I’m part of this fabulous group of tablescapers on Instagram called Tables for Soiree, and let me tell you, it’s a wild ride of inspiration. I’ve been hanging with these table styling wizards for a couple of years now, and I’m still in awe of the creativity. We recently switched to bi-weekly themes (because apparently, we like to keep things spicy), and the current one is Citrus Bliss.
Now, last year we had a Fruit theme, and I went all in—like, I’m pretty sure I used every fruit known to mankind. It’s still one of my favorite tables (don’t judge me, I’m allowed to have favorites). So, when Citrus Bliss rolled around, I was like, “Uh-oh, how do I top that?” But spoiler alert: I didn’t pull it off, but I love it just the same.
If you’re new here, you can check out my blueprint for stunning tables here. Let’s see how my trusty blueprint for creating a tablescape saved the day.
Find Your Inspiration…
The theme: Citrus Bliss. Okay, easy enough, right? Except I used all the citrus last year—lemons, oranges, grapefruits, you name it. So this time, I decided to zero in on limes. Why limes, you ask? Because they’re that sassy shade of green that makes my heart sing, and I’m a sucker for green on a table. That’s it. That’s my whole inspiration. I mean, I’m not saying I’m a genius, but… I’ll make it work.
Select a Color Palette…
If you’ve been around here for more than five minutes, you know my ultimate color combo is blue and green. It’s like the peanut butter and jelly of tablescaping—except better, because a. I don’t like peanut butter, and b. it’s God’s own design: the sky and the grass. I dare you to find a better duo. (Spoiler: you can’t, not in my world)
For this table, I went with a zesty lime green and a blue that’s leaning toward navy. It felt fresh, fun, and just different enough from last year’s citrus extravaganza to keep me from having a full-on identity crisis.
Make it All About the Patterns…
With my color palette locked in, I dove headfirst into my tablecloth collection. Since I was working with blue and green, I had approximately 17 options to choose from—because, let’s be real, half of my tablecloths are some shade of blue or green. I’m predictable, okay? Well, not really, lol.
I get asked all the time how I find my patterned tablecloths, so let me take a quick detour to drop a pro tip. Ready? I type “blue and green pattern tablecloth” or “blue and green pattern fabric” into Google and then fall down a rabbit hole for hours. I’m talking full-on detective mode, scrolling through Etsy, Amazon, and sketchy fabric websites like it’s my job. Sometimes I’m not even looking for a specific table—I just search for color combos that make my heart flutter. I was about to go deeper into my tablecloth-hunting obsession, but then I realized I could write a whole blog post about it. So, let’s save that for another day when I’m feeling extra chaotic.
Here’s the kicker: I’ve had this tablecloth in my closet for so long that I can’t find the source. I’ve scoured my emails, my Etsy history, my Amazon orders—nada, zilch, nothing! It’s like this tablecloth just appeared in my life like a magical tablescaping fairy godmother. I’ll keep looking, but for now, let’s just call it a mystery. I wasn’t sure what other patterns I wanted to layer in yet, so I moved on to the stack.
Pick Your Stack…
I started with my chargers and pulled out a couple of white ones, but I immediately yeeted (new word I learned that means toss) them back onto the shelf. The contrast was giving me a headache—way too much drama for this table. Then I had a lightbulb moment: let’s bring in some natural vibes! I grabbed my Monique Lhuillier rattan chargers, which I basically use every time I want a natural, earthy feel. Since this was a citrus table, going natural just made sense.
For plates, my first thought was my Indies Blue pattern by Johnson Brothers—an estate sale find from a swelteringly unbearable summer day in Atlanta. (Side note: I’m working on a post about how I score the best estate sale treasures) I almost left this set behind because it came with a ton of serving pieces, and I’m usually a “white serving pieces only” kind of gal. But the pattern was too good to pass up: a white background with blue designs, which is the opposite of most of my blue patterns (blue background, white designs). Plus, the serving pieces were gorgeous, so into the car they went.
Next, I added my BP green cabbage luncheon plates (you know, the ones with rounded edges—my husband calls them “square rounds” because he’s clever like that).
Then I grabbed my blue cabbage bowls, which we used to call “the unicorns” because they were impossible to find. True story: we once had a dealer at Scott Antique Market here in Atlanta laugh in our faces when my husband responded with blue cabbage when the dealer asked if we were looking for anything in particular. Laughed! And walked away! Rude. These days, you can find some gorgeous Southern Living blue cabbage (made in Portugal like BP) at Dillard’s for way less than I paid for my first set, which I won in an eBay auction. I still can’t talk about how much I spent on four dinner plates and four salad bowls without breaking into a cold sweat. But I love them, so I guess it’s fine?
My husband has this whole naming system for the BP sizes: chargers and dinner plates are “squares,” luncheon plates are “square rounds,” and salads are just “rounds.” It’s his way of keeping things straight, and honestly, it works!
