ciao! newport beach: tablescape: stripes for Labor Day

Stripes are always so festive and can fit in with any sort of style, so today I’m sharing my favorite tips for setting a fun but intimate table at home to honor Labor Day. You'll see how easy it is with the help of a few of key table setting accessories.

Start with a striped table runner, tablecloth or napkins. Bonus points if you can coordinate the napkins and table runner/cloth. If you only have one striped item, use a solid color like white or blue for the other piece. Gingham or and two-toned pattern can also work beautifully with stripes.

Plates are also a key component to any tablescape. Plain white plates are great! You can use then on their own, or combine with red or blue plates for an added punch of color. Transferware plates work great with stripes!

Glassware in red or blue is fun, but plain clear glass works for this look too. Don’t forget, mixing and matching is okay.

Natural Fiber Placemats are great way to define each place setting and add interesting texture to the table. I love round ones and use those the most, but rectangular ones are fun too.

Flowers bring a table to life and can really be easy to put together. Pick up a bunch at the grocery store or forage your own back yard for interesting leaves and blooms.

It’s always delightful to combine the two by adding a few unique stems to a store-bought bouquet. Try to stick with white flowers and add red or blue to those, if possible.

Another option is to go to the nursery and pick one wonderful showy plant in a 4-8 inch pot. When you get home, place it in a wonderful basket or cachepot.

Candles are the final touch. Add a few candlesticks, hurricane lanterns or votives for ambiance.