Creating a simple Father’s Day tablescape is easier than you might think.
First, let’s talk about it: what makes a Father’s Day Tablescape?
What comes to mind?
Not floral. Not lace. Not “pretty”.
Not frilly, delicate, or “girly”.
We tend to think of those characteristics as feminine. So what makes up a table theme for Father’s Day?
What comes to mind when you think of fathers?
I think of something solid ~ with heft.
Of simplicity. Not ornate.
Of stripes, plaids, and solid colors.
And of course ~ the hobbies and things your father likes.
Whether it’s sports, outdoor activities, making something, or just chilling.
What represents your dad?
You can use that as inspiration to create a table setting for Father’s Day, or you can copy my simple, budget-friendly tablescape.
I’ve created a Father’s Day theme that speaks to most dads.
It’s a table setting that everyone will love.
This Father’s Day tablescape is SUPER simple and very affordable.
You can follow my example, using the same color scheme, or pull from the colors you already have, and then use my Father’s Day table setting as a guide to creating yours.
Especially with your dishes. There is NO NEED to buy new dishes. Use your dishes and work them into your table setting.
So, if you have green plates, use green as one of the colors on your table. If you have yellow plates, integrate yellow into your table. You get the picture.
I’m a firm believer in ~ using what you have and then building around it.
How to Create an Attractive Father’s Day Tablescape
Please note that this article may contain affiliate links. I may get commissions (at no cost to you) for purchases made through these links. You can read my full disclosure for more details.
So what makes this simple Father’s Day table setting special and unique?
It’s the paper airplane theme.
Paper airplanes will make your dad nostalgic.
I mean, what little boy didn’t make paper airplanes!
That’s the BEST thing about this Father’s Day theme – how cheap and easy it is to recreate!!
You can even use newspapers to make your diy paper airplanes. (The newsprint on your hands might be a bit messy, but talk about cheap! No need to buy special paper.)
This brings me to how to set a nice table for Father’s Day …. check out how easy it is below…
Step 1: Select the foundation for your Father’s Day table setting
The first step for all my table settings is selecting the foundation for the table.
What will be the base of your table setting?
Since this is a simple table setting for your dad, choose a foundation tablecloth or table runner that isn’t too busy. One that is solid, or has geometric shapes, lines, or plaids.
Also, make sure it coordinates with your dishes or the colors you plan to use on your table.
For this simple Father’s Day table set up, I opted for a simple white table runner with black lines going down the middle.
Those lines represent the lines on an airport runway or landing strip. Pretty cool, huh!
Step 2: How to make your Father’s Day table centerpiece
After you have your foundation piece on your table, the next step is to create the Father’s Day centerpiece.
The focus of the table setting.
To keep this centerpiece simple, start by putting a tray in the middle of your table.
Nothing too big.
In fact, a tray on the smaller side.
I used a black tray that I found at Dollar Tree. (I did say that this is a budget-friendly Father’s Day table setting.)
I chose black, as it coordinates with the lines in my table runner, and the dinner plates I would be using.
Next, add a simple vase to the middle of your tray.
I made these diy cement vases for this table setting.
I wanted something solid with simple lines, and most of my vases are delicate or the wrong color.
Plus making these cement vases was SUPER EASY, and cheap. (Check out the link at the bottom to learn how simple they’re to diy.)
Then add to the vase, diy paper airplanes that have been glued to wire floral stems.
No real flowers on this table for Father’s Day.
Not that dads don’t like or appreciate flowers.
This diy paper airplane bouquet is just a fun twist on a bouquet, and it won’t cost as much as a bouquet of flowers.
Plus, it’s a great activity for your kiddos.
Won’t they love taking part in creating something special for dad (or grandpa)!
Still keeping it budget-friendly. (I’ve got ya)
Next, add two smaller vases filled with diy paper airplanes on either side of the tray.
I made these small cement vases, too.
(Looking pretty cute, huh!)
Then to help ground your Father’s Day centerpiece and add a little more color, add filler to your tray.
Add something that will coordinate with the colors you will use on your table or that compliment the paper airplane bouquets.
You could add colored marbles, little pebbles, or even spare change. All things that work with a Father’s Day theme.
I added different green fruits to my black tray.
I had planned to use small green salad plates and had made green striped paper airplanes, so the green apples, limes, and pears were perfect for the tablescape.
That’s it.
Isn’t that a super simple Father’s Day centerpiece.
Step 3: Add your Father’s Day place settings
Your simple table for Father’s Day is looking pretty good.
In fact, set it up a few days in advance so you can enjoy it, leading up to Father’s Day.
The night before, or the morning of, set out the Father’s Day place settings.
If you too opted for a table runner as your foundation piece, it’s good to use placemats that coordinate with your table runner and centerpiece.
I decided to use round rattan placemats that I had found on Facebook marketplace at a serious bargain price.
They have a strong masculine feeling, and I love the natural aspect of them.
Plus, the rattan breaks up the green, black and white table setting. So it doesn’t feel too color-blocked.
Then to add a little black and white, I cut a length of black and white checkered ribbon (from my craft stash) that I placed diagonally across the placemat. Tucking the ends underneath.
Next, I added my black plates, and then my green salad plates.
After my plates were in place, I added the silverware, water and wine glasses.
On the left side, I folded white napkins using the same fold that I used for the paper airplanes.
(It’s a little hard to tell, as napkins aren’t as stiff as paper, lol!)
Then I slipped on the EASIEST diy napkin rings EVER!
Seriously, these are the easiest diy project. You’ve gotta check out the link at the bottom.
Not only are these napkin rings easy to diy, but they also matched my rattan placemats perfectly.
Do you see how I tied everything together, and how the Father’s Day place setting compliments the centerpiece?
Step 4: Final touches to your simple Father’s Day tablescape
After you have completed your Father’s Day centerpiece and the table’s place settings, step back and take a look.
Does it look “done”, or do you feel it needs more?
Sometimes your table setting doesn’t need anything else, and it looks great at this point.
Other times, you take a look and feel that it needs something else. Something to bring it all together.
That’s how I felt after I added the place settings to my simple Father’s Day tablescape.
I felt that the place settings needed something to complete tying them to the theme and the centerpiece.
And I had the easiest and cutest solution = add a simple diy paper airplane to each place setting.
Using the green striped paper I had used in the centerpiece, I made four paper airplanes to sit on the green salad plates.
Too freak’n cute!
I LOVED the way they totally brought everything together.
However, the paper airplanes wouldn’t stay upright. They kept falling over.
I had a simple solution = tiny binder clips.
Yep!
Just clip it on the bottom of the paper airplane, then remove the handles and the airplane will stay up on the plate.
Easy peasy!
An attractive table setting that your dad (and/or grandpa) will appreciate and know was created with him in mind.
Have a wonderful Father’s Day!
PS: the paper airplanes would be a hoot to fly after your meal, lol!
Check out the easy DIY projects used to decorate this tablescape:
Simply stunning, paper airplanes is a brilliant idea, love the color scheme
Aww ~ thank you for the sweet comments!