But here’s the thing: I wasn’t feeling the Indies Blue and cabbage combo. It just wasn’t vibing. So I went back to my blue section and pulled out my Blue Dots by Thyme & Table. Score! Not only are they quirky and fun, but the small-scale pattern was exactly what I needed. I originally found these at Home Goods (they were at Walmart too, in black and blue), and they just make me smile.
This stack? It’s a total mood-lifter. Isn’t it the best?
Select the Linens…
Tablecloth? Check. On to the napkins! I had a large-scale pattern with the tablecloth and a small-scale pattern with the dishes, so I needed something in between. I didn’t have any lime green napkins (shocking, I know), so I pulled out these Southern Living napkins from Dillard’s. The pattern is similar to the dots on the plates, but there’s just enough extra design that I was okay with the repeat. Sometimes mimicking a pattern adds a little flair, and in this case, it totally worked.
I had originally planned to stick with just limes for this Citrus Bliss table—no other citrus allowed. But then I spotted these lemon napkin rings while digging through my collection, and I couldn’t resist. I found them at an estate sale that was basically a treasure trove—I left with Christopher Radko Christmas plates, two Fostoria Americana punch bowls with 36 cups, some Easter Bunny napkin rings (you’ve seen those in another post!), Dept. 56 Christmas cups, and these six Millard Lister Lemon Napkin Rings. They still had the handwritten price tag of $6 each from Rich’s (the OG Macy’s here in the South, where every Atlantan used to ride the Pink Pig at Christmas). Fine, I’ll throw in some lemons too.
And here they are together, looking absolutely marvelous, if I do say so myself!
Time for Glassware & Flatware…
Okay, let’s talk about my estate sale haul from this weekend, because I’m still screaming about it. It was the best weekend we’ve ever had—everything (except some Herend) was still there on the last day of the sale. I couldn’t believe my luck! I walked out with the most stunning Richard Ginori (originally thought to be Palmette Nero, but after further investigation, actually Ercolano Black) pieces for an absolute steal. I’m talking six place settings, a tureen, an oval platter, a round platter, and a gravy boat with an underplate—all for just a bit more than the cost of one place setting of this pattern. I’m still in shock.
Ginori and Herend are the two patterns I’ve always wanted but never had because the price tags made me sweat. Now I just need Herend.
Estate sale gods, I’m counting on you!
(Side note: I’m not a negotiator. I like people to just tell me their bottom line. But my husband? He’s a pro. I asked for the best price on the Ginori, and the price the seller gave me was not the price my husband ended up getting. Let’s just say I owe him a fancy dinner.) He did get a free set of sockets thrown in as well.
Anyway, those pieces are earmarked for a Great Gatsby Tour I’m co-hosting with some other fabulous tablescapers on Instagram in May, so you’ll have to wait to see them. Patience, my friends!
Back to the task at hand: glassware! I found these gorgeous blue and green glasses, (Gwynevere by Zrike made between 2001-2004) at one of the estate sales this weekend, and they were perfect for this table. I decided to alternate two blue and two green glasses around the table, because why not?
For flatware, I wanted to tie in the rattan chargers, so I pulled out my bamboo flatware, which also appeared on last year’s table! I’m obsessed with unusual flatware—it’s such a fun way to add a little unexpected magic to the table, and this bamboo set is one of my favorites.
Centerpiece Magic…
Limes were a non-negotiable—I even added them to my recent Kroger order just for this table!
I also wanted to use my rattan pagoda from Mrs. Alice to bring in a third rattan element (you know I live for my Rule of 3).
Since I’d already caved and added the lemon napkin rings, I decided to lean into it and pull out the Fravolini lemon candlesticks I found during my Fabulous Weekend of Estate Sales haul. But I didn’t add candles… instead I tucked a flower into the candlestick. I do this all the time when I want the candlestick vibe without the actual candles.
I added some yellow botanicals to the pagoda, but everything was looking a little too same-y in height, and the limes were getting lost. So I pulled out another estate sale find from this weekend: an Arita Blue Chinese Quail cake stand. I’m obsessed with this pattern—I already had two bowls, and finding this cake stand was a total win. (I’d sworn off buying more cake stands because they take up so much storage space, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.) It was the perfect way to elevate the pagoda and limes, adding some height and drama.
I’m obsessed with all the textures, colors, and heights in this centerpiece. It’s giving me life!
The Final Touches…
I edited as I went, so by the time everything was in place, I didn’t need to make any changes. I just stepped back, smiled, and gave myself a mental high-five. I’ll be honest—I still love last year’s table more, but this one turned out so fun! The rain even held off just long enough for me to set everything up, snap some photos, and take it all down again. Yes, that’s right—no food was harmed in the making of this table. Which is probably for the best, because five minutes after I got everything inside, the sky opened up and drenched the deck. Timing is everything, folks!
Capture the Look…
And here she is—my Citrus Bliss Table in all her lime green and blue glory, with a little yellow and brown thrown in for good measure. I’m obsessed with how it turned out, and I hope you love it as much as I do!
From My Table to Yours,
Melissa
2 Responses
So loved the lemon napkin rings and I think they made the table SWEET!!!!!
I agree!!! I’m glad I detoured! Thank you!