Tablescape ideas

What is tablescaping?

Tablescaping is essentially just a fancy way of setting the table. But to some it’s a more serious art form involving colour schemes, themed floral arrangements and bespoke menus. For most people though, it’s just a way to get some seriously aesthetic Instagram pics. 

Types of tablescapes

There are so many possibilities when it comes to tablescapes. You can keep it classic and traditional, choose a theme or go all out with a maximalist scheme. More on that below… 

Colourful and eclectic 

Thought everything on your table had to match? Think again. You can go wild with this theme and mix all your favourite pieces together. There are no rules here. Pair lobster calendars with toucan salt and pepper shakers. It’s so wrong, it’s right.

Classic and elegant

If neutrals are more your thing, you’ll want to roll with a more pared back aesthetic. Go for natural finishes like wood, slate, marble or rattan to add texture to your table. And, don’t forget some fancy glassware. That’s an essential.

Make it seasonal 

As the seasons change you can have fun switching up your tablescape to match them, whether it’s adding rich, berry shades for autumn or fresh pastels and flowers for spring. 

For Easter, you can accessorise with bunny-shaped plates, egg cups and of course, lots and lots of chocolate. Then for Christmas, you’ll want to pile the table high with festive treats, joyful crackers and plenty of sparkle. If you’re celebrating Eid, you can accessorise your table with glowing lanterns, moon and star accents and, of course, a feast of delicious food.

Choose a theme

Picking a theme is a great way to make sure your tablescape ties together. You can go for literally anything you fancy but here are a few ideas to get you started… 

• Florals

• Fruit 

• Vegetables

• Nautical 

• Tropical

• Rainbows

• Gingham 

• Dinosaurs

• Mad Hatter’s tea party

• Sloths (we did say anything!) 

Go all out for special events

You don’t need a special occasion to create a tablescape but it’s definitely a good excuse to go the extra mile, whether it’s for a birthday brunch, wedding buffet or hen do party. We’re thinking bespoke menus, placeholders and fancy napkins. Just imagine the Instagram pics… 

How to make your tablescape dreams a reality

From tablecloths to candles, think of these as your building blocks for the perfect tablescape. Time to get creative… 

Choose your tablecloth or runner

A tablecloth or a runner is a really simple and easy way to add impact to your tablescape. Keep it classic with a white tablecloth or add patterns like gingham or stripes to add a little more interest. For special occasions, you could even create some bespoke tablecloth stickers. Ooh, fancy. 

Pair with plates and crockery

It’s time to dig out the fancy plates, people. With crockery you can either go matchy-matchy or shake it up with a mixture of different prints, finishes and colours. We’ll leave that tricky decision up to you. 

Choose your glassware

Who doesn’t love a bit of fancy glassware? In fact, we don’t think a tablescape would be complete without it. Choose from recycled glass tumblers, animal glasses, hand-painted designs and more you’ll love.

Add candles 

There’s nothing like candles to set the mood. Pick from statement candles that are (almost) too pretty to burn or personalised dinner candles. Pepper candles? We’ve seen everything.

Bring it together with foliage

Whether faux or real, flowers and plants are a really lovely way to bring a bit of colour and interest to your table. Dried flowers are particularly good for this as they last a lot longer than real ones while still having that lovely, natural look. You could even use your flowers as the inspiration for your colour scheme to tie everything together. 

Light it up

There’s nothing like a bit of lighting to set the mood. Choose fairy lights for a magical, dreamy feel. Or go for portable lamps to give more of a boujee, restaurant vibe. How fancy of you.

Ready for some more interior design inspiration? We thought so. Check out our edit of the best home finds from our creative small brands.