5 Things Every Good Spring Table Should Have on It — These Decor Ideas Capture the Spirit of the Season

Bring your tablescape to life with spring table decor. From floral arrangements to charming decorative accents, your table will be blooming in style

spring table setting with pink, green, and blue décor
Spring table decor like rattan chargers, floral arrangements, and fresh fruit can make a tablescape come to life.
(Image credit: Image and Design: Molly Mahon)

Springtime is finally here. As the season of rebirth and renewal, it is the perfect time to refresh your spring table decor ideas. Tablescapes act as a fun form of creative expression and this season, let your creativity bloom through your spring table decor.

Being passionate about design with a love of entertaining, I've always felt that a beautiful tablescape is just as important as the rest of my home decor. And since I love a theme, I'm always eager to incorporate elements of seasonal decor into my tablescapes to create the perfect atmosphere for entertaining, from the best dinnerware sets to considered foliage. When it comes to spring — a season synonymous with bold florals, bright colors, and pastels — it can feel intimidating to create a tablescape that includes all the best elements of spring decor cohesively and elegantly.

So, I reached out to design experts to share their top tips for achieving a tasteful spring-themed tablescape. Below are five tips to help your spring table decor bloom in style.

1. Incorporate Fresh Flowers

dining table with a bouquet of flowers with green countertop stools and a large artwork behind

Florals are synonymous with springtime, so it's only right that they become a key element in spring table decor.

(Image credit: Image: Rikki Snyder. Interior design: Hollis Loudon. Styling: Kimberly Power)

"I find the greening of the earth to be very rejuvenating, so it will come as no surprise that I look to the garden for my springtime tabletop inspiration," interior designer Gary McBournie tells me. Fresh flowers straight from the garden can illuminate the look of any spring-themed tablescape.

"Flowers bring vibrant color, charm, and a touch of whimsy to the table, especially during those early spring days when the weather is crisp and the trees are still bare," creative director and co-founder Ashley Stark tells me. "[Flowers] add life and warmth, creating an inviting atmosphere that perfectly captures the essence of the season." Any type of flower (real or artificial) can bring your spring table decor ideas to life. "I love a display of different vessels bursting with spring favorites such as tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils," says Caroline Milns of Zulufish. Similarly, Gary shares that he gravitates towards vibrant flowers, like ranunculus or tulips. "What could pair better with them than a natural-colored linen tablecloth?" he says.

And when it comes to vases, the possibilities are endless. Rattan vases or floral ceramic styles can evoke the energy of the season, but according to creative director and expert entertainer Mary Hollis Huddleston, bud vases can be a unique and whimsical addition. "A collection of delicate bud vases is a wonderful and often easy way to create a spring floral centerpiece," she says. "I like to cluster my bud vases in mass down the center of a table using one floral varietal. This makes a colorful statement without much effort or cost involved."

2. Opt For Floral Dishware

table setting with a blue patterned table cloth and a floral arrangement

Floral dishware is another great way to incorporate floral details into your spring table decor.

(Image credit: Image: Rikki Snyder. Interior design: Hollis Loudon. Styling: Kimberly Power )

Springtime is all about embracing nature in all its beauty, and you can never have enough flowers. Along with flanking your spring table decor ideas with loads of fresh florals, opt for some dishware with the same detail to enhance your spring table decor.

"The more flowers the better," according to Mary. "I pull out all my flora- and fauna-painted dishware at the very first sign of spring. I love layers on my tables, and the addition of colorful plates on patterned linens brings so much joy to a tablescape. The patterns and colors provide easy inspiration for the rest of the table decor."

When shopping for floral dishware, look for styles that evoke the vibrancy of the spring season. Solid white plates with floral detailing or a pitcher blooming with florals and vines will do just the trick.

woman standing outside in front of a table
Mary Hollis Huddleston

Mary Hollis Huddleston is an author and home entertainment expert from Tennessee. After owning and operating an event planning business in Dallas for years, she moved back to Nashville and started Please Be Seated, an event rental company, with her husband. Mary considers hosting her 'love language' and enjoys helping others plan parties and events.

3. Set The Scene With Charger Plates

spring themed table decor with cabbage plates and fresh flowers on the table

While often left out of table settings, charger plates can elevate the look of your tablescape and introduce an element of texture.

