Long lunching

Set the scene with a few, or many places,   depending on the size of your party, creating tantalising tablescapes to intrigue and excite your guests. In many instances, it’s easy to begin with a base. A few white candles, polished cutlery, and sparkling glassware can be built on, and styled around, to create an on-theme spread. Match the aesthetic to the guest list. A classy family gathering might be best suited to Hampton’s haze or enchanted elegance, but a fun lunch with friends fits a think pink or to the tropics setting.

If you need ideas for styling your next long lunch, or you simply want an excuse to test Metropol’s tablescapes over each summer weekend, read on for plenty of inspiration.

Hamptons haze

Clean whites and blue tones make up the revered ‘Hamptons’ aesthetic. Often, it’s easily pulled together through pieces already owned, such as white tablecloths, tall candles, and wicker baskets. It’s an easy last-minute tablescape to create, just add some citrus coloured flowers, porcelain plates, and blue accent tea towels for that soothing, yet luxurious setting.

To the tropics

Escape to the tropics with a tablescape that represents those balmy island nights. Use Tiki glasses and cocktail umbrellas for fruity drinks, otherwise the orangey-gold shade adorning a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne is ideal to match the colour aesthetic. Think bright and bold hues of peach, pinks, and yellows, for floral decorations, glassware, table linen, and tableware.

Fare for fairies
From a simple base setting, weave fairy lights through the middle of your table, where delicate vases filled with wispy dried flowers sit. Embellish each plate setting with a sprig of lavender atop a faint purple napkin. For extra cohesion and a whimsical Alice in Wonderland feel, develop a menu that centres around petit fours, mini cakes, meringues, and bite-sized savouries.

Enchanted elegance
Crisp white roses, and tall candles and gold candlesticks burn a subtle yet sophisticated scent into the air. Be careful not to over do it. Place crystal glassware and the base tableware for a poised aesthetic. Choose one colour to accent, such as gorgeous greenery or budding lily bunches. A neutral napkin, wrapped in a small shiny ribbon, will make a great finishing touch.

Think pink
Forget that it’s the colour of the season, pink-themed tablescapes make a great baby shower, or best friend’s birthday setting. It’s simple too, anything pink or white goes, from the floral arrangements to the tableware. For a touch of elegance, opt for velvet napkins and gold cutlery.

Artsy abstracts
Think of ways to breathe vibrance into your tablescape base. Patterned cloths and linen, abstract china, candleware, and plant pots of different sizes can bring an excitingly interesting addition to a simple set up. Greens and oranges work nicely, and can be splashed with pink or blue for the adventurous. Keep it fresh and inviting by finishing with a few leafy centrepieces.