By craft contributor Lauren

One of my favorite parts of summer is having a few close friends over for a meal and to enjoy the weather. Yes, majority of the reason that this is my favorite is getting to spend time with our favorite people, but there’s a tiny part of me that does it for the chance to get a little creative. I spend so much time designing for styled shoots and blog posts, I jump at the chance to entertain in real life! Designing the table top is usually my focus as that is where we will spend a lot of our time. So here are 3 easy ways to quickly style a summer table top for your very own outdoor celebrations this summer…

1. For the first table I combined some palm leaves and large pink blooms. Start with the palm leaf, or grab any large green leaf that goes with the style of table you want, and create a runner along the center of the table. Tuck in a few bright flowers for a pop of color against the green.

I kept each setting very simple with a dinner plate and individual wood serving pieces. These would be a great piece to let each guest serve themselves a little cheese or appetizers on. Then let them take it home as a favor!

2. The second table was decorated with a cluster of glass containers holding candles. Wrap some twine or rope around each candle base. Then add in a natural element like the kumquat branches between the candles. You could also substitute anything in here that adds some color, like vines you can pull from your yard or even the blooms similar to the first table.

At each setting, instead of a place card, find a picture of each person and display in an inexpensive frame. This idea is perfect for small and intimate gatherings since you probably have plenty of pictures lying around of friends and family.

3. For the last table, I incorporated a selection of fresh vegetables as an alternative to flowers or potted plants. Carrots, kale and radishes fit nicely in the same containers I used in the candle arrangement. They added height and gorgeous color to the clean slate of the white tablecloth.

I added in a classic floral plate paired with a piece of drift wood to hold each place card. Although there were several colors going on in the table design, I kept all of the elements natural which gave the table a cohesive feeling.

  A few key items I always like to keep in our closet are white tablecloths, plenty of clear glassware and a few small sets of colorful plates. White tablecloths are the perfect base for any tabletop. And if you like a little color on your table, keep a few runners accessible that you can switch out depending on the decor you decide to display. Clear glassware can be spruced up with flowers, candles, or even vegetables like you’ve seen here. Get creative and find stashes of small items you can place in each vase. Think about items like shells for a beach theme or yarn and buttons for a crafty girls night in! And the sets of plates are perfect for small parties or to mix and match at your larger gatherings. Now you can get to planning your next dinner party… or at least the table decor!