Tips + Tricks for An Anytime Tablescape
As the colder weather continues to encroach, it has us dreaming about crafting the perfect tablescape for warm nights inside with a home-cooked meal. While limited in hosting dinner parties for the time being, we have a few tips on how to impress those you live with or yourself with an Instagram-able tablescape that will transform your Wednesday night dinner into a delicious and beautiful ordeal. We recently partnered with Janine Maggiore of Grandview Prophouse and a team of incredible women who shot a modern thanksgiving table full of Lekker designs (that we're in awe of). Everyone involved is linked at the end – please support their lovely work!
One of our favorite modern dinner party and food styling staples for any occasion is the charcuterie board because they're so multi-functional. We love the look of the Blackline Serving Boards or the Magnus Cutting Boards with a gold servingware contrast like the Forged Gold Cheese Tools. For this time of year, it’s a great snack to cozy up to while watching tv before starting on dinner.
We’d recommend a seasonal mix of berries, nuts, and cheese with artisanal bread and a fruit preserve for this. Start with your large items first, spaced evenly across your board, and fill in the blank spots with handfuls of almonds or sliced cheese. This will keep your crew satisfied while they await dinner.
The next point of interest is what glassware will adorn the table. We love the holiday cocktail recipes that Half Baked Harvest has been publishing, and the idea of serving her Spiced Cranberry Punch in our Ripple Champagne Glasses or Ripple Long Glasses! Have this prepped beforehand, and it's easy to throw together as a treat after a long day of work. Or like Janine and her crew, you could go with the classic choice of champagne.
No dinner table is complete without a centerpiece. Whether you’re opting for one large vase full of fresh fall blooms or if you like to mix and match with multiple heights, we love to feature a floral talking point. If you’re unsure of how to accomplish a finished look, one easy design rule to follow is the rule of thirds – with this, mix three different pieces that are complementary with varying sizes.
You could also opt to use a set of unique objects other than vases, like bowls or carafes, Boston Pollen used the Echasse Bowls here for her designs. Complete the look with a patterned tray underneath the items to ground them, and add sprigs of pampas or dried florals for an added autumnal texture.
To add mood lighting to a meal in a snap, sets of candles will add some quick ambiance and additional height variation to the table. Depending on your table size, experiment with taper candles inside of candle holders, hurricanes with tea lights, or stand-alone candles that add a dash of formality. Achieve this look with Greentree Taper Candles, which are available in an array of fall colors, handcrafted from beeswax. We’d recommend using two tapers on either end of your centerpiece to frame the table and add ample, warm light.
A great finishing touch to add depth to the table is layering dinnerware and textiles, starting with the perfect placemats. This is an easy but bold styling choice that we always opt for, and will take your table from “There’s just something missing” to “I can’t believe my table looks this good!”. These are easy to change up seasonally, and for this time of year, we love the look of a deep burgundy or gold placement. Here Daylynn Designs opted for layering of Hasami Dinnerware and our Lekker linen napkins.
We’re currently crushing on the newly released Quill Placemat from Chilewich, available in three color options. Leave them on the table after dining to keep that pop of color! They will add dimension to your tablescape while ensuring your table will look fresh after clean-up.