Events specialist Tara O’Connor shares her top tips to create the ultimate summer tablescape …
Summer entertaining invites a sense of ease, warmth, colour and effortless style. Every tablescape begins with a story. Mine starts in the Mediterranean: sunshine, citrus, sea blue tones and that relaxed coastal elegance.
For this season’s table, I drew inspiration from Provence and St Tropez, creating a look that feels sun-drenched, joyful and beautifully simple to recreate at home. You don’t need to buy anything new; the magic often comes from mixing what you already own with a few thoughtful touches.
1. Build your base: A crisp white tablecloth (mine is from The Designed Table) is the perfect foundation as it’s clean, bright and instantly polished. Layer a runner with lemon and blue motifs down the centre to introduce colour. Take a moment to smooth and iron your linens; it’s the quickest way to elevate the entire table.
2. Layer with texture: Texture brings depth and interest. Natural jute placemats paired with hand-painted ceramics add warmth and authenticity, grounding the brighter tones. The Designed Table napkins tie the palette together, echoing the sunshine and adding a cheerful aesthetic. I got these plates in France recently – they were worth carrying home in my hand luggage!
3. Flowers from the garden: Fresh flowers are the soul of any table. I used hydrangeas, verbena and sprigs of mint from my garden, arranged in blue and yellow glass vases I got in Daylesford. The mix feels relaxed yet abundant – a nod to the wild, fragrant gardens of the South of France and what we have growing in Ireland.
4. Finishing touches: Keep the final details simple. Add cutlery and amber toned glasses, then place a lemon at each setting for a playful accent. As evening falls, candlelight in glass hurricanes or soft solar lights will cast a golden glow across the table, creating atmosphere without effort. The glasses are from Helen Turkington, which I bought a few years ago as a wise investment.
5. Savour the moment: A shared table is more than decoration, it’s theatre for your guests. With colour, texture, light and scents, even the simplest meal becomes a celebration. This time of year invites us to slow down, gather and enjoy the beauty of the season, one table at a time.
