Christmas is upon us, and party hosts are leaving no ‘tables’ unturned. Attention from trees, which have been the focal point of Yule, has been diverted to elaborate table décor in 2022. With entertaining at its peak, folks are merry-making throwing lavish get togethers in their homes. It will be no exaggeration to say Christmas is the Diwali of December in India.
Flowers, candles, crockery coming together breathtakingly for a sensory dining experience. The decor is a visual treat, while the cuisine is an epicurean one. Visual aesthete Lalima Chhabra (@figmentbylalima) who recently conducted a table setting workshop for @sundaydesignnow (a global brand designed in Italy, made in India that brings attainable luxury in furniture and home décor), suggests anthuriums, hypericum berries, and celosia are perfect for table trends this season. She loves experimenting with maroons and greens (photograph inset; courtesy Sunday Design, Experience Center,) and is a big advocate of using upcycled trinkets as objet d’art. Lalima loves to create drama with a monochromatic colour palette and candles. Some X-must haves, according to her, are the ribbed glass tree accents from @peacocklifebyshabnamgupta that give your space an edge over others. She recommends the use of name tags ( quirky napkin styling using everyday objects like a cinnamon stick or candy cane ) or a personalised trinket to make the sit-down feast more welcoming. Her portfolio of ad film sets, stores, and floral styling can be marvelled on Instagram at @figmentbylalima.
Ruchika Goswamy, co-founder @turninaround_2019 feels there should be symmetry in dining table settings. Flowers and candles, according to her, should take precedence. She holds them key in decking her table. She also feels layering adds depth to a table – stacking of placemats, dinner plates, salad plates, and a napkin (bottom to top in that order). You can refer to dinner etiquette online for accurate placement of cutlery and drinkware. Ruchika suggests tucking in fresh flowers or twigs in the napkin holder adds to the charm quotient while simultaneously creating a speck of drama.
Gauri Subramaniam, a lawyer with a penchant for table decor, likes to fuse a personal touch to her table setting. Going by her Instagram handle, @gsstylestories, she pays great attention to detail and feels the warmth a well-set table can bring, which takes the party a few notches higher. She feels the more diversity of flowers and greens one has, the more appealing the table looks. We all know the benefits of bringing the outdoors in, so a sprinkle of nature has been implemented in her Christmas decorations too. To nail this trend, she likes to go big on foliage and decorate with wildlife-inspired baubles and ornaments that she has used at her kids’ birthday parties. Gauri likes to borrow and reuse to prevent unnecessary wastage. She loves the modern barn aesthetic. She prides her style on her use of vivid colour and accents. Burlap runners and napkins are her favourites for table linens, as they are versatile and fit into myriad themes. We have elucidated some themes in table settings; this holiday season, make your dining table your canvas. It is d’riguer of hosting. While you reflect on the year gone by and prepare to embrace 2023, curl up and savour the last few days with the customary hot chocolate for ‘tis the season.