A Sunflower Tablescape Says Sunshine & Farmhouse
This sunflower tablescape draws inspiration from the flowers and transition between the final days of summer while looking ahead to fall.
As summer sun wanes and the air turns crisp, sunflowers become the perfect bloom for farmhouse style. Sheila Trapp of Simple Joy at Home uses the flower plentifully in her September tablescapes. With a design perspective rooted in farmhouse, Sheila likes to blend the natural vibes of cottage and French country style, peppering her home with what she sees growing outside: sunflowers.
In September, Sheila grows sunflowers in her cut flower garden. She then pulls these into bountiful bouquets that she places around her house. Sheila also mixes real flowers with faux to ensure her work lasts several months. “Sunflowers are great for September because they look back at summer as we head toward fall,” she says. “I like all the golden hues—they make it feel like summer isn’t quite over yet.”
The sunflowers’ golden colors also gesture to days spent lounging outdoors in the sun. Because of this, Sheila chose to include in her sunflower tablescape finger foods she’d likely pack for a summer picnic. She places cucumbers, grapes and other tiny bites onto mini charcuterie boards at each place setting. “I just thought the charcuterie created a welcoming look for each person and made guests want to sit at the table,” she says. She juxtaposes appetizers beside coppery mugs filled with water and limes. “All this attention to detail makes people want to come, sit down, and see everything together.”
Sheila combines wood, rattan and other textures with smooth ceramic and clear-glass pieces to further emphasize the transitional summer theme. “The table runner has a woven feel, which helps it blend with the candle chargers, too,” she says.
Later, Sheila might pop some pumpkins onto her tablescape, as she is always thinking about how she can transition her décor. “All the yellow and gold make it so you don’t have to jump straight into pumpkins after July,” she says. “Sunflowers just feel warmer and more natural this time of year.”
How to Layer a Tablescape
Follow these tips to create an inviting tablescape that complements the rest of your room’s décor.
Sheila shares how to use color, texture and different materials to layer across a room when decorating a tablescape.
Get colorful. Sheila selected different yellow hues, ranging from a brilliant sunshine to more subdued mustard and golden shades. The assortment of color adds depth. “I also like to have a neutral base that leans warm with a brown or beige table runner,” she says. This warmth helps ground the tablescape while allowing the yellows to blend nicely together.
Take a step back. Don’t be afraid to design in phases. “Layering in a tablescape takes time. It can be a lot of arranging, stepping back to take a break, and then coming back to try again,” she says. “You have to take your time and enjoy the process.”
Think beyond the table. Sheila’s tablescape sits near windows looking out onto her cut flower garden. “I wanted to bring some of the outside in with the flowers,” she says. She made sure the flowers were placed in the corner near the table. “I also wanted to create multiple focal points that guide the eye across the room.” Sheila then set a throw blanket on the bench in a similar color to the flowers, further blending the tablescape with its surroundings.
If you’d like to gather more tablescape ideas, be sure to read on A Rustic Fall Tablescape, Farmhouse Style Halloween Tablescape Inspiration, and Thanksgiving Tablescape With Elegant Neutrals. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!
