A chic table doesn’t require a big budget—it just requires intention. When you invest in a few versatile, well-made pieces, the table comes together with ease and elegance. Here’s the edited checklist for hosting beautifully without overspending. Whether you’re hosting six or sixteen, these are the essentials that bring atmosphere, beauty, and ease to the evening.
1. The Quiet Hero – A Linen Tablecloth
You only need one - but make it great.
- Does it have to be linen? The short answer is yes. Linen is quiet luxury at it’s most refined, it doesn’t shout it whispers. Linen drapes with a softness cotton cannot mimic. It holds its shape but never looks stiff, and it only gets better with time. Linen softens with every wash, developing a lived in texture that becomes more beautiful, more tactile. Unlike cotton that degrades, linen evolves.
- A hemstitch finish or a scallop edge is a timeless addition that adds to its charm.
- Linen is understated yet elegant, it’s beauty lies in its imperfections.
Editors Pick – Classic Linen Hemstitch Tablecloth £70
2. “Proper” Napkins
Small detail, big impact.
- They instantly make your table feel ‘done’, plus it’s much more cost effective to upgrade your napkins than it is your crockery, cutlery or glasswear.
- Colourful tablescapes are trending this Summer, a splash of colour can enhance your mood, express your personality and make your home feel warm and inviting. So shrug off your aversion to colour and select one that you can mix and match with your existing tableware to bring your table to life. Clio and Clover have done the research for you, this seasons “in vogue” colours are powder blue, buttercream, olive green, any and every shade of pink, and chocolate.
- Mix and match if buying over time – table linens look better slightly imperfect.
- Consider delicate embroidery or quotes to spark conversation. Clio and Clover offer bespoke embroidery with a 2 week turnaround.
Tip: Don’t stress if your linen isn’t perfectly ironed —crumpled is chic.
Editors pick - Set of 4 linen napkins under £40
Add Bespoke embroidery with a two week turnaround £14 per napkin
3. Artisanal Accents
It’s rooted in craft
- Add handcrafted layers to your table. Handwoven rattan placemats, vintage hand painted china, subtly imperfect ceramics, handblown glassware. Each piece should feel storied.
- Handwoven rattan placemat production is time-intensive and artisanal. There’s something deeply human in that. No shortcuts, no high street, just considered craftsmanship.
- Hand block printed linens – a kind of beauty that no machine can replicate. From heritage florals to bold stripes, block prints feel timeless but never tired. No two linens are exactly alike and that’s the charm. they don’t just dress the table they tell a story… Keep an eye out for the new hand block printed collection by Clio and Clover launching in September.
Tip: Start small and build your collection gradually
Editors pick - set of handwoven placemats £35
Editors pick - set of 4 Scallop Linen Placemats £38
Editors Pick – set of handblown coloured glass candle holders £26
4. Plates with Personality
You don’t need a full matching set—but you do need pieces with presence.
- Two versatile sizes: a dinner plate and a side plate cover most meals.
- Handmade, imperfect glazes, over factory-perfect patterns.
Tip: Head to the Portobello Road Market on a Friday or a Saturday. On Westbourne grove, in front of Alveston Fine Arts is a vintage china stall that has some of the most beautiful hand painted antique china, no need to buy a matching set, mix and match patterns with plain you already have at home.
5. Candles & Stems
Mood lighting doesn’t cost much
- Glossy spiral candles (in cream, dusty rose, or artic blue) + mixed holders = instant glow.
- Keep flowers wild and low. Think market stems, herbs in bud vases, branches from your garden.
Budget: £16 for candles + £15 for a market bunch = maximum effect.
Editors pick – set of 4 spiral candles in antique rose £16
6. Cook with Intention, Not Complexity
It’s not about showing off—it’s about feeding people well.
- One honest dish, done beautifully. Maybe that’s a saffron-scented risotto, roasted aubergines with yoghurt and mint oil, or a slow-cooked beef ragù. Choose warmth over wow.
- Serve in the pot, pass around. This is generosity, not plating.
- Finish with a flourish. A pavlova, a pistachio cake, seasonal fruit and mascarpone. No stress. Just style.
Tip: Finally dress the part. Be present. Let go. Don’t disappear into the kitchen, people came for you, not the soufflé.
Checklist
The Affordable Table Formula
If you’re starting from scratch:
- 1 x Linen hemstitched tablecloth
- 4 x Linen scallop napkins
- 4 x Rattan placemats
- Set of Candles
Elevated table. Effortless style. Sensibly Priced
