Get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July with a fun and festive tablescape that shows off your red, white, and blue spirit! In this post, you’ll find easy ideas for patriotic table decor, simple DIY touches, and creative centerpiece inspo to make your holiday get-together feel extra special. Whether it’s a backyard BBQ or a cozy picnic, these 4th of July tablescape tips will help you set the scene for a celebration to remember.
The Fourth of July is a special time for us to celebrate with family and friends. So when people come over, why not impress them with a beautiful (but easy) tablescape?
I'm starting a new series here on Global Bakes - tablescapes and partyscapes with menus, recipes, DIY decorations, and ideas to make your get-togethers amazing! Make sure that you sign up to follow the blog to get notified of new themed parties, menus, and more!
Now let's talk about the Fourth of July!
First, I will say that I know there are a million things to do when you are expecting guests. Clean the house, go to the grocery store, invite people over, and on and on! But with a little planning and forethought, you can not only get through it, but you can also ensure that you host an event to remember!
Table Decor for the Fourth of July
Decorating may seem frivolous but it can really impress your guests! A little time invested in the details will make your friends and family feel welcome and keep them coming back for more!
For the table, I opted to use a light blue floral with a pale tan and white stripe background. I like to go with the unexpected, and this is it! Many Fourth of July tablescapes will begin with a red and white check tablecloth. While I love a good red and white check, I saw this pattern in a tub at my husband's aunt's house and knew it was the start of this design!
Believe it or not, this is an old bed sheet! I don't know where Aunt Judy got it but it is reminiscent of Laura Ashley designs. This one is similar to the one that I used.
I added layered runners in burlap, light blue, and dark blue, as well as some gold glittery wide ribbon (again, from Aunt Judy's stash).
In this case, the tablecloth set the color palette for my entire tablescape. I knew that I needed to add some red to the design, so I did that in the flowers first.
The flowers on this tablescape are artificial, and I will tell you why. I have cats. Four of them. And one of them in particular eats every plant that he can get to. In the future, I will be sharing a list of flowers that are safe to decorate with in case they are ingested by pets. I didn't have time to get that list completed before this post so I chose artificial flowers this time.
Honestly, do you think that your guests will mind? No!! They will not! They will be so happy with the time and effort that you put into your event.
So I went through my stash and found some red poppies, white ranunculus, and 'blue' lavender and daisies. I arranged them loosely in my newly decorated vase, and now I have an arrangement that will last forever if I want it to, and it won't make my cats sick!
I was incredibly lucky to find the dark blue chargers a couple of weeks ago at Savers, a thrift store that is found in many areas. They are the perfect contrast to make the plates pop.
The next layer is a set of white plates that I have had for years. With a simple wave design and pure white color, they provide plenty of contrast.
Next, I layered another find from Aunt Judy's house - vintage Johnson Brothers Willow Blue from Staffordshire, England china. Judy has blue and white dishes all over her house, and she was kind enough to let me borrow these bowls and plates to lend a vintage touch to this beautiful table!
You may not expect to see this English chinoiserie design on an American 4th of July tablescape, but the Chinese-inspired design lends a touch of elegance and romance.
Since I was limited to a few 8" plates and bowls in the vintage blue pattern, I decided to make a few pieces of my own to add a little more color. This was as simple as a couple of silver platters from Dollar Tree, some Modge Podge, and a toile-patterned paper napkin from amazon.
I used the same technique on a white vase that I used at my wedding 30 years ago. I haven't used it in years and thought that it could use a facelift!
Here is a video on how to do this technique:
The glasses that I chose for this 4th of July tablescape both have stripes, which was an intentional choice. The stripes mimic the stripes in the tablecloth and also the stripes in an American Flag. This subtle callout to the flag fits our theme perfectly!
The color of the glasses also hints to your guests what each glass is for, thanks to the fact that the stemless glasses are almost the same color as the pitcher that holds the fruit-infused and festive water.
The Menu
The menu that I created, along with the recipes, is a combination of dishes that will suit everyone. I strongly believe in providing options for people who have dietary restrictions, whether due to medical reasons or personal preference. So I have served:
Appetizers - Kettle Corn - I served Bom Chicka Pop Sweet and Salty, which happens to be one of my favorite snacks. It's certified gluten-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO. And SOOOO tasty!
Salad - Spinach Salad with Red Onion, Blackberries & Feta - Simple ingredients and easy to make, but every time I make this salad, people ask for seconds. ON SALAD! If I have time to make candied pecans, they are a great addition. Delicious with a lemon vinaigrette.
Main Course - Pork Chops with Peach Relish - A delicious ode to summer!
Tofu, Mushroom & Tomato Kebabs - A vegan option that even meat eaters will devour!
Sides - Grilled Watermelon & Haloumi Kebabs - Grilling the watermelon caramelizes the sugars and is oh so yummy!
Grilled Mexican Street Corn on the Cob - Always my favorite side dish. Period.
Smashed New Potatoes with Bacon - Because...bacon!
Dessert - Mixed Berry Pavlova - Light, sweet, and fresh. Summer perfection! Plus, you can mimic the colors of the flag with the berries!
Cocktails - Blackberry Gin Smash and Jalapeno Watermelon Margarita
Of course, these are all my choices and may not suit your party. Mix and match or create your own recipes!
I have created a printable Menu template that can be edited to include your own menu choices. Just click the link below, and the template will open in Canva. You will be able to edit the text as well as the graphics, if you would like to!
The link to the editable menu can be found here: Menu Template
Make the menu a little more fun and custom by adding some dimensional elements that appear to pop off the page!
Print the menu as a 5x7 (including the second page) and cut to size. Cut TWO bows for each menu card. Use small pieces of raised dots or dimensional tape to stack the bows. Place the dimensional bows near the top left corner.
Repeat the process with the small stars, if desired.
More DIY Paper Crafts
Another little pop of color comes from the little cone of paper that I used to hold a blue napkin and a single white daisy. I think the red and white polka dots are just perfect!
You can download the template for the cone here (just right click on the image and 'save as'):
And here are a couple of photos to show you how easy it is to make these little cones!
For the fidgeters like me - PUZZLES! Give people something fun to play with while they chat or eat or drink! I know that I would appreciate this little touch because I have a hard time sitting still and staying engaged at social events. A cute little puzzle would give me a chance to reset!
I printed the puzzles on cardstock and cut them out. If you want to make them more sturdy or if you want to re-use them for years to come, mount them on chipboard or cardboard before cutting them out.
Last but not least are the cute little popcorn buckets that hold our appetizer. Or is Kettle Corn a dessert? Either way, let's present it in these cute and easy-to-make popcorn buckets! The blue and white stripe echoes the stripe in the tablecloth and also the glasses.
Here is the file to print for yourself to make the popcorn buckets. Right click and 'save as' on the file below. I have made them small - if you want them larger, you can scale them up on your printer.
I hope that you enjoyed this tablescape and will sign up to receive updates on new recipes, decor, and more!
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