DRESS UP YOUR TABLE

Your closet isn’t the only part of your home that should get a style boost this summer—your entertaining table can, too! Here are some items our resident entertaining expert is loving to incorporate into your party-at-home scene.

BY STEPHANIE NASS

No occasion is too small to celebrate! The dining table holds immense importance as it enhances the overall ambiance and sets the tone for a memorable dining experience. The table is the first impression guests have of the meal, and its decoration has an enduring impact throughout the evening. It can create a welcoming atmosphere, making guests feel special and appreciated. It can stimulate appetite, as well as conversation. Moreover, the table allows the host to showcase his or her style or mood. Finally, people always want to linger in beauty, and a decorated table will encourage guests to stay longer. So when you host guests, show your excitement through a beautifully dressed table. Here are some ways to zhush it up!

Tablecloth

Instantly elevates a casual table and lays the foundation for a more dramatic one.

CHEFANIE

Psychedelic Spring Tablecloth, $230

chefanie.com

https://chefanie.com/products/psychedelic-easter-tablecloth

Place Mats and Chargers

Add height and therefore complexity. There are a variety of different materials from linen to rattan; each one suggests a different level of formality but also adds an unusual element of décor.

Napkins

Cotton, linen, or any cloth napkins are superior to paper napkins when hosting a seated affair.

This is often the first piece of tableware that guests engage with when they sit at the table, so it should be visually and tactilely pleasing.

CHEFANIE
Purple Fringe Dinner Napkins (set of 4), $96

chefanie.com

https://chefanie.com/products/purple-fringe-dinner-napkins

Treats

As décor and as an amuse bouche, incorporate candy into your table, but nothing that will melt in the hot sun. Put each guest’s name in a box of Bobby Pop Candy!

BOBBY POP

Custom box, from $75

shopbobbypop.com

https://www.shopbobbypop.com/

You can also put Dylan’s Candy Bar statement candy in little bowls. These add textural diversity but also serve as conversation starters.

DYLAN’S CANDY BAR

Strawberry Gummy Piglets, $9

Gummy Ice Cream Cones, $9

dylanscandybar.com

https://www.dylanscandybar.com/collections/gummy-bulk/products/copy-of-gummy-pigs-bulk-bag

https://www.dylanscandybar.com/collections/gummy-bulk/products/ice-cream-cones-1-2-ppk-bulk

Flowers

Take advantage of summer flowers by shopping roadside farm stands and popping them into bud vases. If you need help, Sag Harbor Florist creates floral magic.

Candles