Thrifty Thursday How to Create a Summer Centerpiece

I am ready for summer days--long hours of bright sunlight, vibrant colors in nature, casual and laid back days. Honestly, summer has not quite arrived in Montana and won't for awhile. I do realize the first official day of summer is more than a month away. BUT, nonetheless, I am preparing for it and one way I bring the seasons into my home is with a seasonal centerpiece for my kitchen table. 

Everything except the geranium (which was given to me from our local nursery) in this boho, eclectic summer centerpiece is from the thrift store. 

Keep reading for step by step directions on how YOU can put together a centerpiece from thrift store finds that fits your style.

First step is to have a color scheme in mind. I wanted bright colors for summer so I knew I wanted to find items that had vibrant colors. I like to use a tablecloth or table runner or placemat on the wood table and this item is often the color inspiration. Look at the scarves and pillow shams too if you can't find a tablecloth. This $2 tablecloth with lots of sunny orange is perfect for me. It definitely has a great boho vibe and washed up beautifully.

The next item a centerpiece needs is a tray or something flat that can be easily removed from the table when need be. A tray, platter, flat basket, large book, cutting board, wood checkerboard, or piece of reclaimed wood all work well. I turned a cutting board into a tray (see post below this one for the details on that).

Next step is to think nature. Plants, twigs, flowers--fake or real, pine branches all work well. The natural item tends to the part of the centerpiece that gives it some height. What you put the natural element in should match your theme. A colorful vase, a small basket, a mason jar, a tarnished silver vessel, a white pitcher--something that doesn't take up a lot of space but that will work with your colors and style. A glass jar can be placed in items that won't hold water if you are using a fresh, live item. I made this vase/flower pot. See two posts down for the tutorial. I liked the simple white geranium. I did add pebbles in the bottom to help with drainage. 

Think in terms of three when deciding what else to place on your centerpiece flat space. I like three different heights and items arranged in a triangle on the tray. I also like to add something interactive. My spring centerpiece had old picture from the Winchester Mystery house in these wood bowls. I used the same wood bowls for the summer centerpiece and added vintage, colorful anagram letters. I bought these years ago and I just love them. I often find my kids like to spell out things for mom to find. Other interactive items can be trivia questions in a bowl (find an old Trivial Pursuit game at the thrift store), dice, old black and white photos, postcards, beads and strings, Scrabble letters, small wood puzzles, colorful blocks, marbles--just something guests can fiddle with while sitting at the table visiting or waiting for food.

I added a small stack of books to incorporate more color and add a little height to my shortest items. You can use books, coasters, colorful tiles, a small stack of dessert plates, a deck of flashcards. Keep in mind colors and how much height you want to add.

I bought an orange and yellow dipping bowl for more color punch. I ended up using only the orange one because they wouldn't stack well. I added some of the same black beads that I used on the colorful flower container and on the wood tray. There is some black in the tablecloth as well and I love a touch of black in decor to ground things. These black beads are from a beaded seat cover that I bought at the thrift store a few months go. I battery operated tealight candle sits in the beads. Candlelight is a great addition to any centerpiece. And, although this doesn't produce enough light to eat by, it does add an extra flicker to the table. Other smaller items to look for to use for the third component in your centerpiece can include a cute salt and pepper set, an orb or other geometric item, a small wood box, a vintage alarm clock, a small framed painting with a stand, a vintage camera. 

The final item that you might want to add to your centerpiece is something that touches a couple of your main elements to connect them or tie them together. In the span of one week I found three sets of wood chopsticks at the thrift store. One set went to my daughter. We do like to use chopsticks when I make stir fry, but I also really liked the wood on this set. I wrapped some colorful embroidery floss around them and laid them at an angle across the books. A beaded garland, braided yarn, branches tied together, a rope knotted on the ends are other ideas of things that can add visual connection and interest to a centerpiece.

Have fun when creating a centerpiece, think creatively, look for unique items that you can use in a new way, PLAY! 

By the way, my kitchen table is from the thrift store too and the chairs? They were free when a Starbucks was redecorating and we happened to drive by while they were putting everything out for free in the parking lot.