Tablescaping is a fine art. From dishes and silverware to candles and linens, the color and material coordination and centerpiece curation can make or break a table.
That's why we are so glad we stumbled upon a clip on the Martha Moments Instagram page, wherein Martha Stewart breaks down how she likes to set her table for a large gathering (as well as her essential accessories).
Stewart's tablescape features a variety of plates, ranging from antique china to copper, along with fruit arrangements, a linen table runner, and mixed silverware. In the clip, she helpfully breaks down her design choices.
Shop Martha Stewart's tablescape essentials
Washed rustic linen napkins are perfect for adding a bit of texture while keeping with the theme of the tablescape.
This collection features a finely detailed 18th-century Imari Oriental border encompassing a scene inspired by the Italian countryside.
These elegant wine glasses are seasonally appropriate in their beautiful, green hue, but can easily be used all year round. We love the elongated stem and sturdy base.
'There are so many things you can do to enhance your holiday table,' Stewart states in the video. 'A pewter pedestal with just a greenish-yellow pomelo on it is so pretty. It's so simple, and it really does go with the rest of the idea of the table....it looks very nice for a rustic table like this.' We would have to agree – we love how the antique look of the pewter contrasts the brightness of the fruit.
When it comes to the tablecloth, Stewart has opted for a tried and true material. 'This is an iridescent linen, and the more you wash it, the nicer it becomes,' she explains. 'With a beige runner in the center, and we have quinces from my quince trees.'
The plates, however, are definitely the stars of the show: 'These plates come from a local antique dealer. They are transferware and they have a wonderful waterfall on them. It's called cascade by JH Davis. It's clearly marked as most transferware is, and this was made in the 19th century and the design was actually transferred or pressed onto pieces of pearlware, creamware, and other soft pottery. You can see on the wall over the mantelpiece our display of brown transferware platters and even some tiles.' The coordination between the plates on the table and the dishes hanging above the mantel is visually pleasing and gives the space a uniform appearance. She layers the cascade plates with copper and gold-rimmed ones for a textural mix, which leads into another element of the table. It's a masterclass in decorating with antiques in a way that will impress all who dine at your table.
'The silverware is kind of a mix and match,' she says. 'We have lots of different patterns going on here, but it looks great. The lotus fold napkin looks very nice underneath our transferware soup bowl.'
She has also mixed and matched wine glasses for a tasteful look. '[These are] Venetian glass in a drabby green and gold banded glasses... they are fine, and they are thin, and they are just so nice to hold in one's hand.'
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