Now I don’t always set a kids’ table, but Easter has a way of insisting on one. Maybe it’s the bunnies. Maybe it’s the jellybeans. Or maybe it’s because my grands get as excited about chargers as they do chocolate eggs (they’re being raised right, bless them). Truth is, we used to spread out between the dining room and the breakfast nook like we were having a progressive dinner in our own house. Then, about a year ago, we found the unicorn of dining tables—with enough leaves to seat all 13 of us. Yep. Thirteen. All in one glorious, slightly angled, elbow-to-elbow, “pass-the-rolls” kinda setting. And let me tell you, it’s a sight. But whether I’m setting for 13 or just 6, like I did for this Easter kids’ table, I always follow my trusty blueprint for creating tables that tell a story—because at Bradley Acres, every gathering deserves a little magic, a lot of color, and a whole heap of heart.
Find Your Inspiration…
Y’all, this whole adventure kicked off with a tablecloth from Home Goods that stole my heart faster than a peach cobbler at a potluck. Those colors—bright, bold, and screaming “Easter!”—whispered sweet nothings to my tablescaping soul. I was smitten!
Now, here’s the thing: she’s long. Like, “could double as a bridal veil” long when you’re not using the table at full stretch. But never fear—I’ve got a trick up my (ruffled) sleeve. I center the cloth, then tie the excess at the corners with coordinating ribbon. Voilà! You’ve got balloon corners that look like they were meant to be there and add another splash of color while you’re at it. Win-win.
And since I’ve had questions about ironing tablecloths, I now steam my tablecloths. I used to iron and had a pad to place on my table and move around. (So not fun!) Now, thanks to a magical Jiffy steamer we scored at an estate sale (shoutout to my eagle-eyed husband), I hang the cloth from shower curtain clips and let that steamer work its wonders. One of the bonus spots next to my dish room is a full bathroom. Perfect for steaming tablecloths!
Select a Color Palette…
This tablecloth was a color buffet, y’all—pink, blue, mint, yellow, you name it! Picking a palette felt like choosing a favorite child.
I started with pink and pulled in my new pink chargers from Kirklands. From there I tried a few options but just wasn’t feeling it. It lacked punch. It was just okay.
So, I went back to the drawing board (a.k.a. my stash of tableware) and decided to add blue and mint into the mix. I’d just found some dreamy blue Primagera plates from Portugal on Facebook Marketplace—yes, the algorithm knows me too well—and I couldn’t wait to try them out. However I had no mint-colored anything in my stash (shocker) and still wasn’t feeling the pink.
Still, I needed a little somethin’ more. I went down a rabbit hole (pun intended) on Amazon looking for bunny plates, and stumbled across some that had the exact kind of bright whimsy I was looking for. They tied all the colors together like a good monogram ties together a towel set. I clicked “Add to Cart” so fast my finger barely touched the screen. Plus they gave me this fabulous color palette!
Make it All About the Patterns…
That tablecloth had a stripe pattern so subtle it whispered. It reminded me of seersucker but without the puckering—total bonus!
Those bunny plates from Amazon? They brought a medium-scale pattern that had me grinning like a kid with a basket full of Easter eggs. Finding them was a chore, but worth every click.
Then came the napkins. Oh, these napkins. Striped, ruffled, and from World Market. Basically, everything my Southern heart adores. I’d been hoarding them for the right moment, and this was it. I chose green, which might’ve felt bold considering the minty hue on the tablecloth, but the green in the plates tied it all together like a well-planned family reunion outfit.
Sadly, I missed out on the blue version of these napkins and I’m still not over it. But maybe y’all will have better luck finding them in-store because they’re not available for shipping.
So, there you have it: small (tablecloth), medium (bunny plates), and large (napkins) scale patterns. The golden trifecta of mixing prints. It’s the secret sauce that keeps your table looking curated instead of chaotic. It keeps your eyes happy and your table flowing smoother than iced tea on a porch swing.
