She wasn’t a local anymore, but she was here with us for the weekend. Alongside her partner Jeremy and their delightful little boy Will, they spent a few days visiting and catching up. If you’re not familiar with them, the family shares their projects and life on the Bower Power blog: Bower Power.
We had a wonderful time hosting them — cooking, showing them around town, and simply enjoying a relaxed weekend together from Friday through Sunday. It felt easy and familiar, the kind of visit that leaves you satisfied and inspired. We caught up on projects, swapped ideas, and enjoyed plenty of conversation over shared meals.
On this visit we kept to a favorite tradition: making a short video of our time together. If you’ve watched our past clips from our Nashville meetup or other get-togethers, you know we like to capture small moments and practical inspiration. For this visit we focused on table styling. Starting with simple, everyday basics — white plates, clear glassware, and standard flatware — we added five small accents to create three distinct looks for the table. These combinations show how a few thoughtful changes can shift the mood and color palette of a meal without requiring a lot of extra tableware.
The table designs we created work especially well for hosts who serve family-style or buffet meals and then bring plates back to the table to eat. Because these arrangements don’t reserve a ton of space for large serving platters in the center, they’re ideal for gatherings where food is plated or served from the kitchen. That said, you can easily adapt the ideas: borrow color and texture cues from any setup and modify the placement so there’s room for larger platters, serving bowls, or centerpiece elements.
If you can’t watch video at work, the clip is still useful: the visuals show the three table arrangements and label the five accent items used in each look. Even muted, the video communicates the styling steps clearly — a helpful option for viewers who need to keep the volume down. You can also view the same video directly on YouTube if you prefer that platform.
What we like about this approach is its flexibility and accessibility. Everyone already owns the core pieces — basic plates, glassware, and standard cutlery — so the rest is about thoughtful accents. Small additions like textured napkins, a runner or placemats, a simple centerpiece, coordinated glassware, or colorful chargers can completely transform the presentation. By mixing and matching a few elements, you can create looks that range from casual and bright to warm and intimate without investing in specialized dinnerware.
Beyond aesthetics, these table styling ideas are practical. They allow for easy cleanup, quick changes between courses, and a relaxed flow for guests. Rather than rearranging platters mid-meal, host-style setups like these keep the table inviting and functional. They also encourage conversation, as guests aren’t reaching across large centerpieces or stacked serving dishes.
On a personal note, hosting friends who are also fellow creators is always energizing. We left the weekend with fresh ideas, a few new project notes, and lots of warm memories. If you’re looking for approachable table styling inspiration, try starting with neutral basics and adding five repeatable accents. You’ll be surprised how much personality you can introduce with just a few well-chosen pieces.
Baby & family pics by Katie (come on, you know we’re not that good).