Easter tablescaping: Designer tips on how to create a stylish dinner table
Hosting the Easter holiday? Here’s how to create an egg-cellent table setting your guests will never want to leave
If it’s your turn to host Easter this year, there’s no need to panic. Although the holiday is fast approaching – with just over two weeks to go – you still have plenty of time to get your ducks in a row so you can pull off a celebration to remember. Whether you’re hosting the whole family for Easter Sunday or have invited guests to stay for the four-day bank holiday, nothing says thoughtful quite like an exquisite feast served on a themed table in the dining room. And while it may seem like quite the task to lay an Instagram-worthy setting, we’ve called on the creative nous of two top designers – Rebecca Udall, founder of her eponymous fine linens and luxury tableware brand, and high-end homeware brand founder Issy Granger – for their advice on Easter tablescaping. From table linens to floral flourishes, read on for expert tips on how to perfect your dinner table.
Start with the foundations
Let’s begin with laying the table. Easter is synonymous with pastel hues and soft neutrals to signify the start of spring, so it would make sense to start with cloths and linens that reflect the theme but also create a solid foundation for you to build the rest of your dining table on. “The linens you choose can really set the tone,” explains Granger. “Personally, I prefer to opt for simple patterns which gives more flexibility when it comes to decorating my table and can really let my flowers and glassware pop!
“Easter is a joyful celebration, so choosing a colour scheme can add a jubilant atmosphere. Start with a beautiful linen tablecloth that fits your theme and then add matching napkins for each place setting. Our double-piped linens are incredibly versatile, and I also love the rustic feel they add to a space, bringing a touch of French Provence to my own home.”
Incorporate decorations and centrepieces
Don’t be scared to add fun decorative features and centrepieces, no matter their colour or height. In fact, Udall recommends intentionally clashing colours to create a vibrant, workable palette. She says: “Candles add ambience, height and interest to your setting and elegant, tapered options work down the length of the table and help a scheme look cohesive. They are also a great way to add pops of clashing colour. I actually avoid having one large centrepiece as it disrupts the flow, instead choosing to create interest throughout.”
Introduce the essentials
No dinner table is complete without a stylish set of cutlery, plates and glasses – and the good thing about all three is that they’re all versatile. “You can mix and match different types of glasses to create a unique and stylish look. For example, you might pair a classic stem wine glass with a dotty pom tumbler, or mix different colours of glassware for a fun and eclectic look,” says Granger. “These are especially effective when paired with neutral ceramics and linens.”
Udall adds: “Spring tables can be very busy with prints and floral displays, so simple but textured, high quality glassware has a big impact. Bamboo cutlery is a clear choice as it feels convivial and adds further texture – which I find key – but I also enjoy a tortoiseshell handle for a bit of a twist against typical Easter pastels.” Don’t forget to add colourful, floral plates that work perfectly with the spring theme too, that are available in an array of yellow, pink, blue and green hues.
Add final flourishes
Now for the finale. Allow the Easter theme to shine through with delicately-painted eggs in pastel shades and chocolate favours for each setting, as well as an abundance of spring flowers. “When it comes to selecting flowers for your table, it's important to choose blooms that are in season. In spring, popular flowers include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and cherry blossoms,” explains Granger. “Play with different heights and arrangements that can be dotted up and down the table, interspersed with Easter-themed decorations such as baskets of hand-painted eggs.”
And if you have little helpers in tow, Udall suggests getting them involved can make your Easter setting more personal. She says: “Encourage the youngest members of the family to create place cards for guests – the homemade detail will take the edge off any formality and result in a beautifully laid table that doesn’t look too perfect to use!”
“Remember to enjoy it,” adds Granger. “Easter is such a joyful occasion when celebrated with family and friends so don’t put too much pressure on the decorations and remember to enjoy the day.”
Read more: Women in Luxury: Naomi Astley Clarke, interior designer
