Design a Tablescape That Wows

When hosting a dinner party or a holiday meal, the main focus is, rightly, on the food. That said, once your menu is planned, it's time to turn your attention to the tablescape. A beautifully set table elevates the dining experience and lets your guests know that this is a special meal. Dining table accessories like napkin rings, candles and centrepieces allow you to set the tone for the evening and make it easy to incorporate a theme or holiday elements in your tablescape.

The Details

When planning your table design, the first step is deciding on linens. Whether you opt for a tablecloth, runner, placemats or some combination thereof, these items will form the backdrop of your tablescape and inform the rest of the pieces you choose. The linen choices you make will also reflect the mood or tone of the evening. A full tablecloth suggests a more formal affair while a runner is great for showing off the beautiful wood grain of your dining table and establishing a more casual atmosphere.

Once you've dressed your table with your preferred linens, you can begin to accessorize with napkins and napkin rings. Napkins can coordinate with the other table linens, provide a pop of colour or bring in a complementary pattern. If you opt for a relatively neutral napkin, you can add colour, sparkle, texture and seasonal touches with your napkin rings. Here are just a few of the fun, festive options, all available in sets of four:

• Pearl Napkin Rings - Simple and elegant, these classic, gold-finished napkin rings feature a rope twist detail faux pearl embellishments.
• Olivewood Napkin Rings - These bold napkin rings are substantial enough to highlight the unique tones and beautiful grain of the Italian wood.
• Feather Napkin Rings - Made of authentic turkey feathers and sustainably harvested wood, these napkin rings will bring beautiful texture and warm autumn colours to your table.
• Gold Leaf Napkin Rings - These luxe, sculptural napkin rings are handcrafted from brass with a gold finish that will add a special sparkle to your table.
• Cloisonné Holly Napkin Rings - There's no mistaking the season with these enamel sprigs of holly adorning your holiday table.
• Crystal Square Napkin Rings - Made of clear, cast crystal, these handcrafted napkin rings complement any aesthetic and add polish to your table in any season.

Once your table is set, you can begin to fill in empty space in the centre with taper candles, floral arrangements and other tabletop decor. If you're planning your tablescape in advance, meaning before the food has been prepared, place the serving dishes you plan to use on the table as you layout your centrepieces so that you leave enough room for all your tasty dishes. As you're planning which dining table accessories to use, think about using items of varying heights while still keeping everything low enough that your guests can see the person seated across from them. After all, the best part of the most successful dinners is always the conversation.