A Colorful Summer Party

Here in the USA, we’re preparing for a long 4th of July holiday weekend! If you’re searching for colorful tabletop ideas, today’s post is for you. I’m sharing the photos from my latest Mirror80 shoot, which combines retro flair with the current abstract art and Memphis-Milano revivals. While the color scheme will definitely work for the 4th of July, this vibrant tabletop is perfect for any summer party, especially since tropical plants are involved! Below you’ll see my inspiration for the tablescape: a radiant 1980s interior design motif involving colorful modern art, checkered floors and an abundance of houseplants. Learn more about this design style here.

The magic formula for getting the look: vibrant prints + checkered tile + lots of plants = design perfection!

Step 1: Purchase tile from your local flooring store and arrange it in a checkerboard pattern to create a centerpiece.

I selected a combination of marble and slate pieces, which I picked up for less than 70 cents each at my local Floor and Decor. I thought about using this snake plant to top it all off, but it covered too much of the checkerboard that I wanted to showcase:

So I plucked this lovely succulent from the garden window in my kitchen. The small pot meant more of the checkerboard was on display, yet the fullness of the plant and its height were perfect for just the right amount of centerpiece drama!

Step 2: Add color through bright placemats, patterned napkins and homemade place cards.

I picked up these yellow woven placemats at Ross Dress for Less, which has a home section where you can always find a good bargain. I paid $6.99 for four! The floral napkins are from Party City—another bargain buy. I love collecting designer paper napkins, but sometimes I find unexpected little gems at Party City (as you may recall from my recent Pretty in Pink party). The stripe and geo napkins are both summer 2014 IKEA finds.

I made the place cards by printing out the names of my guests on simple white printer paper, then gluing them to cardstock in shades of blue and red. I embellished them with abstract forms (also cut from cardstock).

Step 3: Serve light and refreshing food and beverages that showcase the colorful produce of summer.

There’s nothing like iced tea on a summer day! I always offer a decaf option made from steeping 5-7 bags of my favorite orange tea (Wild Sweet Orange by Tazo) with a few bags of Tazo’s Refresh Mint. Once cool, I pour the mixture into a pitcher, add more water and let it chill in the fridge. Garnish with sliced orange or lemon and you’re set!

When it comes to food, go for color! Whether you serve up a taco bar with fresh garnishes or you roast tomatoes with thyme sprigs in your oven, pick in-season produce that celebrates all that we love about summer.

Step 4: Cover your party table with plants!

Plants bring this party to life. Don’t feel the need to spend a large amount of money on your tablescape. If your party is outdoors, let nature’s greenery enhance your table. Or grab some potted plants from your living room and bring them outdoors!

I picked up these palm fronds from my local Central Market grocery store. I usually find them in the “extra foliage” container, which often features tropical greenery for $2 apiece. Not to mention, the garden centers of home improvement stores such as Home Depot offer snake plants and other small indoor plants for a few dollars each at this time of year.