Tablescaping DIY, Part 2, Choosing what Plates to Buy, Chargers

This is Part 2 in an ongoing series about how to create your tablescapes. You can read Part 1 about developing a theme for your table here.

I should start by saying that you don’t really need to use chargers on your tablescapes, a placemat can serve the same purpose, to help draw attention to the plate stack, and define that space. But I really like the way that they display on a table, they anchor the plate stack. They can also provide a more formal look for your table. In addition, they can add a different color to separate the plate stack from the tablecloth. There are five things to think about when buying charger plates; size, color, shape, material, and price.

The material of the charger doesn’t really matter. Plastic can look like ceramic, metal can look like ceramic. The color and shape are more important than what the charger is made of.

Since dinner plates are usually 9” to 11” in diameter, chargers need to be larger than that so that they will show outside the dinner plate rim. If you have a small table, make sure that the chargers will fit on the table with everything else! They take up space! Chargers can be used as a dinner plate as well but some are not food safe so be sure that you understand what you are buying. Chargers can be found in all colors but I recommend that you start with some basic colors; white, black, red, brown, and a sage green.

This is one of the first white chargers I bought several years ago at Williams Sonoma and I use it constantly. I love the beaded detail around the rim because it adds visual interest to the plate stack. Try to find chargers that have an interesting rim but a simple design that would not detract from the rest of the plate stack design.

This is a much heavier white charger plate design. I bought them at Crate and Barrel several years ago. I tend to buy plates that have a uniform design around the rim because I just think it looks better in the plate stack. This rim design reminds me of hearts so, of course, I used them on a Valentine’s Day table. Keep in mind, if there is a design in the middle of the charger plate, it will never show, only the rim.

This black glass charger plate is another charger that I bought when I first started tablescaping. It is a simple plate with a slight starburst design in the glass. It was called Charge It and was made by Jay. I bought them several years ago on Amazon. They are heavy glass and work well with many different color schemes. This design is a good basic black charger plate

It is always in use in October!

This red Cambria charger from Pottery Barn is actually one of my favorite chargers. It can be used as a charger or a dinner plate. I use it for Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, and Christmas as well as during other times of the year. I have it in other colors as well and it comes in several colors. I love the simple design, it is a perfect charger!

I bought this square brown charger at Pier 1 several years ago. Most of my plates are round but I have added a few square ones in basic colors for versatility. This charger is made of some kind of plastic material. The best place to buy inexpensive chargers is at Dollar stores. I have bought them there and then spray painted them different colors depending on what color I needed for my table.

This bright pink charger was originally silver and Hubby spray painted it to match this tablescape. It came from a dollar store. I have also seen tablescapers use fabric to cover a dollar store charger.

You can find all different kinds of rattan chargers and they can be used year round. I think I bought these at World Market or Pier 1 several years ago. They can add a different texture to a table setting.

I bought these iced glass sage green chargers at Pier 1 several years ago after I saw them on another blog. This is a great color for a charger because it can be used in the spring and the fall.

I have several metal chargers in different colors, blue, red, gold, copper, silver, etc.. I bought this cobalt blue one at Pier 1 several years ago. This is one of my favorite blue colors!

Chargers can be expensive, especially the ceramic ones. Over the years, when I found an expensive one that I really liked, I bought one or two a month until I had the number I needed.

I enjoy adding chargers to my table settings. I love how they emphasis the plate stack and sometimes add a needed pop of an additional color between the tablecloth and the plate stack.

To see over 270 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas Facebook group (4,100+ members) for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 . We had a gathering in January 2025 and we plan to have others as well.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks or click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

Tablescaping DIY, Part 1, Developing a Theme

My tablescapes usually start with an idea or theme. Many people create generic table settings with special dishes and a flower arrangement and/or candle centerpiece and these can be really pretty but there are many of them online now and they tend to blend together in photos. Others create themed table settings and these can be lots of fun to create and sometimes they are really unusual and grab your attention. My tablescapes are mostly theme related and they usually include several elements that are tied to the theme.

I start with an idea and sometimes it will take as long as a year to gather all the elements to carry out the theme on the table. The searching can take that long but it also spreads out the budget for the table and that can help keep the costs down. I usually have several different themes that I am thinking about creating and working on at any one time to find items to carry out the theme. This table started with some card plates and a large dice I found at a garage sale. I already had the vintage tablecloth and so an idea for a tablescape was born! But it took several months before I gathered all the other theme elements. This Playing Cards Table is always an attention getter. To read more about this table please click here.

