The One Item Every Summer Table Should Have

It’s no secret that one of the best things about summertime is dining al fresco. Looking to upgrade your tablescape? Consider embroidered table linens, seasonal blooms, and dinnerware that packs in a bold punch.

Take a break from your usual set and opt for one that will inspire a refresh from the banalities of the everyday. Bright colors, intricate patterns, and a little mix-and-match are highly encouraged—with the right selection, your table will hardly need much else, decor-wise.

From the whimsical to the modern, and everything else in between, we’ve rounded up the pieces you should probably be stocking up on for the ultimate summer of entertaining. See for yourself.

Organic Shaped Melamine Dinner Plate, West Elm, (Originally $8), Now $5

If simplicity is what you’re going for, then look no further. This understated pick makes quite a case for neutrals, all the while inspiring a subtle pop of character by way of the lightly speckled finish.

Charleston Melamine Side Plates, Set of 4, Anthropologie, $27.20

With a dinnerware set as vibrant and eye-catching as this one, your table will hardly require much else, decoratively speaking. Although, if you are feeling a little bold, pair these picks with abundant centerpieces of a yellow-blue palette.

Maximal Dessert Plates, Set of 6, La DoubleJ Housewives, $350

If you can’t make to make it to Italy this summer, at least you can bring Tuscan villa vibes into your backyard with these intricately patterned dessert plates. With each one featuring a unique vintage pattern and hand-painted gold trim, this collection is luxe elegance at its finest.

Strawberries Melamine Tidbit Plates, Kate Spade New York, $30

We’re all here for a playfully printed dinnerware set, especially if there is a mix-and-match situation involved. This subtly patterned yet beautifully vibrant plate is essentially what summer is all about.

Jackson Dinnerware, Hawkins New York, from $26

Handpainted in Portugal and inspired by New York’s Abstract Impressionist movement of the 1940s, this dinnerware set doubles as the ultimate conversational piece. Crafted of stoneware and available in either a black or citron palette, the playfully dotted plates will bring about a dynamic layer to even the most basic of tables.

Blue and White Melamine Dinner Plate, CB2, $7.95

What’s summer without at least one nautical reference or another? Product of CB2’s highly-coveted collaboration with fashion icon Fred Segal, this dinnerware set is all about a dynamic color block that will impart your summer table with major style and personality.

Dinner Plate, East Fork, $62

How dreamy is this inspired shade of blue? We’re swooning over this handmade stoneware piece, which boasts an imperfectly perfect composition. Available in a wide variety of earthy tones, resisting the urge to splurge on a whole lot of them will be quite difficult.

Ideaco Reusable Picnic Plates, ABC Home, $8

Al fresco dining just got a whole lot easier, thanks to this reusable dinnerware set comprised of a sustainable alternative to paper plates. Crafted in Japan, it’s the lightweight composition and durable build that make this one a must-have.

Sunscene Melamine Dinner Plate, Anthropologie, $8

We can practically hear summer calling with this vibrantly-printed set. Illustrated by artist Blakely Little, each of the unique dishes boast a scene from a quintessential coastal town, loaded with pastels and plenty of character.

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