We’re in Eid Al Adha party mode and as we get ready to open our doors to share festive meals, it’s natural we want to dazzle our guests with a table setting that’s as memorable as the menu. Whether your celebrations involve a family brunch, a buffet lunch or a formal dinner, the key to any holiday table is buying the right accents and statement pieces. To help make your tablescape extra special this year and in the future, the experts at Urban Nest, the UAE concept store that offers a unique selection in industrial and minimalistic home living, have shared some easy and useful styling tips.
Here are the 10 pro pointers, which are surefire ways to impress your guests and give them an opportunity to see your creative skills while tasting your culinary ones!
There are several atmospheric elements that should never be missing from a holiday table. These include a tablecloth or placemats, napkins, candlesticks and a vase with flowers. Dried flowers can really brighten up your table as they often feature lots of colours, which provide a cheerful touch. One top tip is to buy some extra dried flowers so you can use the small branches. These branches, in combination with a beautiful napkin, will bring a real restaurant feeling into your home.
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Let the cuisine determine the theme.
For a special occasion setting, draw inspiration from the cuisine to identify the main elements, colour palette and accessories you should use to style your table. Gold is obviously a top pick and the sparkly colour can be well combined with hues like navy blue or something muted for the ultimate chic feeling.
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Think eco décor.
It’s not hard to create beautifully styled table settings using a combination of upscaled, recycled and natural materials. You can’t go wrong when opting for décor using fruits, herbs, cinnamon branches or (dried) flowers from your garden. You can also repurpose your glass pots and bottles to create vases or candle holders.
Plus, you can go even further by choosing natural sustainable fabrics like linen for your base tablecloth and upcycling old curtains and bedsheets for napkins. And don’t worry about the wrinkles in linen, they only make things more authentic.
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Play it up with ceramics.
Natural handmade ceramics last a lifetime so invest in some if you don’t already have any, otherwise just dust off the ones you already have at home. By mixing and matching your sets, you can really create an eclectic setting. For example, a large basic dining plate can also double up as a base plate.
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The right touches of light do wonders.
Use simple DIY tricks to transform basic white candles into beautiful showpieces to enhance the ambience, but you should remember not to overdo your lighting set up. It’s all about creating a cosy environment with enough light to be able to see the food and your guests.
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Display pieces in different heights.
A simple way to create an impressive table is to play with layers using pieces you already have. You can simply turn a bowl upside down, place a plate on top and voila!
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Involve the senses.
One great way to get your guests’ senses stimulated is to dry some fruit and flowers so you can create your very own potpourri.
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Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Make it a mission to find creative ways of assembling and repurposing your kitchen ware and maybe even old clothes. Plates can be used on top of bowls, fruit bowls can magically become candle holders and carafes make for fabulous vases. Other ideas include converting storage jars into cutlery holders and denims into napkins!
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Treat them to a customised touch.
One way to grab your guests’ attention is to create an individual set up for them, whether that includes customising the napkin folding or the cutlery position.
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Add a name to the mix.
Make your guests feel special by creating takeaway elements with their names handwritten on them. The menu or even place holders can be made of natural materials like stone, leaves and fruit.