Tips To Designing The Perfect Table For Every Occasion

You’ve cooked, you’ve cleaned, and now the guests are arriving. Is the table set right?

The dinner table is a special place. Whether you are enjoying a quick meal with the family, take out with friends, or an intimate candle-lit dinner, the dining table is a place that allows all to take a step back from the chaotic pace of life and enjoy the simple pleasures of togetherness. 

However, setting the table just right can make you rethink all your moves and question all your decisions, because, let’s be honest, it’s a daunting task. Where does the butter knife go? Why do people need so many forks?! How do I place the salad plate? Do I even have salad plates?! Yes. It’s a lot. But despite the many, many questions that can make you quickly cancel the plan altogether, setting tables for any occasion is an easy task. And once you know how to do it, it becomes a breeze. All you need is a great dinner set, some gorgeous dinner table decoration ideas and table decor, our guide to help you set the table, and you’ll be hosting dinner parties every week. 

So let’s get started.

Understanding The Importance Of Table Design

More often than not, people underestimate the importance of a table setting and the effects it can have on the meal. 

Sets The Mood:

Setting the table just right with the right table decoration can significantly change the mood of the meal. From elegant table linens, regal dinner sets, and sophisticated glassware to charger plates that add charm, candles that add heavenly aromas to the ambience, and table decor that makes your guests feel special, are just so important. 

Improves Digestion:

Bare with us. 

While this may seem odd, setting the table can actually improve digestion. Bouncing up and down can upset our stomachs, and setting the table with all the right table decor ensures we don’t forget anything that requires us to move around so much.

4 Tips For Choosing The Right Tablecloth And Linens For Perfect Table Arrangement

The humble table linen. Table linens are an essential part of table decor, as they can really transform the space. Whether it’s tablecloths, table mats, or trivets, table linen instantly adds a sense of elegance and class to our table decor. So how do we know which linens best suit us?

Consider Your Existing Decor:

Before choosing your linens, stop for a moment and take a look around. What colours, textures, and themes do you see in your existing home decor? Are your vases and indoor planters avant-garde? Do your soft furnishings feature neutral colours? These are all questions you need to consider. 

Once you’ve understood your home, you need to remember that your choice of table decor and table linens must compliment rather than clash with your existing decor. If your space is filled with quirky, vibrant decor objects or wall art, then opt for neutral toned linens to balance the space out. On the other hand, if your space features a more contemporary chic vibe, be bold and add a pop of colour with your table linens and table decor. 

The Ambience:

The colour of our table linens affects the mood we are trying to create. Soft blues and greens exude a sense of serenity, while tones like reds and oranges bring energy and warmth to the table. 

Table Size: 

Yes, size matters. Light table linens can make small tables seem larger and more spacious, while darker tones can make tables look more cosy and intimate. 

Play With Textures:

Don’t be afraid to play with different textures when setting your table with table decor and choosing table linens. Mixing different textures, like cotton tablecloths, with linen table napkins can add dimension and create an aesthetically pleasing table decor situation.

3 Hacks To Select Quality Cutlery & Tableware:

Like any piece of home decor, table decor must also be a reflection of your style and personality. However, table decor must also take into consideration the functionality of the item, especially when it comes to cutlery and tableware. 

It’s arguably the most important and central piece of any table. Yes, cutlery and tableware. Therefore, choosing the right dinner plates, platters, serving bowls, wine glasses, and cutlery is a decision that needs to be made carefully. Luckily, we’ve got a few hacks up our sleeve to make the process a whole lot easier.

Weight & Shape:

When it comes to cutlery, weight and shape are paramount. Heavy, flat spoons, forks, and knives are easier for adults, while lighter, more rounded cutlery is better for children. Furthermore, you must consider the blade shape of the knife and fork. Knives must cut smoothly in one go… after all, who likes to frantically try to cut a piece of meat? Forks must pierce food with ease without breaking it. And the bowl of spoons must be smooth to indicate high quality.

Buy Sets: 

When buying tableware, always buy sets. No one likes different plates that don’t go together. Part of making the entire meal a spectacle is the elegance an entire matching dinner set brings. You know. Dinner plates, salad plates, even pasta plates, serving bowls, dipping bowls, platters… basically, when they are bought together, they work much better. Therefore, always try to buy sets that are large enough to accommodate your entire dining table. 

Mix & Match: 

Don’t be afraid to source things up by mixing and matching colours, textures, and patterns. But also think outside the box. Try to match different design genres for a unique look that adds depth to the table. For example, opting for vintage style glasses, modern dinner sets, and regal contemporary charger plates will definitely get the table talking about table decor.

Table Decoration Tips For Creating Eye-Catching Centerpieces:

Table decoration is never complete without a centerpiece. But how do you create something truly unique - all your guests' jaws instantly drop as soon as they see it? And we’re not just talking about flowers. Something that just screams “just looking like a wow”.

Go Beyond The Blooms:

Everyone's go-to table decoration is flowers. It’s easy, everyone loves them, and let's not forget the sweet fragrance they bring to the table. But when you want to bring the outdoors in, try to go beyond the blooms. Use chic modern vases and fill them up with seasonal herbs to add a rustic charm and bring something different to the table. 

Angles:

You want to make sure your centerpiece looks major from all angles. If it’s breathtaking from the front and bare and hopeless at the back, half of your table isn’t going to be able to appreciate the effort you put into your table decor. 

Bowls of Abundance:

Large bowls of candles floating in water make for a great modern, contemporary centerpiece idea, especially if you want the setup to be unique and intimate. 

Think Outside The Box:

Whether it is something as wacky as origami on cake stands, picture frames of sweet moments with all the guests invited, or even contemporary decor objects like abstract showpieces or animal figurines to add dimension and quirk, it’s always better to be bold and stand out rather than playing safe!

The Bottom Line:

When selecting your table decor, you need to approach it in the same manner as when buying home decor. Every item needs to be an extension of you and your style while also creating a setting that is inviting.