The festive season brings with it an active social calendar, happily laden with cheer and your loved ones around a dinner table. While I personally believe all one needs is a table groaning under sumptuous foods, candles with merry music playing, I also find the task of laying a stunning dinner table deeply satisfying.
Here are some hot festive table setting looks that ace interiors stylist Karen E. Joyce and I have put together to inspire you to create your own.
THE ESSENTIALS
Runner
A runner is key to a formal dinner table set-up. Laying it perfectly centrally aligned will ensure all plate settings are balanced around it. The runner will also act as your space to get creative with table décor — designating space to set out candelabras, floral décor and of course, food. Prints — traditional paisleys to florals and abstracts — are your best friends for a happy table this season.
Bloomingdales Home and Home Centre offer a stunning array of runners — from glam metallic prints to embroideries.
Place mat
A place mat has practical purpose. It allows everyone to visually know their space on the table, prevents spills from damaging the tablecloth and most importantly, acts as a barrier between the table and a plate of hot food. Basic rules — try to leave 30cm between two place mats and 2cm from the table edge. If you plan on using a charger plate, you can do away with the place mat. Mats in nature’s materials — jute, rattan and burlap — are all the rage this season. From vintage to rustic, try Zara Home and West Elm for some stunning placemats and charger plates.
THE SETTINGS
Much as the festive season is the ideal excuse to shop, once you have decided to host dinners, there will be enough expenses on the F&B front. Here is our edit of some key looks that will bring festive glamour to any table — using ever-humble white china, updated with key on-trend accessories.
The new green
This season we look away from the sharper tones of nature towards a mossy green for a calmer, mature palette. Bamboo- and burlap-inspired table runners are the perfect place to start assembling this earthy look with a green mat right under the charger plate to frame the setting. Keep things simple with white porcelain plates and textured glass. Bring green back in focus with a simple napkin placed atop the stacked plates. Add some handmade fabric decorations as party favours.
The new red
Stepping into bold prints for a dramatic makeover, the colour is a Christmas classic re-visited. Choose a thick jute-based or neutral placemat in a light tone to offset your bold red runner and frame your classic whites with a charger plate in grey — another big (and expected) colour for this year’s festive season. Just like the green look, a red napkin — print or colour blocked — can be your final splash of Christmas cheer.
Stawa would be your best bet to create runners and napkins for a fraction of their retail price.
Eclectic
Perfect for those with a glass of marble dining table, this look packs the festive punch without feeling out-of-place in a contemporary, pared setting. No need for a runner — instead, invest in a stunning art piece of a placemat. Make sure it’s vibrant, a modern print and the best thing — all mats needn’t be identical. Nod to tradition with gold rimmed plates and crystal glassware; then bring it back to that mod feel with dual tone cutlery with deep wrought iron accents. If your table has steel accents, add some stunning New Bridge ornaments in plated silver.
Stunningly artistic table mats can be found at Urban Yogi. For heirloom tableware and Christmas decorations head to Jashanmal.
Rustic charm
Perfect for a Christmas Eve breakfast on your balmy Dubai terrace or garden, ideally we recommend a wooden table to hone this look; alternatively, a checkered table spread in red or blue will also do the trick. We are looking to create a sophisticated outdoor picnic, so think of burnt orange, eggshell and slate greys to create the perfect colour palette. Add a splash of festive cheer with red and green tinted glasses and throw in some acorns and dried branches for that authentic feel.
Head to Crate and Barrel or Flamant for beautifully rustic plates.
Informal is cool
Just because it’s Boxing Day or you are tired out of your wits to make too much effort doesn’t mean a simple meal can’t be a celebration. Start out by laying yourself an elegant, floral printed table spread for a homely feel. Then keep to the basics — a beautiful table mat and the dinner plates, stacked depending on how many courses you plan to indulge in. Wrap your cutlery in a napkin and some berries to make it special.
Home Centre has a beautiful array of table spreads, placemats and napkins to choose from.
Mixed metals
Fresh off the runways, this trend is a bold, festive statement — perfect for Christmas Night or New Year’s Eve celebrations. Classically, one would frown over clashing gold, silver and bronze in the same look, but starting with a table spread hinted with a metal print and a gleaming steel charger plate will put you in good stead. Clear glass goblets and metallic napkin rings will ground this glamorous look. Finally, sprinkle in some stunning metallic hued baubles and cutlery that echoes the charger plate to finish off the look.
These investment worthy textured gold and silver plates are available at Crate and Barrel. Bloomingdale’s Home offer stunning metallic cutlery and placemats.
Pratyush Sarup edits the design site www.designcarrot.net. You can follow the site on twitter @DesignCarrot. Additional words and styling by Karen E. Joyce. Production by DESIGNcarrot.