(Image credit: Image: Hayley Ellen Day. Interior design: Chrissy Ritter LLC. Styling: Kimberly Power)

Charger plates can serve as the foundation for your dinnerware. As an extra layer between a plate and table linens, the main purpose of charger plates is to serve as a barrier — protecting the tablecloth from any stains. While often overlooked, these plates (which come in a variety of styles and materials) can enhance the visual appeal of a spring-themed tablescape — especially woven charger plates.

"I always like to add a woven charger," Kimberly Power, creative director of Kimberly Power Creative, tells me. "There are so many varieties, colors, and patterns. It’s a great way to bring texture to the table while also making it feel a bit less formal."

4. Decorate With Produce

table setting with a blue table cloth and colorful table decor

Fresh produce or fruit decor can add a touch of whimsical charm to your spring tablescape.

(Image credit: Image and Design: Molly Mahon)

One clever way to elevate your spring-themed table is by adding fresh produce. Chances are, you probably have some fruit in your kitchen that can conveniently and unexpectedly double as spring table decor.

"I like to use spring produce to decorate rather than pastels — that can lean too 'Easter' — decorate with lemons, apricots, grapefruits on a silver tray or in a bowl to add some real freshness to your tablescape, rather than stale pastels," says Alex Bass, founder and CEO of Art Advisory & Interior Design Studio Salon 21.

Fresh fruit will make your spring tablescape come to life, but don't worry if you don't have that readily available — ceramic or glass fruit figurines can achieve the same effect, and they'll never go bad. As Mary says, "Whether it’s fresh strawberries from a farmer’s market or hand-painted ceramic oranges, fruit adds an element of whimsy to your spring table."

woman standing next to a table
Alex Bass

As the Founder and CEO of fine art and interior design studio Salon 21, Alex Bass is an expert on curated art experiences. Having worked at auction houses and galleries around New York City, she's developed an understanding for the industry, and is keen on spotlighting the work of emerging artists and designers. Salon 21 hosts an array of events under Alex's leadership, from dinner and cocktail parties to panels and exhibitions.

5. Add Place Cards for Personalization

dinner table with flowers, floral table cloth, plates, and utensils

Place cards are a personal touch that can make a tablescape feel complete.

(Image credit: Image and Design: Mary Huddleston)

Place cards are a small table décor detail that can make a world of difference to your spring tablescape. Not only can they add a bit of style, but they're a personal touch that will make your guests feel welcome.

Founder and creative director Molly Mahon always uses place cards when hosting. “I think people like to know where their place is — [a place card] instantly removes that dilemma of where to sit and helps them ease into the occasion," she tells me. "Plus, it's another easy opportunity to decorate your table and show how much you care about your guests, letting them know how welcome they are, and how happy you are to receive them is always the best start to any social occasion.”

While there are plenty of options for place cards and place card holders, Mary tells me that "garden-inspired place cards are a playful and unexpected addition to any spring tablescape." Opt for place cards with pressed flowers on the side, or a card holder resembling an olive branch.

If you want more spring table décor, you can always repurpose things you already own. "Look at things you already have in new ways," Kimberly tells me. "Use colorful glasses as vases running down the center of the table or a ribbon to tie as a napkin ring. There are endless possibilities."

We also have designer-approved rules for entertaining, to ensure that your party will be the talk of the season.

Devin Toolen
Style Editor

Devin is a New York-based Style Editor for Livingetc who is keen on all aspects of personal style. From a young age, she was drawn to the design world, whether that was taking sewing classes in her hometown, or flipping through the pages of her mother’s interior design magazines. She spent hours on end watching HGTV home improvement and design programs, often sharing her opinions as if the TV could hear her.

After graduating from Villanova University with a BA in Communication and Spanish Language Studies, Devin moved to Paris, France to pursue her Master’s Degree in Fashion Studies at Parsons. It was here she refined her love for style in every sense of the word. While there to study fashion, living in Paris allowed Devin to fall in love with interior style. She grew fond of the city’s mix of both classic and contemporary designs that felt intentional and personal.

After moving back to the United States, Devin worked at Tom Ford and later Cosmopolitan Magazine. She loves sharing design choices with her readers, from explaining how to incorporate trends into interior spaces to sourcing the best products for your home. Devin believes style should be inclusive, exciting, and at its core, fun