Our take on how to create the best-dressed table, be it formal dinner, Mother’s Day lunch or breakfast in bed.

#1 dinner party tip: omit dreadful people and Handbook for the Recently Deceased

Sit down to a well-set scene

Even if you’re not much of a cook, there are plenty of impressive things you can put on the table if you’re hosting a Mother’s Day meal at yours this year. And it doesn’t just apply to May 10th – you can run with any of these ideas for occasions ranging from a surprise breakfast in bed for a significant someone to a formal dinner party with friends. Or enemies (just remember not to drink the wine).

BREAKFAST IN BED

Aim for: wobble-proof, balanced, wake-up brights and a fresh feel.

Being brought breakfast is such a special treat made more indulgent by the sheer *laziness* of it all. The idea of being waited on mostly outweighs mild phobias about getting crumbs in the bed – but it does pose specific… stability challenges to bringer and diner alike.

These ideas will help you put together a breakfast tray that says ‘lovely start to the morning’ instead of ‘sorry there’s tea in your eggs’.

BLOG_setting the table — Forget ‘harp’. We’d like to set our alarm to ‘breakfast in bed’.

Floral tea set, $44
Magnetic egg cups and spoon, $74.50 for two
Rattan tray, $115
Lovely mug, $36
Ceramic tapas bowls, $39.95 for two
Unbreakable flutes, $39.80 for four
Set of three small vases, $65
Organic napkins, $24 for two

CASUAL LUNCH

Aim for: sharing platters, finger food, self-service and relaxed laughter.

Unless you’re seriously type A and enjoy the rush of achievement, this is probably the easiest and most enjoyable affair. Gathering a group of people around a table and letting them loose on overflowing bowls, platters and bread baskets creates an atmosphere of sharing and generosity that’s very easy to be laid-back in.

The key to this table is accessibility – encouraging people to pass things around, reach over to slice themselves one more bit of brie, and even get up and move places as the conversation extends long past lunchtime. Big centerpieces and tall candlesticks are going to feel too stuffy and just get in the way – or worse, lead to case after case of flaming sleeves. So best avoided…

BLOG_setting the table2 — Grab a bowl and get stuck in.

FORMAL DINNER

Aim for: sheer class, quality, monochrome and/or metallics with a show-stopping centrepiece.

To sum it up: be restrained but go all-out (bear with us – all will become clear). Black and white, shot-through with silvers, bronzes or golds if you fancy some extra razzamatazz says ‘special occasion’ all over. There’s nothing too loud or overdone: simple and elegant is what you want to go for here.

The all-out part is about quality: gorgeous glassware; weighty, crisp fabrics; and natural but beautiful materials (cottons, ceramics and wood). In short, a setting full of things that look classic and feel expensive (but preferably don’t actually have to be).

And the pièce de résistance? A whopping wow-factor candle or flower (or both) arrangement in the centre of the table that says serious dinner party – and ‘this was definitely worth putting on a tie for’.