Tablescaping: How To Achieve The Perfect Setting

Laying the table may feel like a daily chore, but “tablescaping” is an art form. Dressing up place settings in flamboyant style is a service for which planners of elite and A-list gatherings will fly seasoned pros across the world, whether for a society wedding, a movie premiere or a birthday bash.

And a well-dressed table feels particularly relevant in the run-up to Christmas – a time when many of us will be called upon to create a suitably atmospheric setting for a festive lunch or dinner.

“A well-styled table is a way of showing your guests that you care, and the effort made goes a long way to creating an intimate atmosphere,” says Bryony Sheridan, buying director at ABASK, an online luxury homewares store. “I think it’s just as important as the food you serve – we eat with our eyes too.” 

“The art of styling a table is, at its heart, about setting a scene that feels welcoming rather than staged,” says Skye McAlpine, a cookery writer who has developed a following for her table styling and now has a range of tableware called Tavola. So what does a well-dressed table look like this festive season? 

Refined style
“We’re not really in the era of excessive foliage,” says Sheridan. “I like a Christmas table to be a little more refined, with a focus on beautiful candlesticks – such as De Vecchi’s silver-plated designs or Carl Auböck’s brass holders – and an exquisite dinner service. And while I love having flowers such as anemones or hellebores at Christmas, I choose several small bud vases – such as those by Carlo Moretti – so that your eyeline is not blocked by tall stems.” 

Another of Sheridan’s tips is to avoid having “an excess of glasses on the table, as it gets too clunky. A cocktail beforehand, while standing, is perfect, so the table is less cluttered when you sit down.” Collect vintage glassware from antiques markets – the more mismatched, the better. It looks great at a Christmas party.

Embrace the theatre
Sheridan always makes room on the dining table for a fun keepsake: “I love using kitsch vintage Christmas baubles as name cards, so my guests can take a memory home with them.” Place cards are hot this year: Lucinda Chambers, former fashion director of British Vogue and co-founder of the luxe e-commerce platform Collagerie, uses artist and calligrapher Fin Fellowes for hers. She also recommends sweet touches such as personalised Christmas crackers – even outside the festive season.

As the meal progresses, Sheridan says, “I like to embrace the theatre of carving and bring out my hand-forged Ben Bodman carving set.” Decorative items also have a place at the table – ABASK has a Czech jewelled Christmas tree from the 1930s that would make a wonderful centrepiece. Or source dramatic jugs and vases from vintage markets.

Get the balance right
“To me, the balance lies in ensuring that each decorative piece feels almost incidental – lovely to look at, but never getting in the way of sharing dishes or reaching for wine,” says McAlpine. “Too many large arrangements or embellishments, while beautiful, can feel as if they demand attention rather than enhance it. A few thoughtful details, such as a seasonal flower or a sprig of holly, will often carry the spirit of the occasion far better than an abundance of decor.”

Let there be light
McAlpine recommends planning the lighting for the table ahead of time, “as a focus”, not an afterthought – but it doesn’t need to be complicated. “An abundance of candles, even if it’s daylight, will create an inviting atmosphere,” she says. Use beeswax church candles for their delicate scent and durability.

In full colour
McAlpine also advises hosts not to shy away from colour in the name of elegance, “or to feel limited to Christmas tones such as gold and greens”. To keep things lively, she chooses her favourite crockery without feeling every piece must match, instead using loved items and experimenting with colour combinations.

Artist and designer Luke Edward Hall’s table scenes are full of clashing stripes – from a turquoise and yellow tablecloth to just-picked tulips in a paint-splattered vase. These sit joyously alongside sunshine-coloured glasses and patterned plates. Flamboyant serving platters in kitsch forms are key.

All in good time
Whatever your aesthetic tastes, the time and care that go into styling a table should enhance your meal, but not be so much work that it takes over the day. “Set your table early, before guests arrive, so you can focus on cooking and spending time with loved ones,” advises McAlpine. “If your tableware has its own character, you shouldn’t need much else.” 

Sheridan agrees: “You should enjoy yourself, so do as much in advance as possible, only adding the finishing touches on the day,” she says. “And who says a tablescape is just for Christmas Day?”