As Northwest Georgia shakes off the cold grays and blues of winter and transitions to the bright pinks, yellows and greens of spring, the urge to bring the outside colors in begins to be reflected in everything from clothing to home décor.

One way to get creative as the weather warms is to spruce up your table settings, whether you’re hosting a dinner party, a family meal or just sipping tea and swapping stories with your friends. Local and regional experts agree, bringing springtime to tabletop is easy and fun; the trick is to use bright colors and your imagination.

Rome Florist floral designer Deborah Reed said the trendy spring flowers this year are likely to be lilies, tulips, daffodils, stargazers and blue irises. She said requests have already begun to roll in for brilliant pinks, whites and a wide range of colorful tulips.

Reed said floral arrangements make fantastic centerpieces because in addition to serving as decorative conversation starters, they also make great gifts. Many of her customers often use floral table settings as gifts for event planners or guests.

“Some companies, when they have their parties, they give away their arrangements as door prizes. Or they might have games and use the arrangements as prizes,” Reed said.

One of Southern Living’s style gurus, Mallory Daughtery, has several recommendations for setting an inviting spring spread. Her tip list includes:

 Complementary colors. Pairing complementary colors, such as purple and yellow, creates an easy and perfect combination for your spring centerpiece. For example, put purple irises, yellow tulips and white roses in a glass vase to make a classic statement for your party decor.

 Spring bouquets. Combining fresh roses, peonies and hyacinths in exciting new ways allows guests to enjoy their beauty each day.

 Garden table setting. With shades of pink, lavender, green and white, your garden and flower pots resound with color, so why not your table? Gather fresh blooms, vibrant moss, glass vases, and colorful wooden eggs. This setting echoes everything lovable about spring.

 Butterfly garden. Use snapdragons and silk butterflies propped up by thin wires to create an interesting and colorful setting that seems to move with the conversation.

 Unique combinations. To create a dramatic and colorful spring centerpiece, place yellow tulips in a simple vase and anchor the blooms with lime slices.

Speaking of lime slices, Katie Patel, owner of Edible Arrangements on Riverside Parkway, says a popular trend has been centerpiece arrangements that taste as good as they look. She offers arrangements that will feed as few as five people or as many as 70.

“It really depends on the size of the party and what the customer has in mind,” said Patel.

The fruit-filled centerpieces are certainly colorful and produce a sweet smell year-round, but the spring and summer seasons bring new fruit offerings. Beginning about Mother’s Day and continuing through Labor Day, Edible Arrangements can include mango, kiwi and watermelon in their arrangements to add a splash of orange, green and red.

During the other seasons their options include grapes, strawberries, pineapple, honeydew and cantaloupe. The fruit is cut and carved into fun and decorative shapes and can even be dipped in semi-sweet chocolate to add an extra touch of sweetness.

Using table linens with spring colors or dinner plates with floral motifs are a way to add another touch of spring. (See chart below on how plate sizes have changed along with our calorie intake.)

The most important thing to keep in mind when setting a spring spread is this: There really is no wrong answer. If you prefer your table to be fun and funky, or clean and contemporary, or organized and orderly, then go with your instincts.

If the host is happy with her table décor, then her guests are likely to be tickled pink too.

After all, pink is the color of spring.