Cheery Birthday Table Setting

Get inspired by Gen's punchy and playful birthday brunch decorating ideas. Love her table style? Consult our Source Guide for product information and where to buy.

For more inspiration from the designer, visit her blog: gensfavorite.blogspot.com

Pack blooms tightly together to create a fiery focal point. Gen chose store-bought bunches of ranunculus in varying shades of pink and orange and placed them in a tall, white urn. "Including yet-to-bloom buds gives a fresh-from-the-garden feel," she says.

Let vintage finds inspire your table's design. Gen paired this circa-1960 floral dinnerware, found at a Miami flea market, with vintage yellow coffee cups, plastic-handled picnic cutlery, and Mason jars to continue the table's retro vibe.

Mark each guest's spot by handwriting names in white ink on a tiny kraft-paper pennant. Attach the pennants to festive striped straws. Added to the drinking glass at each place setting, they serve as both winsome place cards and eye-catching drink markers.

Think beyond traditional table linens and make a runner from an unexpected material. Gen used a strip of floral wallpaper left over from a decorating project. It's printed on kraft paper for a neutral background that helps temper the bold colors on the table.

Give each guest a functional gift, such as a stylish journal from Florida-based Rifle Paper Co. Choose a design that echoes the colors and patterns found on the table, and for a polished look, tie each one with striped ribbon and a classic name tag.

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Floral journals: Botanicals Notebook Collection by Rifle Paper Co. for Chronicle Books; chroniclebooks.com.