BY HAND, A HOW-TO GUIDE TO ELEVATE YOUR DINING TABLE THIS FESTIVE SEASON WITH FOR LOVE & LIVING

How sweet it is to be able to gather this festive season. With more time and appreciation for our homes, we feel inspired to host our friends and families and to create beautiful spaces to enjoy together. This season think about your table differently; It’s not just about the edibles, it’s about the memories shared and warmth of your home and how you can create an imitable mood in your own space.

Aesthetic

 Consider the overall aesthetic you wish to achieve for your dinner party this festive season. Before buying or adding any items to your setting, think about what you already have and how you can tie each element together. Be imaginative; you don’t have to follow a traditional Christmas theme as we have done here. You can still style your dinner setting to wow your guests, sans the traditional Christmas decorations and colours. 

Colours

 Thoughtfully select your colour palette for a cohesive look. We recommend choosing colours you are naturally drawn to, ones that are possibly already in your home to create an effortless flow. Your colours can inspire an ambience for your guests, so choose a palette that will enhance the mood you wish to create.

We intentionally selected a rich, smoky tablecloth to amplify the mood and give the setting depth, making an idyllic base for the fun colourful products we've chosen to stand out and become the focal features, for a fun, new take on festiveness. Think about your event in its entirety - the colours of your food, the enticing cocktails you'll serve to your guests; use all of these pieces as inspiration to bring your theme together.

Choose your base

 For a rustic, bohemian feel for your dining setting, we suggest keeping your timber tabletops exposed and pairing with timber chairs. If a chic, modern look is your vision, use a generously sized tablecloth for a polished base. Here we couldn’t go past this delicately soft textured cotton tablecloth in smoked pink which floats to the floor, we gently pinched sections of it to create ruffles throughout for drama and extra shape.

We love using textured fabrics for tablecloths and napery to give our settings a luxe feel, try layering colours of similar tones for extra impact. A textured linen that drapes to the floor instantly adds a dramatic and chic look to tablescapes.

It’s in the layers

 Start layering your napery, plates, glassware and cutlery; this is a simple way to add depth and interest to your setting; after all, a well-set table never goes out of style! Other ways to add a luxe feel to your setting is to place an entrée plate on top of the dinner plate while pairing glasses for a full and balanced aesthetic. Experiment here with each element while being mindful of keeping the space functional. 

 Be creative when displaying cutlery. Adding ribbon around the cutlery or placing it on top of the plate are little ways to enhance your setting. Here we used gold cutlery to add more of a luxe feel with a subtle nod to Christmas.

Great heights

 Fill any gaps and draw your guest’s eyes to different levels of the table, creating depth and excitement. Candles are a cost-effective way to do this; stagger candles down the centre in varying heights will add warmth and intimacy. Cue the lights!

Be creative when setting out your large items such as share plates. We love propping up plates of delicious food to stand out and catch your guest's eyes as they enter the room.

Florals

Now, we adore florals, and sometimes we can be guilty of getting carried away (if there is such a thing!) So, a word of advice, be mindful of allowing enough room for the table to be functional as well as striking. To balance out the setting, we recommend having a large arrangement in the middle with singular floral moments on either end of your table to create height and pull together a beautiful, sweet-smelling space.

Love notes

It’s the festive season, after all, a time where we gather with our loved ones. For a personal touch, add a kind, handwritten note or pre-pared stationery to each place setting to share your favourite memory, or little anecdote of what you love most about that person. Never underestimate the sentiment of a thoughtful touch!

Now, all that's left to do is insert enticing food and good company, and remember a table is fullest when shared with loved ones, good food and music; enjoy!