Our dining room is currently under construction, but thankfully, we’ve planned for this! The study can easily transform into a dining room when needed—we’ve done it before, and we’re doing it again this year.
The secret trick? The “desk” in there is actually a dining table, complete with leaves to extend it! Even without the leaves, it comfortably seats six, and you can squeeze in eight with chairs at each end. It’s great for a quick option if we want to (or need to) use this room for dinner.
We kept the antique chairs we used to have in the dining room upstairs at a craft table around the landing, so they’re easy to bring down for this while our newer dining chairs are in storage.
Tablecloth | Blue and White Plates | Flatware | Napkins | Place Cards | Stemmed Glasses | Cabbage Bowls | Bunny Head | Faux Dusty Plum Stems | Candlesticks (Amazon, Wayfair) | Dripless Candles | Vase | Faux Snowball Stems | Table | Chairs (vintage – similar) | Chandelier | Dress (similar)
For this year’s table setting, I’m aiming for a casual yet special occasion feel. I want to incorporate a variety of colors, so I chose a yellow striped tablecloth with a ruffle—a departure from my usual palette, but perfect for spring and Easter. I used matching yellow striped ruffle napkins to keep it a little more casual. I love color-drenching, so it’s no surprise I love pattern-drenching!
For plates, I have my blue transferware plates from Amazon, which I’ve loved for years. They’re dishwasher-safe and add an unexpected touch. I like how the geometric stripes of the tablecloth contrast with the organic pattern of the plates.
I love florals, but for dinner, you don’t want anything obstructing conversation. So, I created a faux floral runner down the center of the table using purple and green flowers. This adds color without blocking anyone’s view.
Oval Platter (similar) | Serving Fork (similar)
Simple silver candlesticks felt fresh, and I’m keeping the tapers neutral with ivory candles.
For appetizer cups, I used my new cabbageware from Target (you can find similar here) and filled them with Sahale nuts—our favorite. The banana rum is my favorite flavor and just a great little snack while guests are waiting to be served.
The stemware is actually acrylic, making it family-friendly for Easter dinner (we use them all the time for “fancy dinners” with our girls.
We usually serve buffet-style from the kitchen (our long island is perfect for that), but I also like to create a small decor area there, with larger branches decorated with Easter eggs and all the food in nice serving dishes. This way, no one has to constantly ask for things to be passed, though getting seconds can be a bit of a gamble!
For place cards, I was inspired by produce-themed Easter tables I saw online. I wrote names on white place cards and cut a variety of colorful carrots with a diagonal slit so the cards would lay flat. Always keep plain white cards on hand—they come in handy so often, even to label dishes on the island.
I think Easter is a great time to experiment with pastels. This year, I’m loving yellow, purple, green, blue, and ivory. I used my usual silver cutlery to complement the candlesticks!
Shop The Easter Table
A hosting tip, which Chris has varied on over the years, is to have guests bring sides while the host provides the main dish. We usually take care of the ham, but some years Chris prefers to cook everything. I’ll share our whole Easter menu next week!
If you’re looking for more ideas for your Easter table make sure to check out the CLJ Spring Shop!