As the holiday season rolls in, so does hosting season, and your table becomes the story of your gathering. Curating a memorable tablescape isn’t just about matching napkins and plates, it’s about setting a mood. Whether you want your dinner to feel cozy and welcoming, energetic and festive, or polished and elegant for a formal evening, thoughtful layers of linens, serveware, glassware, and lighting do the heavy lifting. With the newly launched collection from Maure, you can now build a table that reflects exactly how you want to welcome your guests.
Build Your Foundation with Emotive Linens
Every great tablescape starts with linens. They create the visual base for everything that follows, and set the mood before guests even sit down. For an effortless blend of elegance and playfulness, choose linens that bring personality to the table.
MAURE’s Monkey Cotton Twill Linens are a perfect example of this balance. Ranging from table runners, napkins, and tea towels, these linens feature a whimsical, nature-inspired monkey motif that brings a sense of liveliness without overwhelming the overall design. The rich detailing and thoughtful palette make them versatile for both casual hosting year round and more festive holiday settings.
Linens should ground your table while allowing your serveware and floral accents to shine. Browse here for more table linen options.
Include Functional Art with Decorative Trays
Serving trays are both practical tools and design accents, especially when they bring artistic value to the table. MAURE’s Birchwood Trays, available in both mini and narrow sizes, offer a naturally luxurious approach to functional serveware.
The Swedish-made birchwood has a satin-like finish that highlights the featured artwork while remaining shockingly lightweight and durable. The mini trays are ideal for cocktail garnishes, small bites, or petite desserts, while the narrow trays serve beautifully as bread boards, cheese displays, or even as a sculptural centerpiece beneath candles or florals.
What makes these trays exceptional is how seamlessly they tie into the array of Maure’s linen illustrations, creating a cohesive story without being tacky. The result is layered, refined, and effortlessly chic., especially when coordinated with glassware lighting.
Bite Into Each Course with Exquisite Serveware
Dinnerware contributes significantly to the table’s personality, and for hosts who want to combine artistry with heirloom-quality craftsmanship, Arte Italica’s Renaissance Dinner and Salad Plates are unmatched.
These plates feature hand-applied details and rich tones that feel both classic and contemporary. Their color in Italian Green, resonates beautifully with the Monkey linens and green glassware, creating a unified palette that feels intentional and rich without appearing overly coordinated.
Use placemats in natural materials, like Maure’s handcrafted leather, to bring depth beneath the plates. This helps anchor each place setting while adding warmth.
Embellish with Glassware
Glassware is often underestimated, but the right pieces enhance both the visual composition and the hosting experience. Look for items that offer interesting silhouettes, unexpected colors, or one-of-a-kind craftsmanship.
For serving water, iced tea, or specialty refreshments, MAURE’s Moss Green Hobnail Jug is a standout choice that pairs with a variety of patterns. Hand-blown from Czech crystal, it adds glistening texture, luminosity, and a pop of earthy color that grounds the entire table. Its generous 2-liter capacity makes it as functional as it is sculptural.
Pair the jug with Arte Italica’s Forest Green Highball Glasses, whose rich tones and refined vertical shapes create a cohesive palette with the green-hued crystal. Together, they build contrast and depth while maintaining a serene, nature-inspired aesthetic.
Browse the rest of the glassware collection here to find hues more suited to your taste if Moss Green isn’t what you’re looking for.
Encapsulate the Room with Lighting that Glows
No tablescape is complete without lighting. Candlelight adds movement, romance, and soft glow, key sensory ingredients for memorable hosting. Mix candle holders of varying heights and materials to create visual rhythm.
For sculptural beauty, consider the Tatlin Vase Candle Holder, whose architectural silhouette doubles as a modern art object. Pair it with the Opaque Objects Candle Holder, which introduces moodier, celestial-inspired tones, adding contrast.
To layer height on the table, incorporate the Misty Tree Candle Holder (12-inch) and the Misty Tree Candle Holder (7-inch), more organic, nature-driven pieces that complement the forest-green color story. For something softer and more whimsical, add the Palash Palm Candle Holder, whose botanical form subtly mirrors the foliage-inspired motifs in the linens and trays.
Cluster candle holders in odd numbers, like 3s or 5s, down the center of the table, alternating heights for dimension. Leave enough space for passing dishes and conversation.
Bring It All Together With Intentional Layering
A finished tablescape should feel curated, not crowded. Keep these final styling principles in mind:
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Balance pattern and negative space: Mix patterns and prints with solid colors and textures to create dimension.
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Repeat colors subtly: Echo one or two hues, like moss green or brass, across linens, glassware, and candleholders to avoid a cliched appearance of being too “matchy-matchy”.
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Vary textures: Mix cotton, crystal, birchwood, ceramic, and metal for richness.
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Leave room for life: Candles, flowers, and food are part of the story, don’t crowd them out.
A beautifully set table doesn’t require perfection. What matters most is intention, creativity, and pieces that bring you joy to share with the people you welcome in.
