BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME

By Amy Montgomery

PHOTOS BY ALLISON ELEFANTE

Without a doubt, other than maybe allergies, spring is a favorite time of year. The best place to try your hand at bringing the season into your home is through your kitchen or dining room table. Table settings can convey the season so easily by choosing bright springy colors like the flowers that are popping up and the bright green grass that begins to perk up our yards. Have some pretty colored dishes or napkins? You've conquered half of the task! Add in some grocery store flower and you're almost there.

One thing to consider for your table is whether you are setting it simply to enjoy the tablescape or whether you are setting it for guests. If you're making your tablescape for pure enjoyment, the sky's the limit on centerpieces. A few favorite pieces of porcelain filled with cut greenery with fresh fruit scattered around are always beautiful and easy.

If you're entertaining guests at the table, always remember to keep those centerpieces low and lush. Your guests should be able to easily see each other, enjoy conversation, and not feel like they need to bob up and down to see over the giant floral arrangement or collection of large ceramic bunnies you have put in the middle of your table.

For the actual place settings, do not allow the absence of a full set of dishes or china to stop you. Mixing and matching and blending in the high and the low will make for a much more interesting table. What is high and low? You could use your grandmother's vintage china for your dinner plates and add layers of everyday pottery salad plates, and a collection of mismatched fruit bowls to keep things relaxed. Layers? Yes! Keep things interesting by layering up your goodies. You may want to start with a tablecloth and add a placemat, and a charger, and then top off with those vintage dinner plates and go from there.

After the table coverings and you have layered your dishes, it’s time for napkins! Do not allow a shortage of napkins to hold you back. Your host and hostess end seats can always have complementary colors or different patterned napkins. Alternating napkins from seat to seat works like a charm, too. Your neatly folded napkin or perfectly coiffed napkin pulled through a decorative ring is properly at home, right where it belongs, to the left of the plate. A little short on space? Add the folded napkin on top of the plate.

Breaking rules when setting the table to create beauty and function is always encouraged, but there are a few hard and fast rules in American culture that really should be followed. The fork is always to the left of the plate, never on the right. To the right of the plate is your knife with the blade facing in and to the right of it is your spoon. Another little rule tip is not to place your fork on the napkin. This rule gets broken in photoshoots, but here's why it is so thoughtful not to do this at your table filled with guests your guests should be able to pick up the napkins without having to remove the fork. Finish up your place settings with glassware and you're ready to enjoy your handiwork!

Whether you choose to do your centerpiece first or last is up to you. Grocery store flowers can be very economical, and they are never in short supply of beautiful spring colors. Foraging your yard for cuttings of boxwood, magnolia, and varieties of evergreens is your best option to add to the market flowers. Keep the water fresh, remove greenery below the waterline, and cut your stems short.  Fresh fruit is always an option to add to your centerpiece and it will bring that breath of fresh spring joy to your table. Cut citrus fruits on some preserved moss will have a very pretty contrast in colors to complement your florals.

Setting a pretty table can lift your spirits, give you a feeling of accomplishment, and will welcome the spring season into your home. Enjoy this time of renewal and reflection starting at home!

AMY MONTGOMERY has over 25 years of design experience and owns Amy Montgomery Home in Columbia, Tennessee. She delights in sharing her personal collection of vintage china and dishes with readers and is a lifestylist focused on home and delights in offering her customers an elevated customer service experience. Visit amymontgomeryhome.com for additional information and follow her on social media at @amymontgomeryhome.