“It feels like we wait forever for Easter, but simultaneously, it’s always upon us so quickly,” muses our Co-Founder and Creative Director Sue Jones. It’s a feeling we can all relate to; the countdown to one of the first holidays of the year comes with unique anticipation; a combination of the promise of blue skies and spring days, alongside the longing for fuzzy feelings that come with spending time with loved ones for a few days. If, like Sue, your Easter will be focused on “family, friends and food, mainly,” you’re in the right place; here she shares her expertise on making this year’s an occasion to remember.

How to Brighten your home for Spring

Sue isn’t one to go overboard when it comes to Easter decorating, but what she does pay special attention to is the table. “Sunday lunch, in the UK at least, is what most people think of as being the big Easter ‘moment’,” she tells us, “But I like to make an effort all weekend for the fun of it, even if it’s just my husband and I having a quiet breakfast together—because, why not? It’s nice to have an excuse to make things look beautiful.”

Her first port of call for an Easter tablescape is to choose a color palette. With spring signifying the awakening of nature, she’s always drawn to colors and textures that evoke this transition; this year, soft shades of green—in the form of playful prints—and plenty of rattan will be gracing her tabletop. “I love to play with different sizes and scales of pattern in my home, and there’s no reason why you can’t do this on the table as well,” she explains. “If anything, it’s the perfect place to do so as nothing is set in stone—you can mix things up easily if you don’t like how it's looking.” In addition to floral motifs, there will always be seasonal blooms on Sue’s table —"There is always something colourful on my table, particularly at Easter." If you have friends or family staying over the weekend, a bunch in their bedrooms is also a nice touch.

For a quick and easy centerpiece that sings of spring, look to produce fresh from the farmer’s market. “At this moment in the year, there is so much beauty to be found in nature—just pop an assortment of fruits or veggies into a pretty bowl and you’re done,” she explains. “It looks lovely and rustic, plus you get to enjoy cooking with it once the weekend is over.” Artichokes are a personal favorite of Sue’s, both for aesthetics and taste, but things like lemons, figs or pomegranates also look lovely. Seasonality is key for Sue when it comes to the menu as well as the table: “It’s the period of spring lamb, so for the non-vegetarians it’s the perfect time to cook it. And it’s usually the first of those beautiful new potatoes.” Also ‘in season’ in the UK are hot cross buns—“I’ve resolved to try every one of the curious varieties they have in my local shop”—and of course, chocolate eggs.

“I will always do an Easter egg competition in the garden if we have children with us. Easter to me really is all about children,” she says. If you have dogs, a good tip is to use a combination of chocolate and painted eggs as it allows for lots more hiding places—chocolate you can nestle higher up in branches or hanging baskets where four-legged friends can’t reach, the decorative ones closer to the ground. The non-edible varieties are one thing that Sue does embrace when sprucing up her home for the long weekend. She’ll arrange a few in a bowl to add a pop of color to the dining table or hallway console, dangle them on doorknobs and drawer pulls in guest bedrooms, and create a fun feature by hanging them on branches foraged from outside in a vase. “I do love our felt eggs, I’d have them out all year around if it were solely up to me,” she laughs.

How to Brighten your home for Spring

Games are a staple in the Jones household—for all generations alike—but Sue always makes sure to get the backgammon set out in advance of smaller visitors arriving. “There’s less structure to Easter, than say, Christmas, so it’s always good to have things that will keep children entertained while the adults catch up.”

One of Sue’s favorite things about Easter is that it’s not very commercialized; there’s less pressure on it than other occasions and it’s more focused on quality time with family and friends. That being said, one tradition that has evolved from her childhood is giving coffee table books as presents: “It’s quite fun going to the book shop, flipping through lots of different ones and thinking of what people are interested in.” That sounds like a custom we can certainly get on board with.