The focal point on the table is the centerpiece and it can make or break the success of the tablescape. The two elements I start with are the centerpiece and the salad plate because it is on the top of the plate stack and that image will be repeated around the table. It’s those two elements that can visually set the theme for the table and create the unity you need for the table setting. There are so many different theme ideas, the sky is the limit. You can do holidays, seasons, food, insects, travel, ocean, beach, animals, and special interests like camping and hobbies.

Sometimes I will think about a table theme and then try to find all the elements to carry out the theme. These salad plates were the last element I found for this Lobster table and I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find the right salad plates but these were perfect.

Sometimes I will find a special themed salad plate and that discovery will start the theme I want to create. You can read more about this tablescape here.

One Christmas I suddenly found a Grinch salad plate and at almost the same time, a Grinch cookie jar that I could use for the centerpiece, so that tablescape was off and running.

It was not a theme that I would have thought of but the items I inadvertently found suggested the theme. I am constantly looking for unusual large objects that can serve as centerpieces. You can read more about that tablescape here.

Hubby once found a lighthouse lamp at a garage sale and we removed the lamp part and I put it on a stand and used it as the centerpiece on a lighthouse themed table.

I bought a larger bowl shaped like a shell at HomeGoods as soon as I saw it because I realized that it could be used all summer long on different summer table settings.

I also have generic centerpieces items like lanterns and candle holders that can be adapted for different theme tables with the addition of decorative elements.

Cookie jars can be a perfect centerpiece, I have used them many times.

I usually divide my table ideas into seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall and purchase accordingly. For example, buy items like napkins in fall colors that can be used on table settings starting in the Fall through Thanksgiving. When you buy an item for a tablescape think about how you can use it on different table settings and try to purchase items that are versatile, that way you won’t have to purchase so many. I try to store things by season too which makes it easier to find them.

Think about what theme you want to create on your table and then start slowly looking for the elements to illustrate that theme.

To see over 220 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Tablescape Ideas group! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape Ideas. Don’t miss my Tablescaping How-To section at the top of this blog post (or here) for more tablescaping tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

Soup Time? Set a Fall Pumpkin Tablescape!

This is a table setting that I have posted before but it is one of my favorite Fall tablescapes so I am posting it again. The sage green tablecloth probably came from Amazon, I have had it for a while.

These small pumpkin tureens came from Pier 1 several years ago. They are my absolute favorite pumpkin dishes. I love the color and the raised design.

This is the matching salad plate in the same design from Pier 1. That raised design with all the curlicues is wonderful!

This dinner plate also came from Pier 1 several years ago. It was part of their Spice Route collection and the color was called Clove. I like the beaded design around the rim. This shade of green is a great shade for Fall tables and I use it frequently during the fall season. You can see it on a tomato themed Fall tablescape that I did a few years ago her and on a Red Barn tablescape here. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying dinner plates here.

These rattan chargers were among some of the first tablescape items I bought several years ago. I think I bought them at World Market but if you google rattan charger you can find them several places.

I found these sage green crochet doily place mats at Bed, Bath, and Beyond a few years ago. I wish they had come in other colors too because I really like the ruffled edge and the way it sets off whatever is on top of it. You can just see a hint of them on this tablescape but I decided to use them anyway because they add a nice contrast to the rattan. Some say that you shouldn’t use a place mat with a tablecloth but I do it anyway sometimes!

I am using my Madeline Green flatware on this table, I bought it at World Market several years ago. I really like the frosted design on the handles. It is one of my most used flatware sets. If you are developing a tablescaping collection be sure to find some flatware in a green color like this set. You will use it often! You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

These bright plaid napkins probably came from HomeGoods or Pier 1. I have had them for several years. I love using them during the Fall season. The plastic pumpkin napkin rings came from Ebay several years ago. To read about the what, where and how of napkin rings please click here.

These orange ceramic pumpkin name cards came from Hobby Lobby on sale a few years ago. I love the bright orange color. You can use a water-based pen or marker on them that can be erased for future reuse. They are great for labeling food on a buffet too. They had sunflowers and brown leaves also. You can see the sunflower one on my Sunflower tablescape here. To read about the what, where and how of place card holders, please click here.

