A Beginner's Guide to Floral Tablescaping: Elevate Your Garden Table
The art of tablescaping is surging in popularity, so much so that the RHS Malvern Spring Festival is introducing a dedicated floral tablescaping category in its RHS-judged gardens this year. This trend encourages enthusiasts to transform ordinary garden tables into stunning visual displays using cut flowers and plants.
Expert Insights from a Wedding Florist
One of the entrants, Ashley Edwards, a wedding and event florist at Ash Tree Floral Designs in Birmingham, is crafting a display titled At The Threshold: The Garden Comes To The Table. This installation captures the transitional energy between spring and summer, showcasing plants, bulbs, and flowers emerging with promise. It features a blend of cut flowers and plants, with terracotta pots integrated to create the illusion of flowers growing through the table.
Edwards shares valuable advice for beginners aiming to make their garden tables dazzle with floral additions.
Key Tips for Successful Tablescaping
Avoid Too Many Colours: Edwards emphasizes that cohesion is crucial. "Things look more cohesive with just one or two coordinating colours rather than throwing everything at it, which will make it look busy and messy," she advises.
Make It Seasonal: Always choose seasonal flowers. "Look at what you've got in the garden," she suggests. For spring, tulips are ideal due to their phototropic movement with light. Ranunculus offers impact with open petals, while garden roses in summer provide scent and vase appeal. In late summer, dahlias work well with their large heads, requiring fewer stems for effect. Autumn calls for dried elements like allium and scabious seedheads, rose hips, and berries.
Don't Forget Foliage: Incorporate various foliage shapes and shades of green, such as ninebark with its dark foliage, to add depth and texture.
Consider the Occasion: Assess whether the table is for decoration or dining. For narrow tables like trestles, avoid clutter to maintain practicality. Coordinate table linens and accessories neutally or with key colours from the flowers, adding elements like stones, dried moss, or fruit.
Think About Height: Keep floral arrangements no higher than a wine bottle for vases on the table. Use baby bud vases for low displays or elevate them 70cm on stands to avoid blocking views. Vary heights with wispy grasses or single stems for visual interest.
Go for Repetition: Repeating patterns create impact. Use evenly spaced similar arrangements or small groupings with gaps of negative space to balance positive space filled with florals and tableware.
Be Adventurous with Containers: Experiment with bud vases, vintage opaque containers, or vases with chicken wire for support. For a rustic feel, try terracotta pots with moss or spray-painted tin cans planted with succulents.
Keep It Simple: Simplicity often yields the best results. Stick to one or two colours and container types, use repeating patterns, and incorporate natural elements like fruit or candles sparingly to enhance atmosphere.
Look for Inspiration: Platforms like Pinterest offer creative ideas. Observe natural garden growth for composition cues, such as using alliums for height with low-growing plants to mimic a miniature garden on the table.
Choose Fillers: Use fillers like statice or solidago to fluff up displays, and grasses to introduce movement and texture.
Event Details
The RHS Malvern Spring Festival, where this floral tablescaping category debuts, runs from May 7 to 10, providing a platform for enthusiasts to showcase their creativity and learn from experts like Edwards.
