Simple Patriotic Decor Tips

Whether you're going all out for your Memorial Day celebration and hosting a sit-down dinner, or just having some friends over to stand and eat around the grill, it's fun to add a special, festive touch. You might be decorating a whole table or just styling a bar cart. Either way, I've got you covered with these simple tips to add the perfect little something.

---

I love the idea of incorporating red white and blue in a modern way, so I've put together a few ideas that will help you stay away from the hokey decor staples typically found in the stores and brought in a little more modernity and class. It's fun to dress things up a little, even if you're just serving a pitcher of sangria from a cart on the patio.

Tip #1: Skew the color palette.

Red, white and blue. It's patriotic. It's what we do. I get it. But don't be afraid to push the colors to either end of the spectrum so that everything isn't totally matchy-matchy. Here, you can see that I've incorporated different shades of blue - navy and chambray - to give contrast. You could even pull in a little aqua or light teal and still be totally on-theme.

For the red in my bar cart, I chose coral-y flowers rather than stark red roses or geraniums, which you would traditionally see. Again, don't be afraid to even pull in some pink or orange (or all three!) I also included ticking stripe paper napkins that do have a true red stripe, and it all works together.

A good way to think about decor when you're using a color palette like this is to envision the colors as if they were on a paint swatch you'd find at the hardware store. There are always 3-4 colors in the same family, but lighter and darker versions. Feel free to include all of those colors into the decor for your event. This is a trick the really great wedding florists and designers use to create a more sophisticated vibe.

Tip #2: Mix patterns.

When you think of patriotic decor, stripes and stars are, of course, the first thing that comes to mind. But I love to create a little variety by mixing up the scale (small stripes and wide stripes together in the same vignette) and whimsical unexpected moments by bringing in other patterns, too, like florals and checks.

Ticking stripe disposable guest towels for walking around with a drink in hand

Floral cloth napkins for spills and hands at the bar

Wide stripe vase

Thin stripe vase

Tip #3: Think outside the box with flowers.

White flowers are so easy to find in the summer. You just have to be willing to do a little foraging. Look for viburnum, white peonies, white or green (limelight) hydrangeas, even elderflower and Queen Anne's Lace are sometimes in bloom around Memorial Day and Fourth of July. If you see white flowers along the roadside, don't be afraid to stop and cut them for an arrangement! Just because they're called "weeds" doesn't mean they won't look beautiful in a bouquet. Another trick I love is incorporating tall, fluffy grasses and other leaves from around my yard, like the hostas in this mason jar bouquet. No, green isn't a typically patriotic color, but every flower arrangement looks more natural with a little green in it. The best part? These ideas are free!

Here are some other creative, red, white and blue bouquet ideas that are a far cry from dyed carnations.

Eucalyptus, cotton, and lavender

Pink and red together with blue can still pass for patriotic (source unknown)