Set The Table With Dressed Dining

There’s nothing like sitting around a beautifully laid dining table with our loved ones, enjoying the company of family and friends while feasting on a delicious meal. The festive season will soon be upon us, so prepare well in advance for the celebrations that will kick off.

After hosting extended family and friends for countless meals and receiving compliments on the décor each time, Sakshi Garg and Prakshi Gupta began Dressed Dining (@dresseddining) in January this year to bring to life their passion for decorating tables. “Our passion fuelled by the appreciation inspired us to get into table styling full time,” shares Prakshi.

According to the duo, brunch and high tea are the most Instagrammable settings as they are a little more off beat as compared to lunches and dinners and the natural light adds a playful element to the two.

To give our patrons a masterclass in the art of tablescaping, we called upon Dress Dining to arrange three set-ups at our headquarters, for brunch, high tea and dinner.

Brunch Set-Up

Title: Whispers of the Sea

Description: This is an ode to Mumbai. We imagine a brunch overlooking the sea.

Colours Used: Earthy colours, pastel greens, fern whites

Flowers Used: Pink lotus has been used to add a light pop of colour to complement the greens for an earthy look. Solid glasses hold ferns and flowers in them. Organza fabric has been used to add a textured element.

Elements used:

Napkin by Georgia Macmillan, Glasses by Tahir Sultan, Small Green Platters by Ware Innovations, Botanical Plates by Khanoom, Sake Cups by Veena Pottery, Blue Glasses by Nila

Dinner Set-Up

Title: Romance

Description: A setup that is perfect for a romantic and cosy yet classy meal.

Colours Used: Gold, purple, green. Green and purple are a classic combination. The gold adds a regal touch. Darker shades have been used because it's dinner time.

Flowers Used: Purple carnations, white gypsy, purple daisy

Elements used:

Essence Small Bowl by Nila, Small Platters by Ware Innovations, Trident Cutlery by Dhaj, Buenos Diyas by Casegoods, Goblets by Khanoom, Eye Hot Plate by Ecru, Table Cloth by Ranjit Ahuja, Glasses by Tahir Sultan, Bowls by Atelier Lalmitti

High Tea Set-Up

Title: Conversations Over High Tea

Description: High teas are mostly about meeting and greeting people. This setting is perfect for when you have guests come over for a short while.

Colours Used: A playful mix of neutral and vibrant colours. We used fewer flowers and more candles, crockery, platters, cups, and books. The cups were elevated and books were added to give it a coffee table feel. Most of the elements were from products from Le-Mill.

Flowers Used: Gypsy and dry flower

Elements used:

Cake stand by Ecru, Quarter Plates by Ware Innovations, Dori Mug by Ware Innovations, Small Green Platters by Ware Innovations, Topological Bowls by Casegoods, Candles by Doft Candles, Mugs by Nila, Longpi Vase by Ikai Asai

 

Prakshi also answered some table dressing FAQs:

What can you swap for fresh flowers if there are no flowers available?

There are plenty of alternatives to fresh flowers! The basic idea is to add some colour and vibrancy to the table setup. Cloth napkins, paper napkins and crockery are great alternatives.

For the coffee table: books heavy on words or visuals? Suggest some.

A combo of both is always the best as it would catch the eye of people of varied interests. The choice depends on you because the books that you have on your coffee table are reminiscent of your personality and traits. But here are a few that you can never go wrong with: The Monocle Guide to Drinking and Dining, Leonardo by Leonardo, and Preservation of Style By Alexandra Gargiulo.

What are some unexpected colour combinations that surprisingly work well?

Green and blue; purple and green; purple, white and green are some unusual colour combos but look fabulous if used in the right way for a table setting.

How important is fragrance for the ambience? Are there any scents that complement or enhance certain cuisines?

Fragrance is extremely important to enhance the table setting. It creates the ultimate aura. Here are certain fragrances that go well with different table settings or cuisines: Lemon grass goes well with Pan Asian, tube rose goes well with Indian, lavender or vanilla for Italian.

What are some unbreakable rules that one must abide by while setting up a dinner table?

Though we always believe in unleashing creativity while laying the table and do not like to restrict ourselves, there are certain basics that always help while styling a dinner table.

1. The table should always be lit

2. Darker shades always look better for dinner

3. The elements must compliment the food and each other

Runners or tablecloths? Should one go for a bold pattern or keep things plain and simple?

We would go with runners any day over tablecloths. If the crockery is simple and minimalistic, go for runners with patterns and vice versa.

When it comes to tableware - neutrals or pops of colour?

There is no right or wrong on this, but the choice totally depends on the occasion. For festivals, colours are preferable but for a formal lunch, neutrals would be the right pick.

What are some rules for styling round tables as opposed to rectangular tables?

For round tables, use the centre as the core of your table styling. Avoid using heavy elements, keep it light and avoid crowding the edges.

 

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