Pick Your Stack…
With my bunny salad plates and Primagera dinner plates in hand, I went hunting for placemats to bring in some purple pizzazz. Why purple? Because this table needed contrast that hollers, “Look at me!” If you read my “Enchanting Chinoiserie Table for Easter,” you know I’m usually chasing harmony, but this kids’ table? It’s the life of the party, all about bold pops and playful vibes.
Quick color lesson, y’all: purple’s a big ol’ family, from violet (think blue-purple) to lavender (pale and pinky). I just say “purple” to keep it simple, like calling all my cousins “kin.”
Source: artcraftblend.com
I found these orchid-hued placemats on Amazon and they added just the right amount of contrast. The tints (that’s color or hue + white, for my fellow color nerds) played well with the pastel vibes of the tablecloth.
The dinner plates, those Primageras I mentioned earlier, are something special. Earthenware from Portugal with a dot design on the rim that gives just a kiss of texture. If you peek at Replacements, they’ve got all kinds of playful borders in candy colors. I’ve got my eye out for more.
Top it off with the bunny plates and you’ve got a plate stack that’s as happy as a frog on a lily pad.
Select the Linens…
Tablecloth? Check. Napkins? Check. Now for the napkin rings. I try not to repeat myself—keeps things fresh in this dish-crammed basement of mine—but I couldn’t resist reusing those bunny napkin rings from my “Vintage Waverly Fabric Table.” They’re just too darn cute, like little bunnies hopping right into my heart.
Time for Glassware & Flatware…
Now if you know me, you know I’ve got a thing for glassware. I’ve been known to buy a goblet just because it matched the sky that day. For this table, I pulled out my Libbey Gibraltar look-alikes from Amazon. When mixed with my actual Libbey sets, you can’t tell which ones are which—bless the budget-friendly doppelgängers.
Then, to tie in the blue from the plates, I added Bryce Contour Cerulean glasses I snagged at an estate sale. (You know the kind: you walk in looking for a side table and come out with a trunk full of dishes.) These had the prettiest blue tint and a subtle nod to the dot design on the dinner plates. Serendipity!
Centerpiece Magic…
Centerpieces can be tricky—especially when you’re trying to avoid the “tower of Pisa” look. I had these resin bunnies from Amazon that looked like rattan (be still my faux wicker heart), but they were a bit… petite. Dainty. Likely to get lost in the shuffle.
So I reached for my old dough bowl—yes, my dough bowl. The one I always forget about because it lives up high like Rapunzel in her tower. I tucked the bunnies in there and added ramekins underneath to give them a lift (they like a little drama).
I camouflaged the ramekins with paper grass because Easter is nothing if not an excuse to use excessive amounts of pastel crinkle. Sprinkled carrots and eggs throughout for that final touch, and suddenly, it’s a centerpiece that’s hopping with charm!
The Final Touches…
Time for the checklist, y’all:
♥ Height variation? Check! The table’s got ups and downs like a rollercoaster at the county fair.
♥ Colors balanced? Check! Purple, green, and blue show up at least three times, like good guests who know how to mingle.
♥ Inviting and functional? Check! This table’s ready for giggles, spills, and seconds of deviled eggs.
♥ Something unexpected? Check! Those bold napkins are the sassy aunt who shows up with a surprise.
I also tossed in rabbit egg holders at each place, but their stark white was louder than a rooster at dawn. So, I mixed some brown paints to match the resin bunnies, and now they blend in like they were born for this table.
Capture the Look…
That’s what I adore about tablescaping—you can go sweet, quirky, dramatic, or straight-up sugarplum fairy. For this Easter kids’ table, I leaned hard into fun and color. (And yes, the grown-ups have been known to sneak over for dessert here.)
So, pull out your pretties. Mix the mint with the orchid, add a bunny or two, and don’t forget to steam that cloth. You never know who might be hopping over for ice cream cake or lemonade pie.
I hope (if you celebrate) you have a marvelous Easter filled with fun, food, and family. He is risen! If you don’t celebrate (or maybe you celebrated Passover) I still hope you have a marvelous day filled with fun, food, and family!
From My Table to Yours,
Melissa
