Adding Linens to Your Tablescape - How to Style a Tablescape Like a Professional - 9th in this series
Vintage linens are some of my favorite finds in the last few years and they were sure a hit at the fundraiser!
Did you know that linens, both vintage and new, are becoming all the rage again?
Why? Because linen is a sustainable product that is easy to care for. They can be used repeatedly, and it is a natural product that contributes to the overall health of our environment.
Let’s look at just a few facts about linen in general
Linen is one of the most biodegradable and stylish fabrics known in history. It is strong, naturally moth resistant, and made from natural plant fibers.
One of my favorite linen manufactures who live and breathe organic sustainable products is Libeco Belgian Linen Company. They are one of the leaders in this global industry and are certified as a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
Linen comes from flax seed which is a very sustainable fiber
It requires no irrigation: the flax plant loves the Belgian climate (wet and moderate). The natural circumstances are ideal for flax cultivation, so the plant doesn’t need extra irrigation.
No GMO's or crop protectors: organic products are made from flax that is cultivated organically, without the use of GMOs, crop protectors or fertilizers.
There is no waste: all parts of the flax plant can be used as a resource for other products.
Now, let’s look at the linen fabrics I used for my tablescape design
For me, linens are everything on a tablescape. Using linens give a sense of luxury to an ordinary table design. If you want to bring your design to the next level, use lovely linens and layer them to present more texture and pattern to your table.
Here are two linen fabrics I used to create my tablescape.
I used four main table linens to add layers and patterns.
I first chose a simple round table skirt to place over the table base. It puddled to the floor so that the legs would not show and to add elegance of the table.
Note: If you have a tablecloth that goes to the floor, it is considered formal. The shorter the tablecloth the less formal.
Next, I chose a beautiful square white linen tablecloth for my second layer. This gorgeous tablecloth went to the floor on four sides of the tablescape. The tablecloth had a lovely embroidered detail all around the edging of the fabric making for a more structured look. It really helped to make that specific layer stand out against the white tablecloth below it.
I then added a luxurious light gray French Jacquard tablecloth on top of the white linen. This added a pop of color I was looking for. I had a good amount of gray in my centerpiece and this tablecloth was perfect for adding and coordinating the colors elsewhere in the table design.
And finally, I curated a beautiful table runner that had all the colors I was looking to add to my tablescape. The runner was beautifully embroidered with flowers of blues, greens and grays that cascaded down the length of the fabric. It added to the overall texture and color of my design and added a romantic garden feel.
I had four layers of linen on my table before adding the rest of the table decor.
I also added a few more linens such as vintage and new napkins as shown here.
Monogrammed napkins are always a good idea and are now a big design trend as well!
I just love how this linen napkin is monogrammed. I designed it with a bee crest sitting just above the initial.
I had these beautiful linen napkins monogrammed in an ice blue color to give my design just a little bit more color and some interest. The “H” represents our family name, Hickey. This is definitely a napkin that is special enough to hand down as a family heirloom.
I curated the monogram design placing a bee just above the “H”. This was done so that the napkin can be simular to the other vintage bee linens I was adding to the design. I wanted the entire tablescape to have a cohesive look and feel to it
To learn more about what the Bee symbol represents in the French culture, click on this link. This link is to my other blog where I give more information about the special symbolism of the bee and how to create a color pallet for your table.
Buying vintage napkins and other types of linens for your table is much less expensive than buying new. Not only are they less expensive, but they are softer from use and have more character.
I absolutely adore these vintage cocktail napkins. I found them at an estate sale a few years ago in Connecticut. They were originally from a little store in Paris called Majolique that no longer exists. The embroidery is gold and silver thread and is very delicately crafted. They were never used and are in perfect condition. It was a lucky find.
I used vintage napkins to highlight a few design elements such as the dessert dish and silver tray for the French wine.
““The details are not the details. They make the design.””
To add a few casual elements, I added a very lovely French tea towel. I used it to close the market basket by threading it through the handles. This gorgeous tea towel is imported from France is just as beautiful and soft as it looks. To see more designs, follow this link.
“The thing is…linens create an ambiance that sets the tone of your dining experience. Using a combination of vintage and new linens give your tablescape character and warmth. They bring to a design, in my opinion, a softness and romance that can’t be found otherwise.”
I also added another gray linen napkin to the inside of the basket just in case my other tea towel moved. I wanted to be sure I secured the stems of the flowers the best I could.
Here is a quick video of my finished tablescape.
“Mon Jardin à la Française” or “My French Garden”
As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment or if you have any questions, please email me through my contact page. I welcome it anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Happy entertaining my friends!
Mary
“May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
Next up…in the tenth series, all the rest of the details that contributed to “Most Beautiful” tablescape.
