First thing is first. Do you have enough items to complete your look? Building a reserve of glasses, plates, napkins, etc. is absolutely the first battle. Two things have made my life much easier in this department over the last few years: HomeGoods and Amazon. You can get what you want for the price you'd like to pay. From time to time, I have to have a certain quality, and that's when I head to Williams-Sonoma. Now, I have to literally sock money away like Scrooge McDuck to do it, but when I spend the money, I will use the items forever (and ever)!
Keep in mind basic colors, without designs when building your stash. Primary colors first, then on to your favorites. I love pink and years ago bought a pink tablecloth with napkins. To this day they are my favorite, but I can use them with several looks--Easter, tea party, spring, etc. But pink is a thing in my house, and it certainly is not in a lot of people's homes. Pick colors you love--so when you match them, you enjoy seeing the table. Honestly, it brings me so much happiness decorating a table.
So let's start with a simple look, spring. Lemons became popular a few years ago (or maybe I missed it before that--seems like a fruit is always out there--I can remember when pineapples were the thing in the 80's). But I decided that it was a clean look for spring and am going to dig through the treasure trove of matchy-matchy stuff I have.
I really, really wanted a Meyer Lemon 60" round tablecloth from Williams-Sonoma. Here is the link to purchase it:
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/meyer-lemon-tablecloth-round/?pkey=s%7Clemon%20tablecloth%7C9
But in the end, I purchased it from HomeGoods for $14.99. I will admit that the W-S one for $69 is so beautiful and I may get it for my downstairs round table if it goes on big time sale.
For napkins, in general, HomeGoods is the best place to buy them. You can look at the color and quality and make sure that you are getting what you want. I have found that Pier1 will have big sales in the back of the store in their bins of clearance. You have to be willing to buy something offseason to build your collection.
I have been nervous to try Amazon because I don't know what I am getting until it is in the mailbox, but the two links here for napkins I have purchased that are well worth the value and come in multiple colors! The other thing I love is that you can embroider or monogram these napkins. And believe me, it kicks up napkins to royalty status when company comes over!
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/meyer-lemon-tablecloth-round/?pkey=s%7Clemon%20tablecloth%7C9
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GL58TM7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So from there I had to find out if I had any yellow napkin rings, what plates would work with the set and of course, glassware. And what to put in the middle of the table? That's always the tricky part--and believe me, I want to junk it up--but when people are sitting to eat, you don't want something too big to obscure them seeing and talking to one another. Or you can just put a lazy Susan (like the one in my photos) that you can simply use to put the food on. Here's the small lemon tree I bought from Amazon for the centerpiece.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07M7RZW2B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
There are TONS of napkin ring ideas on Pinterest--and I pin a ton of them if you follow me there--but if you don't want things too fancy, just fold the napkin to the right side of the plate and put your silverware on it. Another simple idea is putting it into the glassware--so that it fans out on top. You choose how fancy you want to be.
Plates are an obsession (and I really hate to admit to that word) of mine. I am never going to publicize how many sets I have, but let's just say I could open up my own dish store and still have something to eat off of at home. But the honest truth is that I use them either in the household eating cycles (yes, I trade them out depending on the season) or on the tablescapes that I enjoy. Either way, the operative word is that I enjoy them. I have a friend that loves to make fun of me on this subject, but don't we all have our vices? 😊
Remember to have fun with it. If you are entertaining, consider the company. Don't make it too fancy for folks--they get all nervous. I wash and iron all of my napkins and friends don't want to use them--they beg for a paper towel--but I won't have that at my house! But I don't put out the crystal when we are having pizza and stromboli's!
Here I used a green rimmed plate (link below) with a yellow salad plate
and a small polka-dotted bread plate. The napkins are those from the link above and Pier1 for the napkin rings (from several seasons ago). The green glasses came from an antique store and I love them!
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/aerin-scalloped-green-rim-dinner-plates/?pkey=caerin-dinnerware&isx=0.0.1027
Now one thing I realized, I need to iron my tablecloth! I'll do that as soon as I finish this post!
Here are more photos of tablescapes to give you some ideas
