Tablescape Inspiration: Creating the Perfect Spread

Tablescape Inspiration: Creating the Perfect Spread

#Tablescapes is a major trend on Instagram, and for good reason. It brings together some of our favourite things about creativity and interior design, all in a temporary setting (so you don’t have to get too bogged-down with fears over practicality, convenience, or whether or not you’re going OTT. It’s about going further than the usual layout.

In other words, theatrics, extras, and unnecessary details are all welcome here, and totally open to the interpretation of the host.

Tablescaping can be used for any event. From small gatherings to full-blown parties, brunches to tea times to five-course dinners. Get inspired with these creative ideas for your next spread.

Channel Mediterranean Ease Through Print, Colour and Vibrancy

It’s hard to deny the allure of the Mediterranean spread. The Greeks lay claim to colourful mezze platters of raw vegetables, fresh cheese, hummus, and bread, while the Italians have their antipasti of prosciutto, grapes, olives and cheese and the French will always have the ultimate charcuteries piled high with pâté, local cheeses, crudités, and preserves.

As far as feeding yourself and your guests goes, it’s a great option, especially during the hotter weather when you don’t want to spend hours on prep. But, where tablescaping is concerned, it’s a complete no-brainer, since the food itself does most of the hard work for you in creating an immersive and out-of-the-ordinary spread.

Plus, the theme for the rest of your tablescaping is easily decided for you. Embrace the Mediterranean through your ceramics and place settings – the simple, organic florals exemplified by the Portuguese artisans who craft many of our own ceramics capture the essence of the country’s unique flair for design.

Swap flowers for foliage

For anyone who errs on the side of low maintenance, this is going to go down well.

The power fresh flowers hold for virtually any style of interior design doesn’t even need to be introduced. You know, we know – flowers are great. But they’re not a prerequisite for laying a beautiful table, and we’re big fans of the dynamic, organic, sprouted-straight-from-the-ground look that a table decorated with simple fresh foliage has.

The best part? Most of us have access to at least a few of handfuls of leaves, and tiptoeing out into the garden to sheer off a couple of twigs is one of the more enjoyable pre-dinner-party chores to check off the list. Bonus points go to those who wander back up the garden path with their gatherings in a wicker basket…

Or, if you want to get a bit more ‘far flung’ with your foliage, visit a florist for some sprigs of eucalyptus, solidago, or even a (literal) olive branch to lay down the table’s midline, or stand in an unused jug at the centre of the table. Some of these common ‘greeneries’ — eucalyptus in particular — release a a nice fragrance, which will infiltrate the atmosphere as the warmth of the candles works the scent into the air.

Transport Your Guests Even Further with Textile

We love the look of exposed wood but, as any of our readers can probably guess, we’re always going to fall in favour of using any table – breakfast, lunch, or dinner – as a blank canvas ready for textile.

Whether we’re decorating a table or an entire room, one of our favourite things about textile is its ability to bring together so many different styles from so many different parts of the world and celebrate colour and print without overthinking the scheme.

Save the white cloth for the wedding breakfast and instead think about using something a little more immersive for your tablescape. Our Aleppo Cinnamon Tablecloth brings a bold floral pattern to the table, but leaves some negative space too if you’re worried about the entire scene looking too busy.

At the other end of the scale, the rich, medieval-inspired motifs on our Simla Blue and Green Cloth are ideal for building that rich, bohemian scene that has IG-users in a spin.

Place settings and napkins are both useful for introducing a contrasting, smaller print. These days, napkin folding can look a bit out of date – and, with a good print, all you need is a simple fold down the middle (or into thirds) to get things looking put together. You can also make your chairs a little more comfortable with some decorative cushions, which will add even more colour and contrast to the scene.

Tablescaping is not an exact science and, while trends come and go, it’s always best to let your creativity reign supreme over the process of dreaming up – and creating — a table worthy of whatever party or gathering you’re hosting.