A beautiful tablescape is the chance to make family and guests feel welcomed and special, whatever the occasion.
As a child, laying the table is something of a rite of passage – a sign of responsibility and grown-up-ness as plates and cutlery are carefully positioned for the family meal. Later, as an adult, laying the table can take on just as much significance, offering opportunities to elevate the simple task, express your creativity and show loved ones you care.
Here, we share our top tips for creating memorable tablescapes.
View the tablecloth or placemats (or bare table texture) as your foundation and inspiration on which to build your scheme. A patterned linen design, like our new Sylvie tablecloth and napkins, will instantly set a mood for the table, but if you need to calm it down, you can always layer a plain table runner over it (or vice versa).
To ensure the table feels cohesive, choose one colourway and either layer in varying shades of that colour or find a contrast hue to act as an accent and bring depth to the scheme.
Don’t save certain tableware for best. There is real joy to be had in using quality pieces for even the simplest of meals. For a maximalist mood, try mixing up patterns in one colourway, or for a more orderly look, intersperse different plate designs with white or plain coloured ceramics.
Work in odd numbers when marking out spaces for serving dishes or decorative elements. A row of three, five or seven dishes, candlesticks or vases will feel more balanced and orderly and help you build out the rest of the table scheme from there.
Glassware will quickly set a mood for the table. Stemmed glasses, like our Hoxton or Islington designs, feel elegant and a little more formal; Ella coloured glasses add some informal energy to the tablescape; and mixing stemmed wine glasses with simple Greenwich water tumblers can create a more relaxed vibe.
Be creative with your cutlery. Bamboo-handled knives and forks will give the table a summery feel, a gold finish adds some glamour, or try our cheery Saffron-striped Salcombe cutlery set to bring subtle pattern to the table.
Be inventive when it comes to decorating the table. ‘Shop’ around your home for unexpected centrepieces – ornate book ends, an ornamental garden pot, a cake stand in lieu of a serving platter – or incorporate holiday finds or forgotten pieces from the backs of cupboards that might spark conversation. Centrepieces don’t have to match, just be ‘centrepieces’.
If you prefer a more natural centrepiece, consider a stylish arrangement of colourful root veg sitting on a bed of moss, or a collection of architecturally shaped vegetables like artichokes or gourds. Even small terracotta pots of fresh herbs or bowls of shiny conkers, capped acorns or floating flower heads can look effective dotted along the centre of the table.