Dress down for dinner Relaxed table settings for informal dining - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Interiors Dress down for dinner Relaxed table settings for informal dining By You Magazine - November 3, 2019 Forget starched linen and clunky silverware – entertaining just got much more relaxed. Here’s how to set the scene. Pick a pattern Habitat Here, plates and bowls in an abstract design and muted palette are standout without being stuffy. ‘Instagram has fuelled the demand for unusual tableware, featuring interesting glaze techniques, colour and pattern,’ says Kate Butler, head of design at Habitat. ‘The shapes here are inspired by paper-cut collage and give a clean, contemporary look.’ Pair bold ceramics with matt black cutlery and use raw materials, such as a simple oak dining table, to provide visual contrast. Dinnerware, £60 for a 12-piece set, cutlery, £95 for a 16-piece set, all habitat.co.uk Keep it simple and stylish Swoon ‘Creating a setting that combines beauty and practicality is important,’ says Alex Hely-Hutchinson, founder of Neal’s Yard restaurant 26 Grains. ‘I love aged wood surfaces and handmade earthenware crockery, which complement a simple but considered style of food.’ Dining table, £529, pendant lamp, £47, dinnerware, £119 for a 12-piece set, all swooneditions.com Add a touch of gold Swoon Using metal and stoneware against a warm wood backdrop creates a relaxed feel, while the gold cutlery adds a sense of occasion to dinner parties. The key here is to layer – use stacks of ceramics paired with linen napkins. Dinnerware, £119 for a 12-piece set, swooneditions.com. For similar cutlery, try anthropologie.com or zarahome.com Go full circle CAMERA PRESS/Bauer Media Group/Eve Wilson A statement table and chairs will anchor your space. The circular shape creates an informal feel and works well in small spaces. For a laid-back vibe that shows off the beauty of natural materials and craftsmanship, opt for honed wood paired with chairs that have a classic design. Mismatched colours loosen up the look. Visit conranshop.co.uk for similar chairs. And relax John Lewis & Partners ‘Stylishly casual restaurant dining is influencing the way that we decorate our homes,’ says Philippa Prinsloo, head of design for home at John Lewis. ‘For a pared-back look, ditch the tablecloth and mix and match your dinnerware. Add a large rug underneath the dining table to help zone an open-plan space.’ Dining table, £799, bench, £220, round rug, £100, all johnlewis.com Table talk Nail informal dining with playful prints and a shot of colour Coasters, £16.50 for four, oliverbonas.com Pendant light, £149, abigailahern.com Glasses, £16 for two, oliverbonas.com Jug, £10, anthropologie.com Salad bowl, £25, johnlewis.com Plate, £39, rockettstgeorge.co.uk Platter, £48, anthropologie.com Eight-seater dining table and benches, £399, johnlewis.com Napkins, £49.99 for four, lovedhala.com Cutlery, £79 for a 16-piece set, made.com Cake plates, £25 for two, made.com Chopping board, £30, habitat.co.uk Oak chair, £630, dykeanddean.com Report: Emma J Page RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Aldi s pumpkin-shaped casserole dish is all we want for Halloween 7 of the best money-saving kitchen gadgets to invest in this winter Aldi has restocked miniature velvet chairs and sofas for your dog DON' T MISS Fiona Bruce Sometimes I struggle not to cry November 14, 2021 17 beautiful 2021 diaries to help you to look forward to December 4, 2020 Why women leave men for women What’ s fuelling the rise of April 28, 2019 Hollywood veteran Laura Linney on plastic surgery friendship and her stellar July 3, 2017 You can shop the khaki jumpsuit from Holly Willoughby’ s new M& S July 17, 2019 The secrets and lies behind this happy family photo April 11, 2021 It’ s cocktail hour Olly Smith’ s cocktail recipes and Eleanor Maidment s canapé November 14, 2021 BBC One has revealed its Christmas TV schedule and there’ s lots December 2, 2020 YOU Beauty Box August Reviews August 1, 2017 Rome has been named the cheapest major city to visit in August 7, 2019 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved