When hosting for a special occasion, you want your table settings to be equally special. That said, determining which plates go with which linens and flatware can be overwhelming—and we firmly believe entertaining should be as fun for the hosts as for the guests. So below you’ll find tabletop tips based on four key style archetypes. We also suggest serveware, linens, and other additions that can easily and affordably dress up your existing everyday tableware.
The Forest Walk Plates’ harvest theme recalls decades of autumnal family gatherings, while the Braided Basket Oval Place Mat adds contemporary ease. Find the cutlery here and the napkin rings here.
New Traditionalist
The style in a nutshell: Classic with a twist
Specifics: You can’t go wrong with blue and white, such as vintage Flow Blue stoneware or updates on chinoiserie chic. Don’t love blue? Neutral or pastel hues work beautifully, especially when accentuated with a flora or fauna motif. Plaid works too, especially during the festive season. Crisp white embroidered tablecloths, linen napkins with contrast-stitched edges, and cut-crystal drinkware are also hallmarks of a New Traditionalist table.
Brands New Traditionalists love: Juliska, Royal Copenhagen, Spode, Waterford, Wedgwood
Pieces to bring New Trad elegance to any table:
• Bel-Air Dinner Napkins. A slender colored border accentuates the snow-white linen.
• Bianca Tablecloth. Bands of geometric stitching grace this white tablecloth with subtle, elegant texture. Bonus: It’s machine washable!
• Moments Round Pitcher. Sophisticated in its simplicity, this lead-free crystal pitcher complements any table.
• Lismore Bottle Coaster. Even a bottle of Two-Buck Chuck would look sublime set within this cut-crystal coaster.
• Faux Everlasting Peony with Vase. Because they’re only 13 inches high, these timeless blooms won’t impede the view of guests at the table.
Mixing up vintage dishware of different but similar patterns in the same palette keeps a table from looking old-fashioned. So does complementing formal table settings with plaid napkins or a grain-sack tablecloth. Find a similar tureen and ladle here.
Keeping the rest of the table muted allows the color and whimsy of the Taika tableware to command the attention.
Designed to be mixed rather than matched, the Juliska x Veronica Beard assortment is boho by way of Iberia—perfect for an Eclectic table.
Eclectic
The style in a nutshell: The magic of the mix
Specifics: Eclectic style is less about individual pieces than in how you layer patterns, colors, and styles to create a unique wow factor. Lean in on lively or global patterns—animal prints, polka dots, block prints, shibori—and at least a few hits of bold color. Bring a few favorite vintage pieces into the ensemble as well. And don’t forget a dollop of whimsy. Eclectic style is fun!
Brands Eclectics love: Bordallo Pinheira, Iittala, Joanna Buchanan, Ngala Trading Co.
Pieces to bring Eclectic flair to any table:
• Iconic Leopard Tablecloth. Even plain everyday dishes look fierce and fabulous atop this green-on-white linen cloth.
• Drop Stemless Wineglass. Irregular red dots float among the mouth-blown glass, bringing color and a touch of the unexpected to the table.
• Sparkle Lobster Napkin Rings. Bejeweled lobsters with faux-emerald eyes look up from the top of these brass rings. They definitely need to be seen to be appreciated.
• Watermelon Pitcher. A ceramic pitcher that, yes, resembles a watermelon: How fun is that!
The woven table runner provides a tactile contrast to the sleek marble tabletop, just as the handles of the Bamboo Place Settings do to the smooth Shell Bisque dishware. Photo by Frank Frances.
Naturalist
The style in a nutshell: Organic ease peppered with artisanal elegance
Specifics: Materials found in nature are (not surprisingly!) the foundation of Natural style. Colors tend toward the quiet and neutral: sand, ivory, tan, a myriad of browns, with mossy green, sun-blanched yellow, and misty blue as accents. Textures, such as that of wicker and loose-weave linen, are what command the most attention. And because imperfections abound in nature, they’re also invited to the Naturalist table, in the form of mouth-blown glasses with random bubbles and handmade pottery with slightly irregular shapes.
Brands Naturalists love: Canvas, Middle Kingdom, Sophie Conran for Portmeirion, Vietri
Pieces to bring Naturalist ease to any table:
• Woodland Place Mats. The essence of bringing the outdoors in.
• Albero Flatware. What makes these stainless-steel place settings and serving pieces special are the handles, which look and feel like wood.
• Hermit Plates. Subtle spirals of color give these dishes an unmistakable artisanal allure.
• Lastra Small Platter. A gently irregular border makes this handcrafted stoneware tray all the more beautiful.
• Set of Five Henlee Candleholders. Hand-carved of teak and given a blackened finish, these blocky holders instantly set an organic scene.
Naturalist style can rise to formal occasions, as the leather Wyatt Chargers, the gold-rimmed Hutchinson Salad Plates, and the mouth-blown Ultima Thule water glasses show. Find the gold flatware here. Photo by Joe Schmelzer.
Snow-white napkins, neatly encased in Cabochon Napkin Rings, enhance the luxuriousness of the gold-edged dishware. Photo by Tony Vu.
Curator
The style in a nutshell: Clean lines, luxe materials, stellar quality
Specifics: Gold, sterling silver, sparkling crystal, polished marble—only the best is good enough for the Curator. And when jewels aren’t practical, jewel tones are, particularly glassware in ruby red, emerald green, and sapphire blue. Because the focus is on the richness and luster of the materials, silhouettes tend to be simple and patterns minimalist. Curator style whispers, rather than shouts, to command attention.
Favorite Curator brands: Georg Jensen, Kim Seybert, Mepra, Ralph Lauren Home
Pieces to bring Curator chic to any table:
• Arne Jacobsen Flatware Set. Dining with this cutlery—designed by Danish Modern icon Jacobsen in 1957—is literally taking art into your hands.
• Marquis Place Mats. Leaf-shape tiles made from capiz shells are fitted together by hand to create these round place mats certain to dress up any occasion.
• Dauville Charger. The slender white porcelain rim makes the gold center all the more dynamic.
• Vogue Tablecloth. Gold dots against white cloth ensure finesse—and the fabric has been treated to resist stains.
• Bloom Bowl. Sleek, sinuous, and with a polished mirror finish, this bowl will take place of pride on your table or buffet.
Join the Discussion