What is ‘tablescaping’, and how should you style your next dinner party? Expert advice to ace the Instagrammable home decor trend
- Alice Naylor-Leyland of British brand Mrs Alice creates mood boards or picks a theme ahead of time, while Dior Maison’s Cordelia de Castellane takes a more instinctive approach
- Setting out a good spread starts with the cutlery, crockery and decorations to match the mood of your gathering – decor brands that may help include LaDoubleJ, Tabla and Inku
“Tablescaping” – which the internet describes as arranging items on a table in an attractive and decorative way – isn’t exactly a new thing. It’s long been prevalent at special occasions and formal events such as weddings and gala dinners, but now it’s being embraced by Instagrammers and influencers as yet another way to express personality and style – and show off their newly amassed tableware collections.
Eager to flex your creativity? While Instagram makes creating the perfect tablescape look easy, there are no clear rules or guidelines to follow.
“For me, dressing your table is no different to dressing yourself. It’s not necessarily about following trends – it’s about laying a colour scheme that’s true to yourself,” says Alice Naylor-Leyland, founder and creative director of Mrs Alice, a British brand launched in 2019.
“It’s also about having fun. I love chic tables but I adore humorous touches, too.”
While Naylor-Leyland likes to create mood boards or pick a theme for her tables ahead of time, artistic director of Dior Maison, Cordelia de Castellane, prefers to take a more instinctive and casual approach, especially for personal lunches and dinners.
“I start with seasonal flowers and from there, build my table like a puzzle. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t – in which case I change and try different plates or glasses until I have the right feeling or result. I never do a total look in fashion either – I sometimes like ‘accidents’,” she says.
For the uninitiated, a good starting point is your choice of tablecloth, which forms the basis of your table design (fun fact: research has shown that people stay longer around a table when it has a tablecloth). While not essential, de Castellane says a tablecloth can bring together the entire tablescape and make the event feel more special.
Martina Mondadori, founder and editor-in-chief of interiors brand and magazine Cabana, likes to use linens that have been handed down from family members to add a personal touch and create a sense of familiarity and continuity. Experts also say that it isn’t necessary to coordinate your tablecloth with other linens such as placemats and napkins. In fact, mixing up designs and fabrications – like rattan or jacquard placemats and coasters – can also add a unique feel.