The Art of Creating A Beautiful Table Setting
Creating a beautiful table setting is about so much more than simply putting pretty things on a table. It’s about creating a feeling and a sense of occasion, warmth and welcome. The best tables usually begin with a simple idea or inspiration and are then built up in layers. Start with your colours and theme.
Before you begin setting the table, think about the feeling you want to create. Is it relaxed and natural, elegant and sophisticated, traditional, or perhaps a little more playful?
Choosing your colour palette first will help everything else fall into place. You might choose two or three main colours and then introduce another colour through small details. For example, green, white and gold can create a beautiful, timeless palette, while adding touches of red or burgundy can bring warmth and a little more depth for a Christmas celebration.
Your theme doesn’t have to be complicated. It could come from the season, the occasion, your surroundings, a favourite flower, or simply something you love.
Think about the layers
I like to think of a table setting in much the same way as decorating a room and build it up gradually, adding layers of texture, colour and interest.
Start with the table itself. If you have a beautiful timber table, you may not want to cover it completely. Instead, perhaps use a runner or individual placemats to allow the timber to become part of the setting.
Next comes your dinnerware. A charger or underplate can create a lovely foundation beneath the dinner plate, while bowls and smaller plates can be layered on top. Don’t be afraid to mix textures and finishes, this is often what gives a table its character
Add your glassware and cutlery
Once the plates are in place, add your glassware and cutlery. These practical elements can also become part of the overall design.
Think about balance rather than making everything feel too rigid. Different glass shapes or beautiful vintage pieces can add personality, while your cutlery can introduce another finish, such as gold, silver or brass.
Bring in texture
Texture is one of the easiest ways to make a table feel inviting.
Linen napkins, woven placemats, natural foliage, flowers, timber and ceramics can all bring something different to the table. Even when your colour palette is quite simple, combining different textures will stop the setting from feeling flat.
Napkins are also a wonderful opportunity to introduce colour. Try folding them simply, tying them with ribbon, or adding a flower, small piece of foliage, or placing them between your plates.
Create a centrepiece
The centrepiece is where you can really bring your theme to life.
Flowers are an obvious choice, but they certainly aren’t the only option. Foliage, candles, bowls of fruit, beautiful vessels, seasonal decorations or even a collection of smaller objects can create a wonderful centrepiece.
Rather than having one large arrangement, consider using several smaller arrangements along the centre of the table. This creates rhythm and allows your guests to see across the table and talk comfortably. I love this idea and will often place a row of vases full of fresh flowers from the garden.
Don’t forget the little details
It is often the smallest details that make a table feel special.
A flower tucked into a napkin, a handwritten place card, a beautiful ribbon or an unexpected piece of decoration can make each place setting feel considered.
But remember, you don’t need to use everything you have. A beautiful table is not necessarily a table filled with things. Leave a little space and allow the individual pieces to be appreciated.
Step back and look at the whole table
Once everything is in place, take a step back. This is where I edit what I have created, does something need to be taken away, or added to the setting.
Look at the table as a whole rather than concentrating on individual pieces. Is the colour balanced? Is there enough texture? Does the centrepiece feel right? Can your guests comfortably sit, eat and talk?
And most importantly, does it feel like you?
There really isn’t a right or wrong way to create a beautiful table setting. Planning your table setting is all about being creative and trying different combinations with your plates and napkins to see what looks good together and what you love.
Start with something you love, build your layers slowly, and don’t be afraid to move things around until everything feels right.
A beautiful table should look inviting, as though you can’t wait to sit down and enjoy the occasion.
