How to style our Botanic Garden Range according to Instagram influencers

How to style our Botanic Garden Range according to Instagram influencers

To celebrate 50 years of our iconic Botanic Garden range, we’ve teamed up with five interior influencers, who’ve created five unique tablescape designs using our beautiful garden-inspired collection. They share their top tips on how to recreate the looks at home and what they love about Botanic Garden…

1.   Enjoy a cosy cottage brunch with Hannah

Hannah (@hannahfgale ) is a digital content creator who specialises in women's lifestyle, fashion and home. She lives in West Sussex with her two small children and cats.

From picking out prints to forecasting the future, there’s a bunch of things Hannah has enjoyed while spending time tablescaping. She explains:

“I love clashing prints and bright colours, so it made sense to display them across a statement tablecloth and then add in things like twisted candles, napkins and flowers, alongside some of my own thrifted crockery.

My favourite thing about the Botanic Garden range is that despite the fact it’s beautifully intricate and ornate, it also feels timeless in a vintage way. I know I’ll be using the pieces for years to come, and they can be easily paired with unique pieces from charity shops and antique fairs too.”

When Hannah unveiled her dreamy design on her Instagram page, it’s no surprise it quickly reeled in her audience. She states:

“So many of my followers reached out to tell me how nostalgic the set was for them as their grandparents had owned it, and it had brought up fond memories of childhood - I love that something as simple as crockery can evoke those warm feelings.”

Our two cents on creating a cottage-inspired tablescape

You want a tablescape full of character and depth. The best way to achieve this is by clashing textures, prints and colours as much as possible. Start with a strong base in the form of a patterned tablecloth.

Then, don’t be afraid to go bold with the rest of your table. Go for quirky-shaped candles and placemats that highly contrast the tableware atop them. For an additional layer of excitement, add a colourful serving plate that complements the botanic-themed tableware.

 

2.   Tap into tradition with Rebecca’s English country garden

Rebecca (@myenglishcountrycottage) is a country lifestyle content creator. She writes about country life in her 400-year-old thatched cottage on Instagram and her own website covering country homes, interiors styling, gardening, recipes, fashion and book reviews.

With Rebecca noticing sweet similarities between our Botanic Garden range and her countryside cottage, designing a tablescape that combined the two was second nature to her. She remarks:

“I live in an English country cottage surrounded by fields and farmland, so when I learned that the Botanic Garden range was designed to make a table look like an English country garden, I knew that I simply wanted to create the perfect floral English country garden luncheon party.

“I love the history, the heritage and the designs themselves. They are simply perfect. Each piece looks incredibly beautiful but also feels wonderful to touch.”

Image credit: Rebecca Lovatt via @myenglishcountrycottage

Good things come in threes, which explains why Rebecca’s talented tablescape and our creative collection are loved by all, rela-table to many and new to a few. She continues:

“So many people said that they have been collecting this design for years - interestingly, lots of American followers mentioned that they have large collections of the patterns. It was also wonderful to read all the excitement from people’s reactions who weren’t familiar with the Botanic range - it really is a showstopper if you adore florals and simple heritage pieces.”

Get English country garden ready with these top tips

Whether you want to incorporate this look indoors or outdoors, start by filling up your surroundings with pretty plants and fresh flowers.

When it comes to the tablecloth, think about soft, sumptuous patterns that are easy on the eye and are comfort personified - like a lovely lace detail.

You want the table to be bright and colourful, so don’t be afraid to use different coloured glassware and candles. Flowers naturally bring personality, colour and garden vibes, especially when you add varying heights to your table - with the biggest one forming the centrepiece.

Top off with plush, cosy cushions that warmly welcome your guests as they take their seats.

Image credit: Rebecca Lovatt via @myenglishcountrycottage

3. It's all about attention to detail with Aimee

Aimee (@twiggstudios) is a recipe developer and content creator. From garnishing fancy food to creating a stunning tablescape, there’s no shortage of visually appealing content on her Instagram, and the Botanic Garden range is the highlight of her page. She says:

“My tablescape took inspiration from the Botanic Garden range, so I used colourful florals and flower-themed food to serve.

I love the beautiful vintage-style florals that are inspired by old drawings. I love that there are lots of different flower designs, so you can mix them all.”

