How to Decorate Your Easter Table {...in the middle of a Pandemic}
We asked Amy with Amy Ray Events to put together a piece about decorating during a pandemic and absolutely love what she had to say! Check out her blog post below!
Photo by Adrienne Turner Photography
Feeling like it would be a wasted effort to decorate for holidays during a pandemic? While I do understand that thought, I’m of the belief that trying to do all the things that feel “normal” during this difficult time can have a profound benefit to your mental health. Go ahead and decorate, do the egg hunt, have fun and embrace the day! And let’s say you’re someone who usually visits a family member’s home for the holiday…without that option this year, why not go ahead and have that special meal with the people (or even just the person) you already live with? And hey, if you’re not a great cook, there are so many fabulous local delivery options out there--no judgment, you’re just trying to keep local businesses alive and stimulate the economy, right?! Whether you pull it from the oven or grab it off your front porch, it is still a holiday meal and you’ll still want the memories for yourself and for your family. True, your holiday will not be the same, but that’s not a reason to disregard some of your favorite aspects of the day!
When it comes to your Easter table this year, you will likely have fewer seats at the table, fewer resources to pull from, and less overall food to cook…that last one isn’t really a sacrifice for me personally…so why not work with what resources you do have and make the holiday feel extra special?!
Let’s talk about how to keep the traditions alive, keep your spirits up, and ways to decorate your table so you can embrace the holiday spirit.
Don’t stress yourself out trying to be over the top. If you have tons of décor, and love going all out, go for it! But if you don’t, just find a few pieces that are meaningful, special, and/or look nice. Start with your tablecloth (if you want), place mats (if you want), or even just your chargers/plates. Select items that aren’t used every day for your ordinary meals…this is a holiday after all, make it special. After selecting your dishes, choose your flatware, then glassware, and finally napkins. Once your place settings are complete, you can move onto your centerpiece. You can do this in reverse if you prefer to start with the middle and work your way out, but for me, I like to start with my place settings so I know how much space I’ll have available for a centerpiece so I can decide to go big or scale back.
Photo by Adrienne Turner Photography
Odds are, you’re not able to do much shopping during this time…now’s your chance to get creative---incorporate items you already have around the house. For my Easter table set up, I decided to go monochromatic with the color scheme and even incorporated some groceries (eggs are a fave of mine to decorate with for Easter). This is a great day to bust out that wedding China, dust off Grandma’s crystal glasses, and feel that sense of memory/tradition when you can’t be with your extended loved ones. And get creative with this whole “using what you have” idea. The table runner on this particular table setting is actually two sheer curtains from my daughter’s bedroom…and those candlesticks are from our fireplace décor…I mean, why not?! Saving on expenses and staying safe by not getting out and purchasing things are key factors in our lives today; use those concepts as fuel for your design. I will admit I was missing the flower arrangements this year, but I know availability and options are limited, so that was one element I intentionally omitted to show you don’t HAVE to have floral in your centerpiece. After the table was all set up, I ended up being happy with the look and hardly noticed the lack of floral. If you are one who loves your flowers and you are lucky enough to have the resources to get an arrangement, then by all means, go for it!!
Photo by Adrienne Turner Photography
Hey, no one’s going to see your table except your immediate family; this could be the year to go all out! Maybe let the kids pitch in and decorate their own place settings! Maybe let them dye some Easter eggs and incorporate them into the design? Maybe use a mix of colors you never would even consider trying before? There are no rules this year---experiment with your style! If you’re like me and maybe a little too “Type A” for all that, then pick a style that works for you---for me, I chose minimalist and monochromatic. There is something about all shades of white that make me feel peaceful, reflective, and calm. That’s what I need this holiday, so that’s what I’m doing. Maybe you want some bright fun colors to give you energy and joy--bring it! Now, for some of you, this sort of thing comes naturally. For others, you may want to be inspired. Check out this amazingly adorable Easter table from Home with Holly J. Finding home design bloggers whose style is in line with yours is a fabulous way to be inspired to create your own dream holiday table!
The key to any successful table design is to make it inviting. You want people to WANT to be at the table. Draw them in and make them want to stay. Whether it’s for 20 people (another time, my friend, another time), or 2 people, you can still have a fabulous table for your dearest loved ones to gather around and enjoy your Easter meal!
