WHAT IS TABLESCAPING?
Tablescaping is just a fancy word for laying a nice table. Anything that looks considered and effortful will make a fabulous impression on guests, so please don't feel intimidated – it's really easy to give it a go and just takes a bit of practice to perfect your technique!
Here is some advice from us to get you started.
Begin at the base... what is going on your table first? Are you using a cloth? Perhaps you have a beautiful wooden table which can look lovely laden with food and nice crockery and glassware. A beautiful white table runner works a bit like a stage for your central design. Start with your foundation and work from there.
Are you gathering to celebrate a particular holiday or occasion? Use the season, your guests and the event as your inspiration when picking your colours, textures and trinkets. It is always worth a look at instagram: visit our page @dressfordinnertablescapes or search the hashtag #tablescapes, or Pinterest for inspiration.
There are so many fancy ways to decorate your table, flowers and greenery are at the heart of tablescaping, you don't need to be a florist, select flowers of the season in the colours of your table design (or let the flowers dictate the design) and really let them take centre stage. Vases are therefore an essential tablescaping tool and bud vases are the perfect way to display flowers without them overwhelming the central area and inhibiting conversation.
Coloured candles and gorgeous candlesticks and perhaps a jug, bowl or tray are all you might need to arrange the centre of the table attractively. At Christmas or Easter it's definitely time to be braver and really get creative with lots of festive trees, lights, bunnies, eggs, reindeer etc
For the place settings, use your smartest cutlery, most gorgeous glassware and create beautiful plate stacks with a mat or charger at the base, then a dinner plate, salad and side plate on top. We like to use different colours and plates from different sets layered for interest. Add a beautiful linen napkin tied with a ribbon or napkin bow, a thoughtful placecard or gift and you are dressed for dinner!
What guest wouldn't love the thought that you have put in? You will have your most special meals around a tablescape and what a blessing it is to do so!
Subscribe to our mailing list for more tips and inspiration. Or get in touch with us on instagram, if you'd like to share your table or suggest a design you'd like us to produce. We always love to hear from you.
@dressfordinnertablescapes
Happy tablescaping!
Sarah & Gemma x