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Celebrating 50 years of Portmeirion Botanic Garden Aimee Twigger

Video credit: Aimee Twigger via @twiggstudios

It’s no wonder Aimee’s audience has been quick to give her her flowers for this cool creation. She notes:

“My audience loved it. A few people reached out to say I had inspired them to purchase something/put it on their wedding gift registry. One person shared on their Instagram stories that they got the cake stand and server after seeing my post.”

Recreate this Insta-worthy look with solid suggestions

Your goal is cohesion and simplicity, which can often be the most effective. You want to start with an unadorned tablecloth that naturally blends in with the base of the tableware and drinkware.

Our Botanic Garden range items contain gorgeous flower designs, which you can easily complement by arranging similar flowers on the table and garnishing your food with floral decorations in the same tones. This creates a soothing sensation for your guests.

Nothing adds more interest than height, so be sure to add a 2 tier plate stand into the mix. Ensure that one of your flowers closely matches its height, as this appealing aesthetic will instil a sense of appreciation among your guests.

Image credit: Aimee Twigger via @twiggstudios

4.   Put together a picnic-chic vibe with Pandora

Pandora (@pandora.maxton) describes herself as eclectic, country & maximalist. With a passion for home, food, plants & garden, she is the BBC’s ‘Best House in Town’ winner. She has previously been featured in Apartment Therapy and Metro.

She knows a thing or two about feeding her followers fulfilling content, and her elegant tablescape is no exception. She states:

“I wanted to base my tablescape on a summer garden, alfresco dining and the botanical vibe. Perfect for the Portmeirion collection.”

It is so pretty and evokes childhood memories. I love bringing this traditional collection to a new audience.”

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Celebrating 50 years of Portmeirion Botanic Garden by Pandora Maxton

Video credit: Pandora Maxton via @pandora.maxton

It has proved to be a pleasant sight for her audience while also nodding to nostalgia for them. Pandora recalls:

“Lots of my audience felt nostalgia about seeing the collection.”

Helpful hints on planning your picturesque picnic-chic tablescape

Your table should have the perfect balance of mellow, muted tones and bright, bold colours. Set the tone with a plain, white tablecloth. Then, incorporate colours that complement each other as they’re only slightly different in tone - red gingham napkins, dark pink flowers and rose wine in cups create an appealing aura that comes with such harmony.

You also want different textures for a dramatic yet intriguing feel - think about the experience of viewing and touching a twine-wrapped vase one minute and a Diablo glass the next.

Image credit: Pandora Maxton via @pandora.maxton

5. Bring the outdoors in with Amanda

Amanda (@holly_lodge_home) is a Content Creator with a passion for interiors, up-cycling and DIY projects, tablescapes, lifestyle, fashion, flowers and travel.

The opportunity to design a tablescape with the Botanic Garden range allowed Amanda to tap into an archive of knowledge and ideas that she simply couldn’t leave on read.

“The style of my tablescape was a classical summer dining theme ‘bringing the outdoors in.’ I took inspiration for my tablescape from the beautiful botanical designs and styled up my table with fresh blooms from our garden to complete the look, including sweet peas and lavender.

I really like the timeless design of the Botanic Garden range and how hard-wearing it is, being dishwasher and oven proof too.”

Image credit: Amanda Barker via @holly_lodge_home

Amanda effortlessly executes content that goes down a treat with her audience, and they couldn’t help but engage with her neat, nature-inspired look. She claims:

“My followers really enjoyed seeing the tablescape I created, and I received lots of wonderful comments; many of them are huge fans or collectors of the Botanic Garden range too.”

Portmeirion’s advice on arranging an outdoor-themed tablescape

When incorporating the outside inside, ensure that it’s just as soothing as a quiet garden. Pay attention to the colours of the flowers on the tableware and napkins, then find actual flowers that match - such as sweet peas and lavender.

Also, opt for a peaceful tablescape using the rule of three - set the placemat as the foundation, followed by the dinner plate and soup bowl on top - such effective coordination!

Lastly, layering the different elements of your table creates a balancing act that keeps your guests intrigued. Implement this with different sized jugs, cups and vases throughout the table, and then finish with some tall candles at the end of the table that will complete the scene.

Feeling influenced and ready to take on tablescaping with our traditional theme? Browse our Botanic Garden range today.