7 TIPS TO ELEVATE YOUR TABLE SETTINGS

With a bit of planning, you can transform any meal into a celebration! These seven tips are my go-to whenever I want to elevate my table setting for guests, holidays, or family dinners. Using all or even just a few of the tips below will create an elegant and sophisticated design. After all, glamor doesn’t need to be complicated!

Placemat+charger+dinner plate+salad plate: Layering dinnerware is like layering clothing: the varied textures, colors, and patterns work in harmony together, creating intrigue and a unique aesthetic. In the video, I paired a light pink, woven placemat with a white ceramic charger and matching dinner plate. Cradled on top, I placed a salad place, likewise ceramic but floral in design and brighter pink than the placemat. This combination of texture is tied together with echoes of white and pink and ruffled edges. Each layer complements the other, creating a picturesque display.

Start with a neutral base: A neutral base allows you the freedom to include pops of color throughout your tablescape. A neutral placemat, table runner, or tablecloth creates a formal foundation without commanding the attention of the design. You’ll see that my light pink—almost beige—placemats complement the color of the subsequent charger and plates but allow the bright pink salad plates to take center stage in terms of design.

Use cloth napkins: Cloth napkins are both eco-friendly and beautiful. Incorporating cloth napkins into your tablescape creates an immediate sense of formality, alluding to the celebratory nature of the moment! They also provide an opportunity to add color, patterns, or new textures into your setting. Or, like you’ll see in the video, I used my cloth napkins as another opportunity to incorporate a neutral base juxtaposed with the pop of pink from the salad plates.

Add a different salad plate: mix and match is ok! Interior design is an art, and half the fun is finding the style that works for you. There are no rules saying that we must restrict table settings to one color or pattern. As we discussed in the first tip, layers create beauty, especially when these layers include varied textures, patterns, and colors. Mix and match the design and don’t be afraid to use the salad plate to make a statement. It’s the first plate that your guests will see and so it makes sense to draw the eye to something truly spectacular and unique.

Add colored cutlery and play with different metals: Choosing colored cutlery or experimenting with different metals are two unique ways of adding variety and a pop of brightness to your table. As cutlery surrounds your setting, you’ll want to imagine it as a picture frame—it should complement your plates but that doesn’t mean it has to be unassuming. In the video, I chose cutlery that is both glamorous and delicate. The gold plating communicates a sense of grandeur while the white handles soften the cutlery’s appearance, matching perfectly with the white dinner plates and chargers.