With the festive season nearly upon us, it's time to turn our thoughts to the things that make all our gatherings, parties and family get-togethers feel truly special. Thinking ahead now will save you having to panic-buy napkins the day before a Christmas dinner party, and will leave you more time to enjoy the build-up over the next few weeks. We've gathered a few stunning table settings for inspiration, and matched them to a selection of our beautiful table linens. So you can make sure that your dining room or kitchen look perfect, whatever the occasion.
The informal lunch
If you have family staying over the coming weeks, or want to invite friends over for a low-key lunch without too many frills, this look is just the thing. It's fresh but wintery, and looks casually thrown-together yet well considered.
Team two contrasting table runners and drape sprigs of eucalyptus or seasonal foliage along the length of the table (you can then twist these into a wreath afterwards if you want to make the most of the gorgeous greenery). Keep crockery and cutlery simple and unfussy, and finish with linen napkins fastened with a bud of lavender or rosemary.
Shop the look:
The dinner party
For a more formal table setting over Thanksgiving and Christmas, make a feature out of wild grasses and dried flowers. Choose sculptural seed heads, willowy stems of corn and wispy grasses and contrast with some voluptuous dahlias and elegant sedums.
Keep the tablecloth neutral and classic so as not to detract from the food and flowers. Drape napkins under the plates and over the edge of the table to create movement and interest. Small sprigs of dried flowers and herbs make lovely place settings.
Shop the look:
Linen/cotton napkins in beige stripe
The big breakfast
Hosting overnight visitors, with all the cooking, cleaning and looking after, can feel overwhelming at this busy time of year. Give yourself a break and prepare a simple breakfast buffet where guests can help themselves in a leisurely way. You can set this out the night before and then get on with other things in the morning. Or just sit and enjoy being with loved ones.
Wooden boards laid with fruit, nuts, bread and pastries (buy frozen croissants and then fill the house with delicious baking aromas as they heat up) look lovely alongside earthenware crockery and mismatched rustic tableware. Make pots of tea and coffee so you don't need to get getting up to make individual drinks.
Shop the look:
Speckled rustic bowls
Wooden chopping/serving boards
The feast - Christmas Table Linens
(pic via seedsandstitches.com)
Cooking a huge dinner for Christmas or Thanksgiving is a lot of work, so keeping your table setting simple and pared back will add an element of calm to the proceedings. Here, sprigs of yew branches have been placed in vintage brown glass bottles and the tablecloth is a neutral off-white. Linen napkins in muted blue/grey add a splash of colour, and elegant white candles lift the whole setting into something magical.
Add Christmas crackers to each place and you have the perfect beautifully easy yet super stylish table setting. Another floral arrangement that looks great is small jars of white narcissi alternating with tall vases of pussy willow for a more dramatic yet still tasteful look.
Shop the look:
Stonewashed linen tablecloth in white
Amazing, i just loved it.