look beautiful together! As always!!!!

  19. Very pretty, Yvonne. I have a weakness for peonies; they are so lush – I bought some amazingly real-looking faux ones yesterday (they even droop at the neck like real ones do) so there’s no need to bend the stems. Can you answer a question for me, please? I’ve always enjoyed setting a pretty table and often wonder how others – who enjoy doing the same – serve the food! My question is: do you plate each person’s entree in the kitchen then bring their plate in to the dining room? … OR do you bring in the casserole dishes, etc. that are holding the main entree and place the food on a server or what? If I set an attractive table, many times there’s no room for the platters and casserole dishes holding the food!

    1. I do the same, Elaine. Love a pretty table — but usually put food on my kitchen table – with a simple centerpiece so guests can fill own plates — or sometimes I plate each person’s plate in kitchen and have “extras” available on side board — but I LOVE a pretty and season appropriate table!!

    2. Great question, Elaine. I never put food directly on the table. For a small group, I remove the dinner plates and plate them myself and return them to each person. For larger gatherings, I remove the dinner plates and serve a buffet on my kitchen island. Desserts and coffee I serve from the buffet or bar. Hope this helps!

  20. Love, love love that tablesetting, it is so pretty and romantics!❤️?
    Pat

  21. what a pretty , romantic tablesetting!❤️? I love it
    Pat

  22. Portia Read says:

    That is so pretty Yvonne! I love the soft colors with the white and silver.
    Now what did you have in mind to serve for dinner?

    1. I’ve been wanting to serve a beautiful roast with roasted onions and carrots. Served with potatoes anna! YUM!

  23. Just beautiful. The iridescent goblets are stunning with the rest of your table setting.

  24. Karen VanLoo says:

    What a beautiful table! I love your Grandmother’s goblets!

  25. Robin Talley says:

    Thanks for the wonderful ideas and inspiration!!! Setting a nice table is so important!! Wonderful read today!! ?

  26. Yvonne once again you nailed it! Using eucalyptus first creates a great framework to support the blossoms. I love the idea of setting the center 4 places at the table, keeping it intimate. Thanks for the inspiration as always!

  27. Beautiful setting! The centerpiece is gorgeous and low enough for conversation across the table. And I love how you balanced it with the higher pieces on the ends. I’m not a big dinner party type myself and always enjoy a more intimate and cozy setting in the dining room. Thanks for sharing!

  28. I call this style “understated elegance”…it is lovely!

  29. Carol Elkins says:

    What a wonderful idea! I inherited my grandmother’s white soup tureen and it’s just sitting in my china cabinet, but not anymore!

  30. Very lovely….makes me want to have a dinner party also…

  31. Love the soft colors, beautiful.

  32. Anne Porter says:

    My friends and I have had the same dining room conversation and my own conclusion is to indeed have small, casual meals there occasionally. It allows me to “play” with my “stuff” and generates conversation that sitting around with meals on our laps does not. I’m in my 70,s and still enjoy using my wedding china and silver! The table is set for lunch with 3 friends right now….china, silver and burlap !

  33. This is beautiful! Thank you for the inspiration.

  34. Beautiful, elegant and inviting.

  35. Marcy Leonard says:

    Love the pairing of the cabbage roses with the hydrangeas!

  36. Very lovely. One doesn’t see astilbe much anymore…such a lovely flower

  37. Dearest Yvonne,
    Love that soup tureen, as it is the right height too; not blocking the entire view while at table!
    Also you candle arrangement is lovely and how precious for having your grandmothers wedding goblets!
    Sending you hugs and healing wishes.
    Mariette’s Back to Basics

  38. Beautiful centerpiece and table settings!

  39. Your table is lovely. Thanks for tips on arranging the flowers. Love the choice of flowers and they look great in your tureen.

  40. Love this! Simply elegant. Nice way to live .Thanks for sharing!!

  41. I too have items from my grandmothers that are treasures. One that I have is my grandmother’s bible and silver pieces.

    Thanks for the tips.

    Cindy

  42. Donna Dehaan says:

    Love the candle sticks.

  43. My husband and I have dinner in the dining room for birthdays and anniversaries if we’re not going out to dinner. In fact, we’re starting to prefer this instead of driving 100 miles (round trip) to have dinner in a nice restaurant. He’ll grill steaks and we’ll share a bottle of our daughter’s-in-law wine. Fun evenings!

  44. My husband and I have dinner in the dining room for birthdays and anniversaries if we’re not going out to dinner. In fact, we’re starting to prefer this instead of driving 100 miles (round trip) to have dinner at a nice restaurant. He’ll grill steaks and we’ll share a bottle of our daughter’s-in-law wine. Fun evenings! Can you tell we’ve been married 50+ years?!?

    1. How wonderful Susan! Real love and marriages should last a lifetime! Sounds like you are doing it right!

  45. Lanita Anderson says:

    Beautiful tablescape!! I especially loved the centerpiece in the beautiful white bowl…..

  46. Yvonne, I love your simple dining room arrangement on your table,the color palette is gorgeous. I love to go out in my flower beds and bring the outdoors inside. My peonies are in full bloom now along with the Iris and old fashion Lemoon Lilies. I love the smell of Spring flowers they remind me of my beloved grandma Lena.

