Easter is a wonderful opportunity to get family and friends together for a breakfast or brunch. Because it’s so close to the start of spring, it may also be your first chance to entertain outdoors or to show off a new springtime table linen.

One of the most fun parts of hosting such an event is setting the table. From picking out the linens to adding a centrepiece, making the Easter table is a wonderful way to celebrate the beauty of spring. Here’s how you can set a lovely table for your Easter breakfast.

1) Starting Out

Before you do anything, decide on the overall look you want for your Easter breakfast table. The holiday is typically formal, providing a good excuse to dress up. We’ll tell you how to formally set the table with some fun, whimsical flourishes below, but for now decide on a colour palette. Pastels are a dependable choice for Easter; in this tutorial, we’re going with a robin’s-egg blue, perfect for the springtime.

2) Picking the Decor

Once you’ve considered the level of formality and colour palette, begin considering decor. This includes centrepieces, table linens and other accents. For the centrepiece, consider an arrangement of fresh springtime flowers. Great seasonal choices include tulips, peonies, roses or amaryllis. If you opt for a floral arrangement, make sure it doesn’t block view across the table; this is better suited for long, rectangular tables than round ones. Shop our Faux Flowers >

Table decor isn’t just about a centrepiece. Add some other bits of flair throughout the table if you have space to sacrifice. One beautiful idea is to fill a dish (like this rabbit-shaped cracker dish) with carefully painted eggs.

3) Setting the Table

As far as tableware is concerned, you’ll need a plate (charger optional), bowl, mug and glass for each guest. This white and blue set of Maliolica plates is perfect for the Easter breakfast table. As for mugs and teacups, this blue dinnerware collection by Portmeirion offers an excellent choice of styles, sizes and tints of blue.

In addition to tableware, don’t forget trays for serving! Not only are they functional by providing a place to set down sides, but they add a heavy dose of aesthetic flair. We’re in love with this marble one!

4) Putting the Finishing Touch: Place Cards

To really impress your guests, add a place card at each seat of the table. Of course, this should fit within an Easter theme. One simple idea is to place an Easter egg (perhaps with the guest’s name written on it) within an egg cup set atop the plate. This egg cup set is perfect for such a cute idea.

Alternatively, you might make a mini Easter basket for each guest. This can include candies or Easter eggs, but should definitely have a card identifying guests.