tips for creating a modern winter tablescape

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I absolutely love this time of year, dark cosy nights and the anticipation of Christmas just around the corner, yep, it gets me every time! One of my favourite things to do is set the table, whether for a casual brunch or a more formal dinner, food is always the best way to bring people together.  

Generally, I always tend to put together a simple and minimal table arrangement, in recent years I've found myself drawn to a moodier romantic vibe that I think sits well with the autumn-winter nights. I've teamed up with Sainsbury's Home for this how-to post as their kanso living range was the inspiration for this winter-themed setting.

Pick a theme and colour palette.

The key to setting any table is to have a vision of the finished table before you start. Are you going for a contemporary table or something more rustic and earthy? Will it be colourful or monochrome? 

I wanted a serene and classic table with a muted palette of grey with touches of black and white for contrast. I'm using the Sainsbury's Home Kanso dining collection which is full of simple details from expressive textile patterns to delicate rippled tumblers.

Kanso takes its name from the Japanese word for simplicity which goes hand in hand with the vision I had for a paired back winter table. I wanted something grown-up and contemporary but with a little bit of a wow factor...

Add natural textures.

I always add some foliage to my table settings, usually, I love to add some greenery like eucalyptus or pine but this time I really wanted to use dried grasses for an A/W twist. Grasses are really on-trend this winter and they work so well against the smokey grey of the glassware. Foraged branches would also work well for a winter table.

To create a simple table arrangement take a collection of small glass vases and some dried flowers/grasses.

Use scissors to trim the grasses to varying heights and pop little clusters into each vase.

Place the vases at regular intervals along the table to add some height and drama to the table setting.

I also made some quick DIY linen napkins. Napkins are an easy and practical way to add some texture to a table.

Take a piece of linen and make a small cut at the width you require each napkin.

Using your hands (not scissors) start from the incision you made and rip the rest of the way along the linen.

Hand torn linen has a lovely rough feel that contrasts so well against a start contemporary setting. Simply fold the linen in half and place it onto the plate along with your cutlery. (How cool do the napkins look on the black serving plates? They're the perfect addition to a moody winter table.)

Kanso black matte dinner plate

Use a table runner.

Table runners are key to arranging a table, whether you use greenery, flowers or fabric they draw the eye to the centre of the table and create depth to an arrangement. I'm using the grey Kanso runner as the base for my table setting. 

Kanso sugar pot and milk jug 

Don't forget the details.

Sometimes it's the simple touches that bring a table together. Glassware is an item easily overlooked, these delicate smokey rippled glasses and matching carafe are such a gorgeous detail and make this table way more interesting than it would look with plain glasses. 

 Kanso carafe and hi ball glasses 

Don't be afraid to think out of the box, for example, these Kanso tea towels come in coordinating patterns to the tableware and could be cut up into matching napkins! 

Kanso dash pattern side plate

Lastly add candles, cutlery and any final flourishes like name cards if it's a formal dinner!

I really love how this table settling turned out and hope you do too! You can find the Kanso collection available online but also in Sainsbury's stores right now. 

Back soon

Caroline x