Blue and White Nautical Table Setting Ideas

There’s nothing like tipping your head back and feeling the warm sun on your face while you sit on the beach and enjoy the waves of the water gently rolling in. After getting a taste of this dreamy experience, wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring in all of those “feels” while gathered around a table dressed for the best summer dinner party? I’m so happy you stopped by so we can explore the cutest nautical table-setting ideas, packed with beautiful trends and helpful tips.

This post is all about nautical table setting ideas. It contains affiliate links, meaning, I might receive a small commission, but at no cost to you.

Nautical Table Décor Styling Tips

When the warm days of summer finally arrive, you can’t help but think about the beach, sunshine, and get-togethers with family and friends over delicious barbecued food. It’s the perfect time to pull out those tucked-away nautical dishes, décor pieces, and summer-time linens so you can style and stage your home for beautiful gatherings.

Nautical Table Setting Ideas Tip #1- Color Scheme

Setting up a nautical table can be as simple as one, two, three. Here are a few quick tips to help you create a beachy themed masterpiece. First, think along the lines of a blue, white, and hints of a brown-rattan color scheme. Start with pieces you might already have in your home, and create a list of other items you want to add to your décor as you start designing your nautical table. It’s helpful to have a handy shopping list when you are out hunting for bargain finds. It will help keep you organized, on task, and on budget.

Build as you go. Adding a few table décor pieces here and there, for Mother’s Day, Christmas, your birthday, and such, will help you add to your table décor pieces, a little bit at a time, and help keep the cost a bit lower than if you were to get everything right away.

I say this to encourage you. I remember when I first started tablescaping, and getting discouraged because I didn’t have much to host or decorate with. I had to learn how to shop at thrift stores, garage sales, and local discount stores for supplies, little by little.

You will get there with your desired collection! In the mean time, borrow what you need from friends and family, and shop at cost-effective retail stores, making them your temporary hub for building up the basics.

Nautical Table Setting Ideas Tip #2– Tableware and More

Second, add in nautical tableware, flatware, and linens that will give your table that breezy, coastal feel. Think along the lines of light houses, anchors, or sea creature salad plates; blue, white, or clear water goblets; beautiful flatware that has a rattan, hammered, or braided detail; rope or striped patterned tablecloth; soft and fresh blue or white linen napkins, and a textured nautical table runner.

You want to make sure that you have a few nautical printed pieces, a few solids, and a few complementary items (these pieces are not necessary considered nautical) that fill in the gaps and create a seamless flow on your tablescape. What you don’t want to do is have every item on your table something with a nautical print. You want to accent with nautical so that you your tablescape doesn’t look cluttered, but looks organized like a designer put it together.

Nautical Table Setting Ideas Tip #3- Centerpiece

Third, you want to decide on your centerpiece, as well as the embellishments around the centerpiece. Those items would be candle votives, shells, starfish, rope, tiny sail boats, and even miniature oars (as shown in the pictures).

The centerpiece should be a focal point that flows well with the other tablescape décor. Tip- If you want to place a significant focal point at the center of your table (such as a larger sail boat), that might be a little too tall to talk over, you might want to consider removing it once your guests start eating. That way the conversation can flow well. Otherwise, keep the centerpiece short enough so that your guests can easily converse.

How do You Make a Nautical Centerpiece?

There are so many beautiful nautical centerpiece ideas that you can use for your coastal table setting. The sky is the limit to the options. Think about what you would see on and near the water and mimic those pieces on your tabletop. Use anchors, sailboats, buoys, ropes, sand, shells, crabs, fish, pelicans, starfish, and netting as a starting point for your design.

As you can see in the pictures, I decided to go the more traditional route and use flowers and a vase as my centerpiece. When I spotted the faux poppies, a FAVORITE Amazon-find, my heart was singing. These blooms are even more gorgeous in-person and look SO real.

When hunting for just the right vessel, I stumbled upon a navy blue lantern, from Kirkland’s, and was to-the-moon excited for how this centerpiece was going to compliment the other nautical tabletop décor. What do you think?

Nautical Table Centerpiece Ideas

When deciding on your nautical centerpiece, always go with what makes your heart sing. Here are a few more fun options that you might want to consider as centerpieces for your nautical tablescape.

• A coordinating vase filled with blue and white flowers.
• For a DIY nautical centerpiece, wrap your vase in roping for a fun nautical feel.
• Fill a hurricane jar with sand and sea shells and place a white pillar candle on the inside.
• Use a larger sailboat or a cluster of three smaller sailboats at the center of your table.
• Place a charcuterie board filled with appetizers on top of a cake pedestal. Add foods in colors of blue, white, and tan on the food board for a very popular and fun nautical table centerpiece.
• Stage a tiered dessert stand with blueberry muffins or cupcakes to be used as eye candy in every sense of the phrase, and a sweet treat after dinner.
• Set a pelican perched on a wooden post as your centerpiece and sprinkle a few shells, starfish, and votives around it.

Nautical Table Sources Video

Other Posts You Might Want to Check Out

Summer Dinner Party Ideas with a Coastal Flare

Blue and White Table Décor Ideas with a Splash of Summer Green

Best Homemade Lemonade Recipe with Real Lemons

Conclusion

Enjoy the summer season to it’s fullest. It’s a great time to incorporate beached themed tablescapes at many of your warm-weather gatherings. I hope these nautical table setting ideas gave you some sweet inspiration for ways you might want to style your blue and white coastal tablescape.

P.S. Note of Encouragement

Take a minute away from your busy schedule and do something fun. I recently had the opportunity to see the Little Mermaid Ballet with my girls and parent “in-LOVES.” It was AMAZING!

Did I have “time” to go and see the show? No! My schedule requires me to pretty much work all-the-time. LOL! Or, at least it feels that way. Can you relate?

I had to be intentional and say yes to going, even though I didn’t seem to have the time. I’m so happy I did because it filled my soul. 🤍 I was able to spend quality time with my family and experience all the “feels” that came from watching the incredible show. I found myself tearing up at the end because of these “feels” and couldn’t help but think, “I really HAVE to get out more.” LOL!

Life tends to be demanding of our time. There’s always something to do, always something to work on, and always something to tend to. I want to encourage you, to take a minute away from the busyness of life and LIVE.

Take a deep breath and breathe in the fresh breezes from the outdoors. Savor the opportunities you have with friends over a yummy dinner and beautiful nautical tablescape. Do something each week that will make you smile and pour life into your soul.

Oddly enough, it might make you more productive during those work hours. Take some time to enjoy the little things in life, even if it’s just for a few minutes or a few hours. It will be so worth it.

Blessings! 🤍