How to ace your next dinner party with these 4 brands

Start with an inspirational theme

Every good table setting starts with a clever theme and tone, but don’t mistake that for taking things over the top. A crisp, clean tablecloth works just fine for formal settings, while durable, well-made linens and napkins should be your go-to for casual dinners. Go for Habitat’s Gala table cloths (B820), with a warm ecru colors, and its Roxie napkins (B330), in dusty peach tones with multi-colored embroidery, will set the tone nicely without taking over the table.

A crisp, clean tablecloth works just fine for formal settings, while durable, well-made linens and napkins should be your go-to for casual dinners.

Choose a centerpiece that fits the theme

Just like the theme and tone, your centerpiece shouldn’t be overstated, but this is a good time to add contrast. If your main inspiration is neutral-colored linens, this is a good time to add more colorful floral arrangements. With its modern sculptural forms and minimal design, the ceramic Iwi vase from Habitat (B3,800) is perfect for showcasing bold, colorful flower selections, plus you can get creative by playing around with scale and forms with other interesting graphic vases. To add an eye-catching contrast, set the Iwi vase next to Ink (B2,900)—a transparent glass vase in the same dark palette, or for a more standout piece, the red, earthenware Iza (B1,600) is also a great choice.

The ceramic Iwi vase from Habitat (B3,800) is perfect for showcasing bold, colorful flower selections.

Layer dishes to add some personality

Show some panache by layering different sizes of plates with different colors and patterns. Start with a large charger plate like the Image (B1,400) from Habitat—a flat porcelain plate with gold halo trim— then on top, layer a nice, classic white dinner plate like the Bistro (B410) to help accent the other decor on the table. For a final statement piece, place a dessert plate like the blue stoneware Keiko (B500) on top of the whole assortment for some contrast.

Layering different sizes of plates with different colors and patterns brings personality to the table.

Different glasses for each drink

This is where the attention to detail shines through. To keep things simple, have at least a water glass, wine glasses (red and white) and Champagne flutes ready. A combination of elegant and classic glasses can do no wrong for special occasions, like Habitat’s Bistrot (B360) for wine and Vienna (B1,990) for wine and Champagne.

A combination of elegant and classic glasses can do no wrong for special occasions.

Help set the tone with a beautiful fragrance

Adding a subtle, elegant fragrance helps to add that last little bit of polish. For more intimate settings, fire up Organika’s Secret Rose Garden aromatic diffuser (B1,350) to create a luxurious and warm atmosphere.

Extra little details to take things further

Not for every occasion, but adding candle light can do wonders to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The Home Candles from Jo Malone (B2,900) not only come in 19 fragrances, but they also make a fabulous decorative piece on their own.

The addition of candles, such as Jo Malone's Home Candles (B2,900), makes for a cozy atmosphere or decorative piece.

Music goes a long way

Possibly the most overlooked piece to the dinner party puzzle. A well crafted, listenable playlist in the background can nudge the tone of your evening in any direction you want. You need good speakers for the job. Our pick is the SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth speaker from Bose (B9,900), which is designed to maintain uniform sound quality no matter where it is placed in a room. It’s pint-sized body also makes it perfect for dinner settings.

A well crafted playlist emanating from a quality speaker, like the SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth speaker from Bose (B9,900), sets the tone for the evening.

“Every good table setting starts with a clever theme and tone, but don’t take things over the top.”