The Art of Tablescaping: The Chic Trend Taking Over Instagram

Blue and White is Always Right

British society darling Alice Naylor-Leyland (also known by her Instagram moniker @mrsalice) has made table setting into a veritable 21st century art form, inspired by her equally-talented mother, Serena Fresson. So much so, she has begun selling her own ‘Tablescape in a Box’: an edit of all the pieces you need to replicate her magic at home.  I have a penchant for all things chinoiserie, so this blue and white-hued table – trimmed with swathes of blooms – immediately caught my eye.

Mix and Match Magic

More is often more, as this artfully crafted set-up from Victoria Fitzroy goes to show. The bulk of the tablescape plays within the dominant palette of pale blue, pastel pink, and white, while the printed plates give a little pep to stop things blurring together. It goes to show you can pair patterns you might not think would work well together, for an arrestingly fresh finish.

When Life Gives You Lemons

An eye-catching tablescape needn’t rely on anything fancier than nature itself. This gorgeous table by interior design expert Melissa Penfold featuring a beautiful wood table and classic white dinnerware is brought to life with the addition of bouquets of foliage and a bountiful bowl of lemons. The palate-cleansing tones will complement any meal.

Garden Party

If you’re blessed with a garden to entertain in, think of capitalising on your beautiful setting by bringing echoes of it into your table design. In this dreamy set-up by Fiona Leahy, vases of cut flowers adorn a pretty floral printed tablecloth; choosing tones within the same colour family (here, sky blue) help marry the scene – and the wider setting – beautifully.

A Touch of Gold

Sticking to a classic colour palette of black and white with touches of gold and green (as elegantly demonstrated by interior designer Steve Cordony) will make for a timeless table you can recreate time after time. While white napkins might be your first instinct for formal dining, consider black to add structure to the tablescape and to make things a little fresher and more modern.

Vitamin Sea

Having grown up obsessively reading my mother’s extensive back catalogue of Martha Stewart magazines, I’ve always been drawn to classic ocean-inspired American East coast interiors, like this beauty by Stacey Bewkes of Quintessence blog. The dominant tones of blue and white, matched with the decorations of coral and rattan tablemats, give it a nautical feel, but it comes alive with the bright pop of fuschia-hued hydrangeas.

Story by Tess de Vivie de Régie