Beach-inspired tablescape with Better Homes and Gardens new porcelain dishes (+ entertaining tips for hosting a stress-free meal)

I love entertaining and having people over for a party, cookout, or pretty much any  excuse to get together and have yummy food, fun, and fellowship together!  And I love decorating a pretty table (or actually just decorating period!)

So when Better Homes and Gardens contacted me and wanted me to try out their new line of porcelain dishes available in the Better Homes and Gardens line at Wal-mart, I was super excited! I don’t know if you have seen all the wonderful products that Better Homes and Gardens has in Wal-mart, but I love them!  You can find everything from furniture, rugs, curtains, decorating accessories, candles, plants and flowers, to table linens, dishes, cookware and so much more!  I always am excited to see their holiday line of dishes and décor and showed you a fall tablescape featuring Better Homes and Gardens fall dishes last year.

I chose the square porcelain white dishes.  I LOVED the square shape and thought they would be a wonderful addition to add to my dish collection.  You will definitely be seeing these dishes pop up in the future.  They have many other collections as well – a round set, one with ridges on the dishes, and more.

I debated back and forth on how I would use them to set a pretty table – should I do a red/white/blue theme for 4th of July, what would I use as a centerpiece, how could I incorporate the colors in my dining room into the table and more.  There are so many options with a set of basic white dishes – I highly recommend that everyone invest in a set of white dishes.  And Better Homes and Gardens makes it completely affordable with their porcelain dishes – less than $40 for a 16 piece set (4 servings).

After I browsed some of the other dining accessories and table accessories at Wal-mart and thought about what I already had on hand, I decided to do a beach theme!   We will be hosting a dinner for some friends as sort of a thank you for the huge blessing they have been to us recently and it will be special to have a pretty table all set for our dinner.

Now lets talk about how it all came together.  These cornhusk placemats are from the BHG line at Wal-mart too.  Then I stacked up the plates, added a starfish in the bowl, my silverware and glasses, and layered some white and turquoise napkins that I already had to add some color.

Some of the bowls got brown starfish we have collected on different beach trips.

For the centerpiece I took some vintage blue Ball jars and added some sand and tealights inside.  I put those on top of a white cake plate, surrounded with shells from past family beach trips.

And then layered that on top of this gorgeous bamboo tray I picked up from Wal-mart, also from the BHG line.  That tray will be fun to use in so many ways too!  And the colors were perfect to mimic the “sand color” and tie in with the placemats.

The mercury glass candlesticks are also from the BHG line at Wal-mart – see, I told you they have some gorgeous stuff and at super affordable prices too!

The table just came together perfectly!  I love it and it is a perfect tablescape for summer.

And the colors – oh, the colors!  They perfectly tie in with the gray and white on the walls and my dining room curtains.  I may have found a new decorating theme for this room.  In fact I wouldn’t mind using these same colors throughout my whole house.

I set up a tray on my china hutch with the porcelain mugs (which mix and matched perfectly with my white thrifted ironstone and coffee pot) ready to serve coffee to my guests.

And I also picked up another BHG accessory at Wal-mart to help spruce up my dining space.  Loved this quatrefoil shaped mirror and the price tag of less than $20 – steal of a deal.  I had already picked up the lamp on clearance and had it in there so then I just borrowed my painted yard sale candlesticks from my mantel too.

Took an extra dinner plate and added a glass candleholder and more sand, shells, and a candle for a pretty display.

I never really liked the framed art I kept in there after my dining room redo – it just didn’t match the rest of the room.  But NOW, it is gorgeous!

Here’s a few more pictures of the dishes and tablescape.

Here’s a couple other ideas I could have done using some red or patterned dishes I already had.  White dishes are the perfect base to do any type of table setting.

Now you may be thinking, I could never set a table that pretty or host a fancy dinner.  Don’t worry, I have thought the same thing.  But it really is possible to do and not stress about it too.

Tips for hosting a no-stress dinner and setting a pretty table

1. Prepare ahead of time.  Think ahead how you are going to set your table – colors, themes, dishes and if you can go ahead and set your table if you can.  Clean house beforehand – not last minute.

2. Use things you already have!  This is my #1 tip in decorating.  You don’t have to go buy a bunch of accessories.  Concentrate on picking up basic accessories over time like white dishes, white napkins, placemats that can be used in many ways, etc.  Then you will already have those things on hand.  Then pull accessories from all over the house – candles, things that can be used as centerpieces, other décor (I raided my bathroom that is decorated in a beach theme for the starfish, shells, and coral).

3. Fix food ahead of time and dishes that you have prepared before.  Unless you are super brave the best time to try out that fancy dish you saw on the front of the latest magazine is NOT when you are having company.  I have broke this rule a few times and come out ok, but still it does add some unneeded stress and worry.  Fix food that can be prepared ahead of time if possible and won’t take much last minute prep.  Don’t be afraid to do some store bought things – a store bought cake put on a pretty platter can be just as good if you don’t have time to bake.

4. Relax and enjoy your guests!  Once your company arrives, forget about that dirty handprint you just spotted on the wall and the rolls that got a bit brown on the bottom – your company probably won’t even notice.  They aren’t there to inspect your home or critique your food – they are there to enjoy your company!

I hope you will check out the new line of Better Homes and Gardens porcelain dishes at Wal-mart.  And while you are there don’t forget to check out all the other accessories too.  You can see their entire line here and also follow BHG @Walmart on Twitter, on Pinterest, or on facebook.

Disclaimer: I was provided a gift card to shop for Better Homes and Gardens products at Wal-mart but I wasn’t told what to say and all opinions and statements are mine.  Thanks so much Better Homes and Gardens!