This is the 'Old-Fashioned' Detail You're Forgetting on Your Table — "They Add a Layer of Height and Texture," Says a Stylist

Table setting with two stacked plates with foliage on it, a placemat, a knife resting on a cutlery rest, and another bread knife beside it.

Cutlery rests. Tiny? Yes. Old-fashioned? Debateable. Unnecessary? Absolutely not. In fact, they're the dainty detail that can bring any table setting from good to great. They accentuate your flawless choice of flatware, and they protect your lovely linens. So why do so many of us forget them when setting the table?

To find out, I asked London-based table stylist Samantha Picard, founder of @tablescapeluvr. "I absolutely love cutlery rests," she told me. "Cutlery is so often an afterthought, but I’ve noticed a huge surge in interest in beautiful flatware, which naturally goes hand in hand with the rise of vintage linens. With more delicate tablecloths making a comeback, cutlery rests are not only practical — helping to avoid direct contact between utensils and fabric — but they also add an extra layer of detail, height, and texture to the tablescape."