Inspiration

How to Create the Perfect Easter Lunch Table

29th March 2022

How to Create the Perfect Easter Lunch Table

Are you planning on hosting family and friends this Easter? Whether you’ll be setting your table for 2 or 20, there’s nothing nicer than pulling out all the stops to make a memorable tablescape for everyone to enjoy. Easter is a great opportunity to really have fun with your styling and even the chicest tables can get away with a few light-hearted touches.

The first thing you’ll need to think about is where your table will be located. If you’re being bold and planning on eating outside then back up sheepskins and blankets for chairs could be very good things to have in reserve! You might also decide to choose decorative objects with a bit of weight that won’t constantly be blown away if the day proves to be slightly windy.

Birdie Fortescue Outdoor Dining

If your table is long then consider a tablecloth with an all-over print. Plain cloths can look a bit stark, particularly on very large tables, and tend to need more styling. We’ve created our Bouquet de Fleurs cloth specifically to make the styling process as easy as possible. The print contains several colours so can tie in with a range of different tones and the ruffled edge is perfect for creating visual impact from afar.

Pair a floral cloth with matching napkins and placemats or choose contrasting pieces for a more contemporary look. We’ve used raffia mats on this table to link back to the rattan chairs. You could also try solid or shaped fabric alternatives like our Quatrefoil mats.

Bouquet de Fleurs Floral Tablecloth

To complete this look choose glassware in delicate tones like the soft greens and peaches we’ve used here. Mixing textured glass in with plain is a great way to add interest and is particularly effective outside where the sunlight can interact with the different surfaces. As our Bouquet de Fleurs cloth contains a mixture of ‘true’ pinks and more apricot tones, we’ve included lots of pink Cabbageware crockery here too. This setting would work very well scattered with painted Easter eggs. If you prefer a sharper look then maybe a single egg at each place would be a thoughtful touch.

Green Dining with Magnolia Linen Tablecloth

If you’re planning a more formal gathering then how about creating something along the lines of this smart, verdant table? Green is such a forgiving colour and is perfect for Spring. It also sits remarkably well alongside all sorts of other colours so is easy to place within a room. The prints and patterns we’ve used here are mainly leafy rather than floral but still feel fresh and seasonal. Our Magnolia tablecloth is the base for this setting and we’ve then added embroidered Foliage napkins and placemats. Matching hand-painted crockery and ceramic candlesticks complete this look. Using so many matching elements gives this table a slick, cohesive feel that’s perfect even for a smart dinner party. For added Easter fun we would add vintage papier maché eggs or even ceramic ones, left plain or simply painted.

If you prefer an eclectic look then try leaving your table bare and adding colour with glassware, crockery and decorative accessories. This table uses a range of pinks, peaches, blues and indigos and incorporates lots of different textures. The papier maché placemats, napkins and candlesticks create cohesion and introduce a key decorative motif. Simple stacked crockery is mixed in with coloured glass plates to tie in with the reeded glass tumblers and water jugs. Rather than using matching glass vases we’ve opted for rustic Romanian urns. The charming hand-painted finish on these earthenware pots creates the perfect visual link with the surface of the table.

Birdie Fortescue Outdoor Dining

This setting would be perfect for a gathering with lots of children as there’s no cloth for them to get tangled up in (or spill things on!) and it would be easy to add in lots of fun decorative elements. Attractive Easter decorations are now fairly widely available and we might even stretch to using some little rabbit figures mixed in with lots of edible and decorative eggs here. If you’re going big on eggs then make sure you a selection of different sizes to maintain the structure of the table. You could even hang some from arrangements of branches too.

If you’re feeling inspired to get shopping then why not browse our brand new Loire tableware collection? Our incredibly stylish rattan garden furniture is now available for pre-order too.

Whether you are a dab hand with a brush or planning to get someone in, here are a few ideas of ways to enhance your space using our new paints.

Color swatches labeled with names from 'Birdie Fortescue' collection by Fenwick & Tilbrook.

Dining table setting with floral arrangement, candles, and plates in a room with a framed artwork on the wall.

