It’s hard to believe that May is coming to an end and that means Memorial Day is right around the corner. You know I love creating a pretty table and I wanted to create an easy patriotic tablescape for when my family gathers next week. Before you fire up the grill, why not set the scene for a festive gathering with an easy patriotic tablescape? With a few simple touches and creative ideas, you can transform your table into a star-spangled centerpiece that will wow your guests and elevate your summer celebrations.
Here at my Cottage in the Mitten, you will find me sharing my love for home decor, DIY’s, my Cottage blankets and life with my sweet family.
Affiliate links are used in this post. Read my full disclosure here.
Today I’m participating in a Patriotic Decor hop hosted by Pasha from Pasha Is Home. Myself and some of my very talented friends will be sharing our patriotic decor with you! If you are coming over from my friend Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse, let me just say, I’m so glad you’re here! Her blog is beautiful and her Patriotic Picnic Ideas perfect for celebrating!
A Patriotic Tradition
Although Memorial Day isn’t the official start of summer, it has always been the official start in my mind. I recently read that it was originally called Decoration Day (my mother’s family always called it that) and it originated during the American Civil War. People would take the day to place flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle.
Just a little Patriotic trivia for you!
Anyway, I love any reason to set a fun and easy table. When I think about a patriotic table, I think of flags, florals, and colors of red, white & blue.
So sit back and enjoy! I can’t wait to show you all my whimsy red, white and blue!
Patriotic Dishes & Linens
Are you a minimalist? If so, I need your secret. If I’m being honest, I’m kind of a more and more person. More pillows, more linens, more color, and more patterns. It’s just how I’m wired. I love layering table linens, table clothes, runners, fabric chargers, and placemats. You name it, I’ve used them.
For this tablescape I used my grain sack table runner and wicker placemats.
I make blankets for a cause so, I always have a large stash of fabric. I found some dark blue and white ticking fabric and thought it would be the perfect addtion to tie my napkins. I simply cut the ticking into thin strips and wrapped them around each napkin once, securing the knot discreetly at the back. This easy and budget-friendly update adds a touch of charm to my table setting, perfectly complementing the overall theme.
Now on to my dish selection!
If you don’t have any transferware or blue and white dishes, I found a great deal on these dishes and they would also work perfectly!
Aren’t the patterns lovely?
I do love my transferware, but can we just talk about the glasses on my table for a minute?
Back in the day…the way back day, my dad owned a Marathon gas station. In 1969, when man walked on the moon, Marathon carried drinking glasses and pitchers to comemmorate that one giant leap for mankind. The glasses I am using are not thrifted, they are the actual glasses that my mother and daddy kept from that time. The pitcher has Apollo 11, Apollo 12 and Apollo 13 remembered.
I’m so grateful to have them and what better use for them than on my patriotic table?
Florals For My Patriotic Table
For my table setting, I wanted to capture the essence of summer with a whimsical touch. I found the perfect item to create a centerpiece last year while thrifting: a galvanized bucket. To bring it to life, I filled it with a combination of some of my favorite flowers. I used red geraniums for their long-lasting charm, delicate white impatiens for a touch of elegance, and the blue flare of verbena.
The perfect mix of patriotic! Don’t you agree?
I added the flags and a red ribbon to be a little more festive.
My oldest son and beautiful DIL just built a new home AND had twins last week!! They will have no time to worry about flowers this summer, so I am gifting them my Memorial Day centerpiece for their porch. It will be the perfect low maintenance flower pot.
I love a project that serves more than one purpose!
The Finishing Touches
Every table needs some candles, right? I did the most inexpensive decor trick and shopped my house. I pulled some candle holders and navy candles from another area in my home and used them on the table.
I added a 1930’s ruby glass dish that my mother gave me and put some red, white and blue sugar cookies on it. Those will even draw the adults to the table!
Because we use two large benches and only two chairs with our farm table, I also like to add some decorative pillows to the chairs. The pillows are always a great addition and help to tie the tablescape together. For this table, I used my red and white striped ones.
An Easy Patriotic Table
Well, that’s it! Easy and festive with a little pattern and layering! Remember, any items you don’t have and want to purchase, can also be used for the Fourth of July. I love buying items that can be used for multiple purposes!
Don’t forget to check out my friend Kristin with White Arrows Home. Kristin lives in an amazing log cabin in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Today, she is sharing Stylish Summer Sunroom Dining Ideas. You won’t want to miss it!
I’m so very glad you joined me today. I hope you enjoyed yourself and I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day!
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest!
