Tips for Dressing Your Table
Easy table setting ideas, no rulebook required.
There's an art to making a moment, and it usually starts before anyone sits down. Setting the table is the warm-up act: music on, something in the oven, a few minutes to make the space feel like yours.
The good news is that learning how to set a table doesn't mean anything formal or fussy, and your dinnerware definitely doesn't have to match. Here's how to set a table with our first-ever Dinnerware Collection, whether it's a midweek meal for two or a long lunch on the weekend that runs into the evening.
Step 1. Start with Table Linens
Every good dinner party table setting starts with a base layer. Our 100% cotton Tablecloth sets the scene before a single plate goes down, and gives the rest of the colour something to play against. Go bold, or keep it soft and let your dinnerware do the talking.
Next come the Napkins. There's no wrong way to style them. Fold one in half and tuck it under the cutlery, roll it through a Napkin Ring, or lay it in the centre of the plate for a bit of drama when guests sit down.
Styling tip: our Napkins are made for regular use, so don't save them for special occasions. A napkin on the table instantly makes a weeknight feel intentional.
Step 2. Choose Your Colour Palette
Hommey Dining comes in a palette of mix-and-match colourways, from Butter and Capri to Espresso and Boysenberry. It's designed to work together however you combine it, so the only question is what mood you're after.
For something sunny and easy, pair Butter with Capri. For a moodier dinner party, try Espresso and Boysenberry with a flash of Blush. Or go fully tonal and keep everything in one colourway for a table that feels calm and considered.
Styling tip: if you're new to mixing colours, choose two main colourways, then add a third through small pieces like Dip Bowls or cutlery.
Step 3. Add a Dinner Plate
The dinner plate anchors every place setting, so choose it first. Our Dinner Plate is handmade stoneware, with a matte exterior giving way to a glossy, colour-saturated interior. It's sized for a main with the sides still on the plate.
Place one in front of each seat, straight onto the tablecloth or the bare table.
Step 4. Stack Your Plates and Bowls
This is where table styling gets fun. Layer a Side Plate on top of the Dinner Plate for bread or a starter, or crown the stack with a Pasta Bowl if pasta's on the menu. Stacking pieces in contrasting colourways is the easiest way to make a place setting look styled with almost no effort.
Styling tip: try a different colour at every level. A Dinner Plate in Capri, a Side Plate in Butter and a Pasta Bowl in Boysenberry will stop people mid-sentence.
Step 5. Set the Cutlery
Our Cutlery Set has a solid-colour handle matched to each colourway, and comes in packs of four: fork, knife, spoon and teaspoon. Handles that match the plates keep things sharp. Clashing them is just as much fun.
Styling tip: set cutlery in the order you'll use it, working from the outside in. Forks go on the left and knives on the right, with the blade facing the plate. If dessert's coming, lay the teaspoon horizontally above the plate.
Step 6. Make the Middle the Main Event
The centre of the table is where everyone reaches, so give it some attention. Our Serving Bowl lands in the middle and doesn't move until the meal's done. The Serving Platter is made for a roast, a grazing board or anything you're quietly proud of. Scatter a few Dip Bowls around them for olives, dipping sauces and whatever else is worth mopping up.
Styling tip: serving pieces are a great place to introduce a new colourway. A Serving Bowl in Pistachio on a Tablecloth in Boysenberry is a conversation starter.
Step 7. Add the Finishing Touches
The small details make a table look like you tried, even if you didn't try that hard. Napkin Rings add a pop of colour at each setting, and low flowers or candles keep sightlines clear for conversation. When the plates are cleared, bring out Mugs for coffee or tea so no one feels the need to leave just yet.
And because the best dinners end with a bit of a mess, keep a Tea Towel or two nearby. Doing the dishes together is part of the fun. (Honestly.)
The best tables aren't the perfect ones. They're the ones people don't want to leave. So set the table, make a mess and start the show.
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