The art of table setting

Join us as we detail our steps to building the perfect dinner table, combining beautiful glassware, candles and ceramics along the way.

Step one: Layering

Create the perfect foundation for your tablescape by dressing the table with tablecloths, placemats and napkins. Bringing depth to the scene while protecting the table, a selection of cotton, linen, or natural materials adds charm and character.

The cotton texture of the ferm LIVING Savor collection draws a natural aesthetic to the table and offers a simple way to frame your dinnerware. Don’t be afraid to layer up with different materials, colours and patterns to add visual interest to the scene.

Step two: Dinnerware

The dinnerware takes centre stage on your placemat as the focal point of any table setting. Create a simple arrangement with a matching set or a more eclectic approach choosing to mix and match different ceramics and shapes.

Choosing cutlery like the Tvis Cutlery Set by Broste Copenhagen gives your curated dining space a unique, warming look with its titanium rose gold coating. Complete your thoughtful arrangement by balancing the modern forms of this set with organic textures.

Inspired by Scandinavian coastlines, the Nordic Sand Dinner Set is beautifully unique due to its unique firing process and harmonises exceptionally well with more modern silverware like the Tvis.

Step three: Drinkware

From the welcome drink to the "last one", drinkware helps set the tone of the evening. Select from beautifully rippled champagne glasses, uniquely smoked tumblers and organic ceramic carafes to build your tablescape.

Selecting your glassware is all down to the details. Heavy-weighted glassware like the HAY Tavern Glass creates just as an enjoyable drinking experience as more texturised pieces like the &Tradition SC60 Collect Glass, but the slight differences create very different tactile experiences.

Step four: Centrepiece

Make the dining experience extra special with a statement centrepiece. Fill your favourite vase with seasonal flowers, feathers or foliage to create an eye-catching centrepiece that feels fresh and vibrant.

Find inspiration in the centuries-old Japanese art of ikebana and craft a minimalist arrangement. The Fritz Hansen Ikebana vases feature holes of varying sizes, so you can effectively place individual stems to create your floral masterpiece. Learn more about the art of Ikebana and read our journal spotlight with Bloom Sheffield.

Pieces like the ferm LIVING Shell Pot and Fountain Vase are excellent examples of ceramics that work well amongst tableware without obstructing the eye line or conversational flow. The delicate detailing of the Shell Pot makes it work just as well as a stand-alone piece as it does housing flowers or even champagne bottles to create a memorable moment.

Step five: Ambience

Bring warmth and comfort to the table with light. Reflect in the unmatched glow of candlelight with a collection of beautiful candleholders. Take this opportunity to add extra colour with the contemporary Arcs or Tube candleholders from HAY, or choose a more classic approach with the simplistic Audo Copenhagen Abacus.

For those looking for a more traditional approach, a candelabra such as the Tom Dixon Spin Candelabra Mini offers an eye-catching alternative to ambient lighting.

For outdoor dining, watch the sun go down and continue the conversation with unique portable lights that can be set on the table and brought inside during adverse weather. Lightweight and portable, the GUBI Obello Outdoor Table Lamp diffuses an ambient glow perfect for those long summer evenings spent gathering around the table.

Have you been inspired to curate your unique tablescape? Share your styling with us over Instagram, by tagging us @nest_co_uk.