As we rediscover the pleasure of gathering around the table at home, perhaps it’s time to rethink the way we buy, use and style our tableware too.
There is something reassuringly simple about sitting around a table. Whether it’s a hurried breakfast before the school run, a quick dinner on a Tuesday evening or a long Sunday lunch with friends, the dining table is one of the few places in our homes that still has the ability to bring everyone together and I think we’re beginning to appreciate that again.
After years of highly styled interiors, constantly changing trends and the pressure to make our homes look a certain way, there seems to be a quieter shift happening. We’re becoming more interested in how our homes make us feel and live rather than simply how they photograph. For me, the dining table sits right at the heart of that.
Start with what you already own
When I work with clients one of the first things I notice is that very few of us actually need more tableware. When you open the average kitchen cupboard you’ll probably find a collection that has gradually grown over the years. Wedding presents mixed with newer purchases, the bowls you couldn't leave behind on holiday, serving dishes passed down from grandparents, glasses bought for a particular occasion and perhaps a few pieces that seemed like a good idea at the time but have barely been used since. The issue isn't necessarily that we don't have the right things, often we simply don't know how to make what we have work together. We’ve become very familiar with the idea of a capsule wardrobe: fewer, carefully chosen pieces that work hard and can be used in different combinations, yet we rarely apply the same thinking to our tableware.
Create a capsule for your table
At Beyond The Table, this idea has become central to my work. I help clients edit their existing tableware and create a considered capsule collection around it. Instead of asking, “What should I buy?”, we start with “What do I already own and love?” From there, we can identify the pieces that form the foundation of a collection and where there are genuine gaps. A good capsule doesn't mean everything needs to match. Quite the opposite. It gives you a strong foundation that allows more individual pieces to shine. Perhaps that's a set of simple everyday plates paired with beautiful glassware. A favourite patterned serving bowl might sit alongside neutral linens. Rattan placemats can bring warmth and texture in summer while deeper napkins and candle colours can take exactly the same table into autumn and winter. You don't need four completely different dinner services to make your table feel seasonal, changing one or two elements is enough.
Building your collection of Hero pieces, Capsule Pieces and Statement Pieces
Forget the trends
This is perhaps the part I feel most strongly about. Your table should be a reflection of you and your home. We are surrounded by inspiration, and while there is plenty to enjoy, that inspiration can quickly turn into a feeling that we need to replace what we own every time a new colour, pattern or style appears. We don't, ignore the noise of what you’re being told you should buy. If you adore the plates you've had for ten years keep using them. If you've inherited something from your parents or grandparents, don't feel that it has to be hidden away because it doesn't perfectly match. If you see something beautiful in a shop ask yourself whether you love the piece itself or simply love how it has been styled.
Some of the most beautiful tables I've seen have evolved over years rather than being bought in one afternoon. It makes the collection deeply personal.
Beautiful doesn't have to mean elaborate
There is another myth I'd love us to leave behind: that setting the table beautifully requires lots of time, money or creativity. It really doesn't. Sometimes the smallest changes have the greatest impact. Arrange a simple but welcoming centrepiece to your table, add linen or paper napkins, write simple name cards when friends come over, light candles for dinner. None of these things is particularly complicated but collectively they tell the people sitting down that a little thought has gone into the moment. Most importantly these things shouldn't be saved for guests. The pieces we love deserve to be used on an ordinary Wednesday too.
Buy less, but choose well
Being more considered about our tableware doesn't mean everything needs to be expensive. I believe very strongly in mixing investment pieces with inexpensive finds. The important thing is understanding where each belongs within your collection. Before buying something new I encourage clients to ask themselves three simple questions: Do I love it? Will I use it? Does it work with what I already own? If the answer isn't yes, perhaps it can stay on the shelf, knowing what not to buy can be just as valuable as knowing what to invest in. It also means that when you do find something wonderful you can buy it confidently because you understand exactly where it fits.
A table made for living
Ultimately, I don't think any of this is really about creating the perfect tablescape. It's about making our dining spaces places we want to use. A table doesn't need to be elaborate to feel inviting. Your plates don't need to follow the latest trend, your collection doesn't need to be enormous and having friends over certainly shouldn't require an emergency shopping trip beforehand. Instead, surround yourself with pieces you genuinely love, create a collection that works for how your household lives and allow it to evolve slowly over time.The most beautiful table isn't the one that looks perfect in a photograph, it's the one everyone wants to sit around.