More Patriotic Decor Ideas from 8 Talented Bloggers
Simple Vintage Americana Porch Table Ideas // Dabbling & Decorating
How to Make Simple Patriotic Wall Decor // Robyn’s French Nest
No Sew Patriotic Scrap Flags // Tater Tots & Jello
Simple Ideas to Decorate with Red, White, and Blue // Simply 2 Moms
How to Make a Festive Patriotic Front Porch // Pasha is Home
Patriotic Picnic Ideas & How To Decorate // The Pond’s Farmhouse
How To Create An Easy Patriotic Tablescape // Cottage in the Mitten
Summer Sunroom Dining // White Arrows Home
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Love your table scape Kim! I just bought some blue and white dishes for holiday decorating after your inspiration!
Thanks, Kay! You can use blue and white for so many gatherings! xo
Kim,
I love your festive tablescape and I have those same dishes. Now I’m going to pull them out for a patriotic table. Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks so much, Rachel! Those dishes are some of my favorites!
I love your glasses and pitcher and hearing about the family history behind them. Beautiful as always!
Thanks so much, Barb! xo
Such a pretty table. Love the centerpiece holding our beautiful flag.
Thank you!
Lovely! Can we really have enough blue and white dishes? Happy Memorial Day!
I don’t think so! Happy Memorial Day, Leslie!
Kim, your table is beautiful! And I love the special glasses you have from your parents. How special! I’d love to feature your post in my week in rewind recap this Sunday.
I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
Thanks so much, Jen! Those glasses are truly special to me! So kind of you to feature my post! Have a wonderful day, friend! xo
Kim that set of glasses are absolutely amazing wow. What treasures to have. Don’t break one😉
I knew you would appreciate those, Ann! I have two different sets from two different years. They are a treasure for sure!
Kim, this tablescape is lovely. It turned out so beautiful. I love all the textures and the vintage vibe to it. Beautiful, my sweet friend.
You are so kind! I’m so glad you liked it! Happy Tuesday! xo
So pretty and festive and I love the centerpiece!
Shelley
Thank you, Shelley!
I love everything! The ticking around the napkins is brilliant and the vintage glassware is so fun! I love the touch of purple flowers! All wonderful! Fun to hop with you!
I needed something easy and thrifty for the napkins and the ticking was perfect! Thanks Kristin! So fun to hop together!
Love your pretty patriotic summer tablescape. Those glasses are super fun! And I love the ribbon you used to tie your napkins. So fun hopping together today. Pinned!
Thanks so much, AnneMarie! The glasses are special to me!! Great to hop with you, today!
Your home looks so great all dressed up, Kim! I love your easy napkin ring idea and those plates are so pretty! I pinned your table to my Patriotic board to share. Love it!
xoxo
Thanks Jennifer! I appreciate your kind words! Fun to hop together, today!
Your table looks beautiful! Congratulations on the new grand babies! It’s so sweet of you to gift the flowers to your son and his family! Happy Memorial Weekend!
Thanks Mary Anne! I think they will appreciate the flowers. Happy Memorial Day!
Kim- I love this tablescape. My favorite part are the geraniums you brought inside. I also love the little flags you tucked in on either side of them. Thanks also for the history lesson.
Thank you, Anna! Geraniums are my favorite and I love the way they bring extra beauty inside! Happy Memorial Day!
Kim – those original gas station cups are the coolest thing I have seen all day!! So special that they are from your very own dad’s station! Love all your great red white and blue ideas in this post!
I know! They are so special to me! Thanks for hosting, Pasha! Always a pleasure hopping with you!! xo
OMG, Kim, that table deco is such a great story as it is absolutely beautiful!!! I need to pull out some my patriotic stuff as well, it hadn’t even crossed my mind. And you pull it off on top of the beautiful miracle of your grand babies that arrived this week!!!!!
Thanks Julie! It was a fun table to put together. I always love a good reason to set a table and plant some flowers! The grandbabies were the BEST part of the week!xo
Beautiful tablescape Kim! I love the Apollo glasses. They are so cool. Congratulations Grandma!
Thank you so much, Ruth!! xo
Beautiful as always Kim! I love those placemats. They can be used ALL summer. Al will be so jealous when I show him your Apollo glasses! Those are the coolest thing ever!
Aren’t they fun, Michelle! I love them!
Friend, I am with you, more it more is more. I love my transfer ware, my decor and all the rest.
Your table looks beautiful! I love lal of the holiday touches and trivia!
Thanks so much, Elizabeth! Happy Memorial Day weekend!
I love your beautiful table! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous inspiration!
Thank you, Robyn!
I just love this table! Nothing like a galvanized bucket full of flowers! So pretty!
Thanks Danielle! I’m so happy with how it came out!
Those dishes are a great find, beautiful.
They are some of my favorites!
Such a beautiful table Kim! And my husband would be so envious of the Apollo glasses!!!
I love that you used potted plants for your centerpiece!
Thank you, Diane! I was so excited when I remembered I had them!
I love your patriotic tablescape, Kim! And how fabulous to have that collection of commemorative glassware set!
Thanks Kristy! I’m so thankful to have them!