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The Art Of Tablescaping
Tablescaping is the art of dressing your table for a dinner party or special occasion, in much the same way you might put together an outfit for a night out. For some, tablescaping might seem elaborate and the results may seem difficult to attain, but that’s where we come in. Once you know the basics of table setting, then you can build on them to create an artistic tablescape worthy of a magazine or film set. These are your top 5 questions about tablescaping, answered.
1: What Is Tablescaping?
Sometimes, the simplest questions are the most important. Such as, what really is tablescaping? Think of your dining table as your canvas and everything you put on top of it as art. Tablescaping is the careful arrangement of dinnerware, cutlery, candles and more to create an atmosphere. It is about elevating your ordinary table settings.
2: What Are The Components Of Table Setting?
Before you can elevate your table setting to a tablescape worthy of a magazine spread, it’s essential to know the basics. In any table setting, there are three main components: the dinnerware, the silverware and the glassware.
Dinnerware includes plates, bowls, side plates and serving platters. We recommend investing in a high quality matching set in a neutral colour from a brand such as Denby. Neutral-toned dinnerware can be used again and again throughout the year, and which can easily match with any theme you might choose.
Silverware includes knives, forks, spoons and serving utensils. Again, we recommend investing in a high quality set, preferably in a durable sterling silver. We particularly love the classic sets from Belleek and Stellar.
Finally, glassware includes both water and wine glasses, champagne flutes and serving jugs, decanters or carafes. Our favourites are the staple yet stylish glassware from LSA International.
3: What Is The Proper Place Setting?
Now you have all the components of your table setting, let’s move onto the standard basic setting. A general rule of thumb is that your fork should always go to the left of the plate, while the spoon and knife should go to the right. It is also considered a rule that utensils should be placed in the order of use, from outside in.
So if you’re starting with soup and finishing with ice cream, our fork would sit to the left of our plate, while on the furthest right edge of our plate would be our soup spoon, followed by our knife, followed by our dessert spoon. See, it’s not that hard!
4: What Makes A Great Tablescape?
Finally, we’re onto the creative part! A great tablescape often utilises a theme, which can be incorporated throughout the whole table, from one end to another.
The best tablescapes are ones that tap into your creative side. You can choose to incorporate freshly cut flowers into your tablescape, or maybe candles, or twinkly lights. You can choose decorative centrepieces from brands such as Anissa Kermiche, Hay and more for an easy yet eye-catching display. We love mixing different textures and materials for a sense of movement. This might mean using a mixture of silver and brass, or glass and ceramic candle holders.
Our favourite technique to employ in tablescaping is that of vertical interest. That’s when your eye moves up and down the length of the table, where not everything is at the same height. This might mean including candles of different heights or flowers in different sized vases. Just make sure you do not block the guests’ views of one another.
5: How Do I Make A Special Occasion Tablescape?
To make your tablescape particularly special, we recommend incorporating decorations or elements of that specific special occasion into your table setting. This might look different depending on the holiday in question, or your preferred decorative theme throughout the house. For Christmas, you might fill a clear vase with larger baubles or lay a beautiful garland down the middle of your table. For Easter, it might mean incorporating spring-time flowers and pastel hues into the tablescape. For Valentine's Day, it would be all about setting the mood: flickering candles, rose petals and deep red hues.
Whatever the occasion, our top tip is to make sure your tablescape theme matches your overall decor theme. If all your other Christmas decorations are red and gold, don't make your tablescape silver and blue. The most important thing is a cohesive experience for all involved.
Bonus Round: Creating An Atmosphere
You’ve created the perfect tablescape, you’ve cooked the most delicious dinner, and now your guests are almost here. Add the finishing touches to the experience with mood music, a tasty tipple, or a scented diffuser.