Sun at last! And what better way to celebrate the rather late arrival of summer than with an dinner party? Whether you’re hosting the whole family for birthday barbecues or have guests staying for the weekend, nothing says hostess with the mostest quite like a delectable feast served on a gorgeous summer dinner table on the terrace (weather permitting).
It can be a risky move to rely on the UK’s inclement weather to brighten up the day, but one thing you can definitely rely on is SS24’s to bring a pop of colour to the table via lemon hues, earthy tones and pastel shades. While it may seem like quite the task to lay an exquisite setting, we’ve called on the creative nous of interior designer Céline Erlam, director of London-based studio Indie & Co, to sift the naff from the Instagram-worthy. From table linens to floral flourishes, read on for expert tips on how to perfect your dinner tablescape this summer.
Start with the foundations
A dinner setting is nothing without a tablecloth – and, luckily for you, this season’s homeware collections boast an array of patterns and colours bound to brighten up any summer soirée. Ginghams are back, as are bold stripes (see Poppy and Honesty’s Gelato tablecloth in pistachio and watermelon-pink hues) and vibrant colours, such as the Lemon Drop tablecloth from Pink City Prints, designed in collaboration with food writer Alexandra Dudley. Also from the collection, we can’t get enough of the Seafood embroidered napkins featuring a playful mix of lobsters, clams and prawns and an on-trend scallop edge. Don’t miss John Lewis’ hand-braided placemats created by skilled artisans in India to draw on those elegant earthy tones, too.
Incorporate decorations
Erlam prefers a minimalistic look to her table, and her rule of thumb is to only add decorative items with a purpose. She explains: “If I am hosting I don’t tend to add anything to the table which is not essential, so I would rather have a beautiful chopping board and knife with my bread on it and some gorgeous serving bowls, butter dishes and maybe some vintage knife holders. In the evening, I would add some candles and I like to play with heights and sizes; I love beeswax candlesticks from Toast.”
We love the Caravane Koretta bowls, perfect for large summer salads and available in an array of earthy tones that can tie into your tablecloth. An easy way to add height, as Erlam mentioned, is to incorporate candles which can flicker away in the fun Unity candle holder from Anna + Nina. Drawing inspiration from the rich colours and intricate details of traditional homewares from and Bali, this is a unique way to add some colour to your dining table while sparking (ahem) conversation.
Introduce essentials
Dinnerware doesn’t have to be boring – and Daylesford’s new collaboration with artist Hugo Guinness proves just that. Presenting a capsule collection which is a romantic ode to the English countryside, we love the oval serving platter inspired by native species found in Daylesford’s meadows, including cornflower, ragwort, groundsel and flax. “For serving plates, I like to mix and match them, and would use something like Toast’s stoneware set,” adds Erlam. “Be playful with the starter plates on top and opt for something creative, like the Yoshida Pottery Ume white bowl from Cerani Studio.” Finally, we recommend adding pops of colour in the form of intricate glassware from London-based specialist, LSA International. You can’t go wrong with the vibrant Folk glass in red, orange and yellow hues – it’s sunshine in a glass.
Add final flourishes
“I love real flowers so they’re a must,” explains Erlam, “but I would keep them short so they don’t block your view. Maybe pick something freshly cut from the garden or a single type of flower; recently I’ve been using peonies but you can use whatever is in season.” Erlam tends to keep the vases clear or simple so as not to distract from the flowers (such as the Klimchi Hobnail vase) but some occasions call for a bolder approach – Daylesford’s Wildflower footed vase is a fantastic starting point. Add subtle flair with Caravane’s ‘table jewellery’ in the form of the Yuri napkin rings and Pink City Prints’ chic and feminine cocktail napkins for those all-important sundowners.
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