  47. Linda of No.Cal. says:

    BEAUTIFUL !! I don’t have a dining room but I like to dress up our table with flowers and candles and a couple of place settings.
    It looks so pretty and makes me smile. I like to do seasonal table settings too. I have changed all my dishes to mix and match white dishes… I had many misc pieces and I purchased two 4-piece place settings of square dishes and round. I did keep a few of my colorful dishes for serving pieces. LUV IT !!
    A.N.D. I purchased the lucite nesting tables from World Market Cost Plus. So FUN !! Thank you for all your wonderful ideas. I needed to do a little ‘refreshing’ !! ((smile))

    1. So glad you are finding inspiration at StoneGable! Don’t you love those lucite tables?

  48. Julie Briones says:

    Lovely, Yvonne. I love the idea of putting the ginger jars on either side for space and balance appeal. 🙂

    Great flowers choices, too! Would using florist foam make it any easier for us novices?

  49. There is nothing as beautiful as a centerpiece with real flowers. It’s especially nice if they’re from your own garden!

  50. Yvonne, what a gorgeous arrangement and I love how simple it is to do! I, too, tend to arrange flowers quickly without getting involved with foam and tape. You results are stunning!!

  51. Love your table setting! Thanks for the inspiration.

  52. You are so passionate about everything you do, what a beautiful setting.

  53. Maggie Nelson says:

    Beautiful table setting and the centerpiece is beautiful!

  54. Great looking center piece. The whole table looks great. Thank you for the how too’s

  55. Where did you get your dish sets from? They are gorgeous along with the whole table scape.

  56. mattsgramma says:

    Lovely centerpiece with a magnificent arrangement of fresh flowers!

  57. So pretty and I see you’ve kept those ginger jars white. Love them.

  58. genie steger says:

    Love the simple easy instructions and I just the antique tureen for it!!!

  59. The center piece and table setting is beautiful as usual. We down sized a7 years ago and one thing I stipulated, I did not want two living areas or two dining areas. So, we have a dining area with all our fine dining furniture and one living area with all our favorite living room furnitures. I love eating breakfast at my dining room table and looking at my finer China at all times of the day. It encourages me to keep my table beautifully decorated each day. I agree you don’t have to have large dinner parties to utilize a dining area. We enjoy small gatherings of 6-8 people for sit down dinners.

  60. Judith Dobson says:

    Love the arrangements!! Where did you get the white terrain that you put the flowers in?

    1. The flowers are contained in a soup tureen. I found it for a song at a local vintage shop.

  61. Marlene Darasch says:

    I Love the ideas, all of them, I would love to see a shot of your table setting with not so much light coming in from your french doors, it drowns out the photos, also I would love to see a view of your tables from top view. That would be really helpful to me.

  62. Yvonne, your table setting is exquisite! Long have I loved floral centerpieces that look so natural and “unfixed”, yet are balanced and so pleasing to the eye. Truly a work of art. I have made attempts to achieve this on several occasions. Suffice to say, they all looked rather sloppy. With your directions and pictures, I will try again and hope to do better. Thank you! Have a peaceful Sunday!

  63. I forgot to mention the most serendipitous factor which brought me such joy…10 years ago, my sister gave me a beautiful vintage ironstone soup tureen for my birthday. Less than a week after I received it, I was carrying it into the breakfast room where I have a built-in glass-doored hutch and somehow knocked the lid of that tureen to the hardwood floor! It was left in 6 large pieces. I took it to a local antique store in hopes of a magical repair, the poor man did his best, but the lid looked glued together. I have kept the tureen in my hutch, it looks pretty along with my other ironstone, silver, and glassware, but I have never used it. At last, I have found a way to display it beautifully!

  64. Mary Stewart says:

    Thank you so much for the Centerpiece and Tablescape book. I’m going to put it to good use this summer!

  65. Paulette Beal says:

    I love that you show us ideas to use what we have. I have a soup tureen with lid sitting on my dining table…tomorrow no lid and some beautiful flower. No dinner party this time, just to look pretty in the room. Thank you!

  66. Deborah Milo says:

    So much beauty its hard to take it all in! Thank you for always sharing your wisdom in decorating and creating such loveliness.

  67. Cecilia from Georgia says:

    Very elegant and easy! My favorites! We have Queen Ann’s Lace blooming along the side of the road and I love to snip a few blooms for a light and airy touch. Have a great week!

  68. Well I finally have a soup tureen. The one thing I wanted to do while in Paris was to shop their flea markets. We got to do this despite some rain showers. I no sooner got there and the one thing staring me in the face was a white and blue soup tureen in near perfect condition. I tried hard not to buy this. We walked and walked and saw many things but this had my name all over it. My poor husband. Again carrying home dinnerware in carry on luggage through Charles deGaulle airport. I am anxious to try out a flower arrangement using this and your bouquet design would be perfect!

  69. Teresa Wilson says:

    It’s beautiful! I’ll be saving this. A very helpful post. Thanks, Yvonne.