Light and dark

Console table with decorative items against a green wall with floral artwork

This is a classic look for two reasons. Aesthetically speaking, splitting your wall into two distinct shades of light and dark – in this case, Nar above and Bure below – creates a sense of height and space in the room. The darker tone helps to ground the room while the brighter shade creates lightness and lifts the eye. From a practical perspective, the darker colour on the dado rail and wainscoting is also more forgiving for the wear and tear that our homes endure. It is also a very effective way to showcase paler coloured items of furniture like our Marble Top Crackle Console Table. We used our Coloured Wall Lights to link the lighter wall back to the rich tones of our Varuna Hand Tufted Trellis Wool Rug.

Handy hint: Rather than testing a paint colour directly on your walls, apply it to an A4-sized sheet of art card. That way you can audition the colour around your room and see how it changes with the light. You can also hold the painted card against your existing furnishings to test how they work together – and take the colour out with you when shopping for the room.

Beyond the pale

For those who think pale colours are a bit too safe or dull, please think again. For when used correctly they can create a wonderful space that is both warm and engaging. Here we have embraced the lightness, by using a combination of our Waveney paint above and Tud below. These hues provide a calm backdrop against which exquisite patterns like our Dumaloq Suzani can truly shine. The icing on the cake in this scheme is the sophisticated stripe of our Felipe Border pasted directly above the dado rail. Notice how it picks up on the accent colours within the Namda Felted Rug, and our Lattice Crewel Work Cushion.

Handy hint: Wallpaper borders are an easy way to create character and add a sense of structure to a plain room. If you are planning to paint a room just one colour, consider how a well-chosen border might add that extra something along your skirting boards and around the perimeter of your door frames.

Paper and paint

Here at Birdie HQ we love a patterned wallpaper but we also appreciate how four walls of it can feel a bit much. This is where a well-chosen paint comes into its own. For this scheme we combined the small-scale geometric tile pattern of our Sintra wallpaper with the deep calming

tones of our Wissey paint. The pair work wonderfully together creating a space that feels layered and considered. A bolder style such as this sits well with plainer pieces like our Abacus Floor Lamp and a treasured antique like this French 1970s Ulphostered Armchair, helping to bring out their sculptural qualities. Just a few judicious pops of pattern like our Crewel Work Cushion and the paintings of Lucy Innes Williams are all that is needed to complete the look.

Handy hint: When choosing your paint colours remember to consider how they will look against your flooring. For a more seamless look you may want to paint your walls and skirting boards the same colour. This works well in smaller spaces where you want to maximise the sense of space. However painting the skirting boards a different colour can be useful for balancing the transition from walls to floor – and adds an extra layer of interest to your scheme.

Gallery walls

Blue and red dining room with Fenwick and Tilbrook painted walls

If you own a very special piece of art, why not let it lead your paint scheme? Remember, you do not require clinically white walls to show pictures at their best. All you need is a sensitive eye and some thought as to what colours speak to you in the work and how they might translate into your room. This will ensure that your décor is complimenting not competing with your art. In our dining room, a rather splendid print by Keith Haring inspired our choice of Thurne for the richly painted dado and wainscoting, while we used Burn for the walls to allow the artwork space to breathe. Thurne’s bold red colour continues as an accent in the scheme from our Pumpkin Candlesticks and Ladder Stripe Napkins to our colourful Ziggurat Kilim Rug which provides a wonderful grounding for the space.

Handy hint: When your project is complete, be sure to transfer any small paint leftovers into a jam jar. This will come in very useful for touching up any future bumps or scrapes in the paintwork – and the paint will keep better as there is less air in the jar than the original tin. Should you find that you have a lot of paint left over, consider using it to paint the inside of a cupboard or an old piece of furniture that would appreciate the boost.

Neatly made bed with decorative pillows in a bedroom setting.

Which paint colour best suits my style?

Whether you’re drawn to soft, timeless neutrals or rich, characterful hues, our new paint collection has been carefully curated to bring warmth, depth, and individuality to your home. Each shade has been thoughtfully blended in collaboration with Fenwick and Tillbrook to harmonise beautifully with our furniture, lighting, and accessories - making it easy to create a cohesive and inspiring interior.

From grounding dark tones to uplifting pale shades, these paints offer endless possibilities to refresh and transform your home. Explore the collection today and discover the perfect colour to complement your style - available exclusively from Birdie Fortescue.