How To Plan A Garden Inspired Pink And Blue Summer Table

This post may include affiliate links in which we earn a commission, as we are supported by our users. All opinions expressed are always our own and any commissions earned are of no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Good food, sweet friends, beautiful flowers and happy birthdays are a few top items on my list of favorite things and this weekend I am blessed to combine them all! In preparation for a little dinner party get-together with a few new friends we have gotten to know through church, I decided to set a garden inspired pink and blue summer table full of whimsy. From shopping locally at Viktualienmarkt to repurposing what we already had on hand, here are a few tips to brighten your table this summer!

Embracing Seasonality

One of my favorite (even if slightly challenging at times) aspects of living in Munich has been their appreciation and emphasis on seasons. Whether in a local market or grocery store, many fruits, veggies and flowers can only be sourced in their prime season. While this concept of seasonality has been one of those small adaptations you can’t even think of to prepare yourself for when moving from the US to living abroad, I have found that it has given me a richer appreciation for whatever is right in front of me. Large, juicy cherries, white asparagus or brussels sprouts are all the more wonderful when you know that you only experience them for a little while. Even after only a few months, this concept has changed the way I think about the small joys of life as, just like the Lord’s mercies, they are new every morning. I think that perhaps our modern world has somewhat stripped away the beauty of seasonal produce with its big-box store, convenience driven culture and this change has felt like a breath of fresh air that I didn’t realize I longed for. Don’t get me wrong, I still have not fully adapted to this and sometimes am sad that I am craving something I simply cannot find even after searching high and low because it is not in season. But on the whole, I am coming to learn to fully embrace “today”. 

Leave An Open Palette For Shopping Local 

That being said, if you are able to prioritize shopping in tune with the local seasons, leave your design palette open enough to accommodate season gems you may find! You just might be more excited with what you return with than what you had set out for. 

When planning for this garden inspired summer table, I used my blue plates and a few paper napkins that felt “Summery” as the base. Simply fold the napkins in a large dramatic triangle for a unique spin. From there, I determined that I would pull in the pale blush pinks / lavender tones that were shown in the napkins and off I went to find flowers. Unless you absolutely love a particular flower, I recommend just selecting a variety within the general tones you are looking for, but allow the flower type to be determined by what is in season. For an added “garden whimsy” effect, use statement flowers in your desired color, but find filler flowers that pull in a variety of other colors and textures.

Travel tip!

If you are in Munich, flower stands are fairly abundant throughout the city, but even more so at the local Viktualienmarkt which is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Viktualienmarkt is a large market of local fruits, veggies, flowers, meats, plants, oils, vinegars, bakeries and other goodies in the heart of downtown, so I definitely recommend checking it out! 

Repurpose Containers

One aspect that I love about the whimsical garden aesthetic is that there is a little wiggle room for creativity. You can pull in a variety of accessories, vases, shapes and colors to take your design in one direction or another. 

In this instance, for the flower vase, I repurposed a bowel from my melamine set. Despite our many antique market runs, I still have somehow not picked up a large vase or compote dish and therefore set out to repurpose something I already had that I normally use for a very different purpose! Simply set in a few flower pin frogs, chicken wire (/ crumble flower wire together to act as makeshift chicken wire if you don’t have any on hand) or use the tape method and you can transform most any container into a vase, assuming that it can hold water appropriately. 

Play With Contrasts

Finally, when creating a garden inspired pink and blue tablescape, don’t be afraid to play with contrasts. Whether those contrasts fall in the categories of color, proportions, or even just your usual design style. For instance, within this tablescape, I added a little contrast with these blush pink pillar candles. Not only do they contrast with the blue plates (while tying together the pink flowers), but they also provide a bit of solid structural contrast to the whimsical, free flowing flower arrangement. I typically lean towards integrating taper candles, however if you are looking to mix up your style or play with proportional contrasts in your tablescape, pillar candles are a great option. 

Final Thoughts

By using flowers in season, adding in whimsical filler flowers of varying colors, repurposing containers and playing with contrasts between colors and proportions, you can create a garden inspired pink and blue summer table that is sure to encourage your spirit. Fun, colorful, everyday blue plates paired with floral paper napkins, gold flatware, a fresh pink arrangement and blush pillar candles pull together for a dinner party ready tablescape! Even with a little seasonal unknown of what to find, vase repurposing and budget engineering, our little blue and pink tablescape makes my heart sing and I can’t wait to celebrate my sweet husband while sharing it with those around our table. Do you enjoy giving creative room in your ideas to shop seasonally? If so, I would love to know and be sure to share with someone you want to invite over for a summer filled dinner party! 

Happy summer!

Chloe

– Pin This Post –