I think I bought these orange glass goblets at Ross or T.J. Maxx. They were some of the first goblets I bought several years ago. I remember thinking that I would probably not use them very much but I have, especially this time of year. Dollar stores often have plastic goblets in bright colors during the spring and summer, the price can’t be beat! They have great glass goblets too. I bought the green acrylic goblets a couple years ago online at Home Depot. They are made by Certified International and they come in other colors too. This green is a great basic green color if you are looking for a green goblet to start your tablescaping collection. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets for your tablescaping collection including the colors that I use most often here.

This salt and pepper set came from Pier 1 several years ago and matches the tureens and plates.

This salt and pepper set came with the napkin rings when I bought them on Ebay a couple years ago.

I love this large pumpkin tureen and the matching ladle spoon. I wanted a bit more height so I set it on one of my small green Depression Glass bowls. It came from Pier 1 as well, several years ago.

Time to find a good soup recipe!

To see 200+ other tablescapes that I have created including 16 other Fall tablescapes please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Tablescape Ideas group! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape Ideas. Don’t miss my Tablescaping How-To section at the top of this blog post (or here) for more tablescaping tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week so please check back!

A Tomatoes Tablescape

There is nothing better than a home grown tomato. After seeing so many people taking up vegetable gardening I am going to plant some fruits and vegetables next year! I have had these tomato salad plates for several years and I had been looking for something to use as a centerpiece on a tomato table setting. After I saw this tomato tureen I knew I had my centerpiece. I’m not sure where the black and white gingham tablecloth came from but Amazon has lots of gingham tablecloths in different colors for sale. My daughter helped with some of the design elements for this table while social distancing standing in the doorway.

These tomato salad plates came from Sur La Table several years ago. I was sorry to see this morning that my nearby store is closing. I’m hoping that they will still have an online store.

This green dinner plate came from Pier 1 many years ago. It was part of their Spice Route collection and the color was called Clove. This shade of green is a great shade for Fall tables and I use it frequently during the fall season.

This black glass Starburst charger is called Charge It and they were made by Jay. I bought them several years ago on Amazon. They are heavy glass and a simple design and they work well with many different color schemes.

This Milano Red flatware is Ginkgo International LePrix. I have had this set for years but it is still for sale. Not sure where I bought it. I use it several times a year on tablescapes. The simple design is perfect with this busy tablecloth.

I have had the black napkin rings for several years. They came from Sur La Table, World Market or Pier 1 probably. The black napkins probably came from Amazon several years ago. I had someone on Etsy make the tomato napkins for me. I love this fabric! They only had four napkins but they found some similar fabric for the other two. If you look closely at the table you can see the difference between the two patterns. My daughter suggested that I place one napkin on top of the other napkin and I really like the way they look here.

I went through several different ideas for place card holders before I settled on this one. I found the small plastic tomatoes online at Factory Direct Craft and Hubby cut a slit in them for the card. I wanted more height so I put them on my Oleg Cassini crystal place card holders that I found at HomeGoods several years ago.

I have used this red and black goblet combination many different times on different tablescapes. I bought these black goblets on Ebay and they were one of the first sets that I bought several years ago. They are Lenox Midnight Mood black glass water goblets and they were made between 1974 and 1982. They are 7 1/4 inches tall. When I started buying goblets I didn’t pay attention to the height but now I like to buy goblets that are at least about 8 inches tall because my table is large and I think they show better. You can still find them on Ebay from time to time. I am using my red Waterford Marquis Brookside goblets on this table. I really love this glassware. It is well made, heavy, and a true red color. I bought them at HomeGoods several years ago. You can still find them on Ebay from time to time too. I use this red goblet more than any other goblet in my collection probably because red is a favorite color.

I found this tomato tureen on sale at Williams Sonoma online last month. I really love it. It was made in Portugal by Bordallo Pinheiro. It is sitting on a wood stand that I bought at Pier 1 this spring. It was a natural wood color but Hubby painted it white for me to use on my Beach tablescape and then black for this table and a couple Halloween tables that are coming.

I wanted another pop of red on this table so I added two red ball candles to the table to mimic red tomatoes. I found them on Amazon. I have bought many many different colors and shapes of candles on Amazon over the years. Candles can be difficult to find in stores if they aren’t common colors and shapes.

Red and black is one of my favorite tablescape color combinations. You can see it on my Playing Cards tablescape here and my Miss Blackbirdy Valentine tablescape here. I love the way these colors interact on this table. Time to start researching tomato seed varieties!

To see 160+ other tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Tablescape Ideas group! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape Ideas. Don’t miss my Tablescaping How-To section at the top of this blog post (or here) for more tablescaping tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week so please check back!