As the new year begins, many of us feel the urge to refresh our homes and surroundings. One of the easiest ways to bring a sense of renewal is through your dining space. Updating your tableware can instantly lift the mood of any meal and set the tone for gatherings with family and friends for the year ahead.
This season, table decor trends are leaning towards simplicity and natural textures. Stoneware plates, everyday glassware, neutral placemats and linens, and understated serving bowls create a calm and inviting setting. Choosing pieces that are both functional and beautiful allows you to enjoy meals without the fuss while still making a stylish statement.
Refreshing your table does not have to mean a complete overhaul. Even small changes like adding new linens or switching to timeless stoneware can feel transformative. A thoughtful tableware reset is a simple and elegant way to start the year with a sense of order, style, and warmth.
In a bid to buy less often but buy more meaningfully, it's worth keeping your eyes peeled for tableware with perennial appeal. Those pieces that are equally as appropriate on a balmy summer's evening as they are on a wintry snow day. The key lies in investing in good quality materials that are built to last, rather than sticking to budget finds that barely last a season, and for aesthetic sustainability, try to pick those items that will bridge the seasons.
Here are my top picks for refreshing your dining table this year.
These are the beautifully sturdy drinking glasses used in the Soho House restaurants, they're pleasingly chunky and made from recycled glass. They have a rustic shape and feel that's perfect for relaxed entertaining and look wonderful paired with natural linens and jute.
I invested in a set of eight of these and can honestly say they were one of the best investments for my dining setup. They work beautifully on all kinds of tables, at Easter, in the height of summer, and even on a green and white Christmas table.
If you don't already own a set of lovely simple cotton napkins, its time to do so. These are simple, elegant and classic, in a pale dove grey hue that works with many different looks.
These pretty placemats are handwoven from Abaca (a particularly soft, lustrous and strong natural fibre). Their scalloped edges make them pretty enough to make a statement, but they don't shout for attention. They're worth investing in, and they are a little pricier than others on the market, but they will stand the test of time.
Hand-carved from teak wood, this oh-so-pretty set of three serving dishes comes as a nest with each providing decorative interest and a practical vessel for serving nibbles. Beeswax is hand-applied for a natural, protected finish.
Napkin rings can often make a relaxed dining experience feel overly formal. Still, though, if you want napkin rings that feel relaxed and rustic, stick to rattan ones, like these from Pottery Barn, which are handwoven from entirely natural rattan in Indonesia.
A simple linen tablecloth is all you need for an effortlessly stylish and chic table. This one is made from just linen and cotton, and comes in three beautiful colours. It works as a failsafe backdrop for any tablescape mood you wish to create.
Simple, classic, never going to go out of style. This serving dish is made from high-quality Portuguese clay and looks stunning filled with a green salad on a sizzling summer's day and equally tasteful filled with spuds on a gloomy winter's evening. The perfect piece to invest in for inter-seasonal feasting.
It can be easy to forget about cutlery, but its the first thing I notice when I sit at a table to eat. The weight of the cutlery is important, and these are pleasingly weighty. This is a 28 piece set, and once you buy it once, you won't need another set in your lifetime. Works beautifully all year round, come rain or shine.
All of these picks work in a modern rustic style, one that is not entirely trend-led but decidedly contemporary. Think about integrating natural materials, neutral colour palettes, a mix of textures, and always plenty of seasonal foliage from the garden, whatever the weather.
