We’ve joined queen of hosting, Sophie Conran, at home as she sets her table for a beautiful spring lunch. Full of colour and special touches, follow Sophie’s tips for creating a warm and inviting setting to entertain friends this spring.
Lay your foundations
The choice of linens as your base will dictate the mood and provide a backdrop for all the delightful details to come. For a fresh and airy spring feel, Sophie starts with a crisp white tablecloth. Its clean simplicity offers a sense of purity and light, instantly brightening your dining space and allowing other elements to truly pop.
Layered on top of the clean base, Sophie layers the Lavandula Runner, featuring a delicate all-over lavender print – the perfect pairing for a spring table, showcasing soft purple hues and gentle green foliage that evokes the blossoming beauty of the season. The subtle botanical design adds a touch of natural elegance without overwhelming the senses.
Style the centrepiece
Once your foundation is set, it’s time to bring the heart of the spring tablescape to life with the centrepiece. Embracing the season’s vibrant energy and the simple beauty of nature, Sophie creates a focal point that is both charming and effortlessly elegant with freshly picked blooms from her garden.
To recreate a similar setting, create small bouquets in varying heights and fullness in glass vases and position them along the centre of your Lavandula runner. Sophie suggests alternating the heights of the vases to create a gentle rhythm down the length of the table. As well as adding visual interest, this technique also allows your guests to see each other easily across the table.
Sophie then intersperses tall, slender candlesticks in a medley of colourful shades amongst the floral display. To match the flowers, Sophie chooses glass candlestick holders – the use of glass further enhances the sense of lightness and ensures they don't dominate the setting. The interplay of the colourful, naturally arranged flowers and the elegant candlesticks creates a centrepiece that is both visually appealing and subtly fragrant.
Napkin Fold
Adding a thoughtfully folded napkin to each of your guest’s place setting is a subtle yet impactful way to elevate your spring tablescape. It speaks volumes about attention to detail and demonstrates care for your guests, transforming an ordinary setting into something a little more special.
For Sophie’s spring table, she’s opted for an elegant fold with the Lavandula Napkins, that match the centrepiece runner and offers a touch of sophistication without being overly complicated, creating a refined and welcoming feel for each guest. Here’s how to recreate it:
1. Begin with a clean, pressed napkin - a linen or cotton napkin, such as the Lavandula ones, will hold its shape beautifully.
2. Fold the napkin in half, creating a rectangle. Press lightly to create a crisp crease. Then, fold it in half again, creating a square. Press again.
3. Turn the napkin so that one of the corners is closest to you, in a diamond-like shape. Bring the top point about two-thirds of the way down and press the fold.
4. Fold the left and right sides inwards, overlapping them slightly in the middle. Flip the folded napkin over and smooth, ready for placing on your setting.
Place Settings
Once you have your napkins ready, the next step is to set each place setting. Sophie has opted for a layered setting, which not only looks elegant but also helps to maximise space on the table, which is especially useful when hosting larger groups. Sophie continues her spring theme using the Lavandula dinner plates and side plates.
To recreate the look, begin by placing the Lavandula dinner plate at the centre of each setting. Then, layer a side plate on top of the dinner plate, finishing with the beautifully folded napkin on top.Arrange your cutlery to the sides of the plates. For a starter and a main course, you will need two forks and two knives. Place the forks to the left of the plates, with the smaller starter fork on the outside, and the larger main course fork on the inside. To the right of the plates, place the knives in the same way, with the blade facing the plate.
Finish the place setting with eye-catching glassware. Sophie chooses fun green striped tumblers for water and clear, delicately etched wine glasses. Place the tumbler above the knives and the wine glass to the right of the tumbler. The contrast between the playful stripes and the elegant etchings adds a touch of personality to each setting.
Finishing Touches
The final step is to add the finishing flourishes to bring your spring tablescape to life and ensure your guests have everything they need, with a few delightful extras to spark conversation.
Sophie begins by adding a set of salt and pepper pots centrally to the setting. Choose elegant shakers and pots to complement your overall aesthetic. Sophie opts for antique silver vessels and suggests placing them within easy reach for guests to use.
For an unexpected touch of colour and charm, Sophie adds ceramic parrot ornaments along the centrepiece. The vibrant colours provide a delightful contrast to the softer pastel tones of the flowers and candlesticks, adding a playful and tropical feel that hints at the vibrancy of the season. With this, Sophie adds a vibrant blue bobble glass jug, filled with water.
This not only serves as a practical purpose, but with its unique texture and colourway, also acts as a beautiful focal point, loved by Sophie as it catches and reflects the light.Finally, place a few small bowls strategically around the table. These are perfect for offering condiments like olive oil, mayonnaise, or balsamic vinegar. These finishing touches, from the essential seasonings to the charming ornaments, add layers of practicality, personality, and visual interest to your spring tablescape. The little details that will make your guests feel truly cared for and create a memorable dining experience.
Watch Sophie style her spring-inspired tablescape over on Instagram and if you recreate this setting at home, don’t forget to tag us.
