Places In The Home

This decorista is feeling the by the sea table setting ideas vibe.  For those of us who look for any opportunity to show off our tablescape chops, the summer entertaining season is opportunity supreme.

There’s something about the combination of a summer day into afternoon or evening, good friends, great food, and a table set in by the sea style.

Yes, social distancing will guide the guest list and seating arrangement, but hosting a summer soiree we will be.

This post has become packed like a beach bag with sources and suggestions, requiring it to be split into two by the sea place setting ideas parts.

If summer entertaining in coastal style is your thing, grab a cool beverage, get comfy, and settle in.

Before we set the table, let me set the scene:

An interesting article in Better Homes & Gardens highlights findings from the book Blue Mind by author and marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols.

Blue mind is the reflective and peaceful state experienced as result of being on, in, or by a body of water.  Research backs up the author’s theory of proving how being on, in, or by a body of water as in lake, river, sea or ocean bolsters happiness.

Replicating a day or evening at the coast, beach or seashore in the form of tablescape set with striking place settings and tablewares engages the senses of sight, touch, taste, and sound, promotes visual happiness, and gives those who love to set a gorgeous table a stylish dose of vitamin sea.

Architectural Digest

By the sea table setting ideas, indoor or alfresco, serve as a passport to dining adventures where the dining table top becomes an inspired canvas.

Elle

Visually interesting, unexpected, and conversation worthy pieces in colors and patterns not typically associated with the tablescape theme at hand is a fun and fresh way to approach place settings and serving pieces.

From coastal casual to elegantly formal to whatever floats your by the sea boat, well-appointed table setting options remain the best friend of the entertaining decorista.

Mary Hannah Interiors

Let’s by the sea table set, shall we?

Seagrass Charger

Placemats and chargers made of natural materials such as wicker, water hyacinth, sisal and seagrass are decorating chameleons, and by that I mean they adapt beautifully to the style situation they are in.

Romilly Woven Everyday 19″ Placemat (Set of 4)

Sisal Leaf Placemat in Natural

Park B. Smith 4-pc. Karur Jute Placemats Set

Food Network Resin Wicker Charger

Faux Wood Charger Plates

Faux Wood Charger Plates

Vintage Wood Charger

The Pottery Barn Shell-Rimmed Charger is a shell of a good charger inspiration for a by the sea place setting accent.

Shell-Rimmed Charger Plate

Pier 1 has this Shell Border Natural Charger ($17.99 + tax), however, still somewhat pricey when you need several to set the table.

Shell Border Natural Charger Plate

I’m thinking a knock your sandals off knockoff DIY project option may be a stylish alternative.

Woven chargers as well as plastic chargers in your choice of color create the canvas.

Lay out your choice of seashells to get the pattern and sizing right.

You may prefer the look of the shells placed at the edge of the charger, in one concentrated area of the charger, or covering the entire rim in an impressive mix and pattern.

Once you get the placement and look to your liking, go ahead and place a dinner plate on the charger to make sure there is another clearance between the edge of the plate and the shells.

Stack a salad plate atop the dinner plate to make sure it too clears the shells.

**A hot glue gun is just that, hot.  Use caution and protect your fingers.**

Using a hot glue gun, glue each shell to the charger.

Prepare to impress.

After all, isn’t that the point?

Pier 1 stores will be closing soon, and their Going Out of Business Sale is currently underway.

There’s no time like the present to add dinnerware, placemats, napkins, and chargers from the sale to your place settings inventory.

Blue & White Capiz Shell Charger Plate

Beaded Aqua Round Placemat

Glitz Beaded Silver Placemat

Blue Embroidered Placemat

Food Network™ Solid Round Placemat 4-pack

Braided Flower Placemat

Frank Pitman Designs

Not all residential dining rooms or outdoor areas are lucky enough to come with an authentic by the sea view, but don’t let that detail impede the by the sea details.

Lacquer Square Charger Plate, Set of 6, Silver

Seashells are brimming with by the sea color, texture and pattern inspiration.

Flickr

The distinctive colors, textures, and pattern play of the conch shell horn.

Flickr

Tales and truths of lustrous pearls found at sea.

Casafina Dinner Plate

Amina Dinner Plate

Reactive Gray Dinnerware

I love the colors in the Amina dinner plate from Crate & Barrel as the palette is reminiscent of the colors found in seashells by the seashore.

You can spend a pretty penny on dinner plates, and understandably so in some settings, but when a stylish pattern or color is available on the shelves of the dollar store and gives a good look, why would you?

Royal Norfolk Turquoise Swirl Stoneware Dinner Plates

Affordable options such as the Royal Norfolk Turquoise Swirl Stoneware dinner plate make a solid style base to build your by the sea place setting upon.

Taormina Aqua Dinner Plate (Set of 6)by CASAFINA

 

Coastal Home Small Sea Urchin Bowl

Color choices need not be too matchy-matchy.

Contrast keeps things visually interesting.

Hand Painted Coral Embossed Glass Side Plate, Aqua, Set of 2

Bayless Salad Plate

I like to color, texture, and pattern outside the lines of what traditionally identifies the coastal look.

