Spring Decor - From Flowers to Linens

Snowdrops

As some of the first flowers to peek their little buds out of the snow, snowdrops are as much a promise as they are a plant. For all the attention Groundhog Day continues to accumulate, it is incapable of eliciting the optimism of a single snowdrop bud. To emulate snow drops, your table should be relatively unadorned. A pairing of dark green or white table cloths will suffice, in addition to a highlight of yellow and, of course, a small bouquet of snowdrops.

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry and other members of the prunus genus-including peaches, almonds, and plums-are known for the gorgeous burst of flowers-usually pink or white-that erupts as Spring begins. With no leaves to interfere with the delicate abundance of blossoms, cherry trees are the ultimate symbol of spring: gentle, beautiful, and sweet. To emulate these qualities, you can play with texture as well as color. Tulle table linens in pink or white can emulate the fragile blooms and, paired with damask napkins and cherry blossom boughs, makes for the perfect Spring table. Just keep in mind that frilly pink tables aren't for everyone, so you may want to reserve this particular scheme for parties.

Forsythia

No plant makes a bolder statement about the changing seasons than forsythia. Its golden tones are so aggressively bright that it might as well whack you over the head with a hammer shouting, "Spring is here!" In adapting forsythia for your home, of course, you'll want to lose that aggressive edge and focus on its long, elegant branches, the delicacy of its flowers, and the cheerfulness its coloring inspires. Bright yellow table cloths can brighten the room like no other color, particularly when they are paired with white or green linen table napkins, whimsical plates, and a forsythia arrangement as a centerpiece.

Rhododendrons

Though they bloom in full force during the first two weeks of May, you'll find rhododendrons as early as February in some areas. Because there are so many different species, you'll have no shortage of ideas to pull from when you decide to set your table with a rhododendron theme. Some blossoms are large and garish, others, like azaleas, are small and delicate. Some are foam-white, others showcase richest of purples. This allows you a good deal of creativity-you can pair dark green table cloths (inspired by the rhododendrons' evergreen leaves) with linen table napkins of any color ("Boudoir" is probably the boldest) and top the whole thing off with a huge bouquet of mixed Rhododendron flowers.