Chapp Exotic 11″ Dinner Plate (Set of 4)

Tinsley Scallop Shell 8″ Salad or Dessert Plate (Set of 2)

 

Durrant Capiz Shell Decorative Bowl

Vietri Earth Glass Dinner Plate

Firenza Coupe 10.5″ Dinner Plate Set of 6

Struthers 10.5″ Glass Dinner Plate (Set of 12)

Ruffled Gold Rim Salad Plates, Set of 4

Place setting accents and accessories in Louisiana Gulf Coast fashion incorporate the style of home.

Snowcreek 9″ Salad Plate (Set of 4)

Set of 4 Ballad Bowls

Giant Sea Turtle Fruit Bowl

Cronk Duch Architecture

Blue and white with shades of gray.

Need I say more?

Royal Norfolk Classic White Round Stoneware Dinner Plates, 10.5 in.

IMPULSE! Fantasy Crystal Clear Small Salad Plates – Set of 6

Larissa Plate

Round Deniz Flower Silver Glass Charger Plate

Maliyah 12 Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4

Mercer Grey Round Appetizer Plates, Set of 8

When I was sourcing items for this post, I could not get immediately happy with the placemat selections in the coastal category.

Much to my delight, I came across this Oisin Sea Creature placemat which set into motion a sourcing session with not your average by the sea place setting options in mind.

Oisin Sea Creature 19″ Cotton Placemat (Set of 4)

Royal Norfolk Classic Black Stoneware Dinner Plate, 10.5 in.

Amari Ceramic Plate

Nippon Black Dessert Plate – Lines

Classic Stripe 4 Piece Bowl Set

St Tropez Salad Plate

Vietri Marina Octopus Salad Plate

Luxe Interiors +Design

14″ Reef Gold Charger Plates Set of 4

Penzo Dinner Plate Feathers with Gold Rim

Denby Dinnerware, Halo Wide Rimmed Dinner Plate

Seaside Small Oyster 6.5″ Bread Plate (Set of 4)

Although a red, white, and blue palette is more closely associated with a nautical theme, it is 4th of July appropriate for a by the sea table setting.

Dansk Belgium & Parisian Dinner Plate

Porto Plates in Ribeira Pattern

Noritake® Hanabi  Plates (Set of 4)

Gold leaf oyster shell salt and pepper cellars add a touch of unique by the sea elegance to the tabletop.

Gold Leaf Oyster Shell Salt and Pepper Cellars

Ocean Round Sculpted Dessert Plate

Maximillian Palmera II 6″ Appetizer Plate (Set of 4)

Seaside 8″ Appetizer Plate

Shiraleah Assorted Fish Plates (Set of 4)

As far as flatware patterns go, I’ve sourced several color, texture and pattern selections in various price points and styles.

Reed & Barton® Gloucester Shell 5-Piece Flatware Place Setting

Towle Living Abbott Gold Plated Forged 16-Piece Flatware Set

20-Piece Bamboo-Style Flatware Service

Handmade Twist N Shout 20 Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set Service 4

Espinoza 5 Piece Flatware Set

Kashmira 20-Piece Antiqued Pewter Flatware Set

Skandia Birch Mirror – 20 Piece Flatware Set, Service For 4

House Beautiful – Photo Björn Wallander

Global Amici Catalina Ombre Hobnail Pitcher Aqua
Charlton Home Beaded Carafe

  Blenko 384 Cosmos Water Bottle

Alba 12 oz. Drinking Glass

Montauk Sand Highball Tumbler, Set of 4
Bormioli Rocco Sorgente Water 10.25oz Set of 4 – Clear
Vidivi Diva Highball Glasses (Set of 6)

Libbey® Cobalt Blue Goblets 8 pc Box

Vintage Glass Goblet Set of Six

Tortoise Shell Tumblers

Hive LA Home

Bridgette Oval Capiz Shell Bowls

Threshold Ashwood Round Serving Bowl

Striped Rattan Wrapped Salad Servers (Set of 2)

Still Teak Wood and Black Resin Bowl – Tamarind Wood Server

2-Piece Sadye Resin Salad Server Set

Crofton Round Wood Tray

 

Seafood Shell Baking Dish

Acacia Wood 4-Piece Calabash Bowl Set

Over and Back® Dune Marble Bowls in Brown/White (Set of 4)

Vintage fish plate sets, platters, and cutlery sets make such a pretty place setting.

Martha Stewart

On one of our treasure hunting trips over to Houston, Dave and I lucked up on an antiques shop specializing in English smalls (china, silver, decorative accessories).

Etsy

I bought a divine service for 12 fish service with platter and a set of fish knives and forks for a phenomenal price.

We were big eBay sellers at the time, so listed they were.

Dave tried to convince me to keep the service, but I reasoned we would come across more of the same in our hunts.

We have, but not of the quality or the fabulous price.

Live and learn.

Limoges Fish Plates Set

Variegated colors.

Patterns and textures created by nature’s wonder.

Salt kissed air.

A symphony of sea waves.

Place settings, serveware, and tabletop accessories in a by the sea theme set a coastal scene and seen.

Next up in this By the Sea Table Setting Ideas series is serving pieces, table linens, a simple DIY project idea, and tabletop accessories.

Sea you then.