How To Master The Italian Tablescape For A Magnificent Summer Soirée
Vibrant, timeless, spontaneous and stylish, a table set for an Italian dinner party is as beautiful as the menu is delicious. Here, three designers share their tips for creating a perfectly imperfect, inviting and sumptuous Italian-inspired tablescape, in time for the start of summer parties. By KATIE BERRINGTON
Prioritize generosity and warmth
“The essence of an Italian tablescape lies in its generosity – in flavor, in color and in the spirit of sharing,” says designer Natalia Criado. “It’s a balance between the classic and the vibrant, where food takes center stage. You don’t need much – a bunch of fresh tomatoes, a heap of grated parmesan, a few basil leaves in a ceramic bowl – and suddenly the table comes to life. The Italian table has always been a space for gathering and celebration. From long family lunches in the countryside to spontaneous meals on city balconies, everything revolves around effortless enjoyment. That’s why styling an Italian-inspired tablescape isn’t about perfection – it’s about warmth, character and intentional detail.”
Embrace individuality and improvisation
“An authentic Italian table is never copied and pasted from a catalog,” says La DoubleJ founder J.J. Martin. “Usually, the Italians are layering on antiques from their ancestors, with some modernist items, maybe with the glassware or with the chairs around the table. There are usually a lot of different styles working at once and I really appreciate that layered effect. As a general rule, I would say that the Italian table is quite individual and artistic rather than formulaic. They really know how to embrace improvisation and spontaneity, which gives rise to beautiful aesthetic creations and social connections.”
Start with the tableware essentials
“The number-one thing for me is always the printed porcelains and the colored Murano glassware – those are instant lifts,” continues Martin. “From there, you can either decide to go more minimal with an all-white table or go maximalist by layering on colored and patterned linens or lots of colorful flowers. I love using our long-stemmed Murano wine glasses with our Murano bud vases to really make a setting pop.”
“My essentials are the salt-and-pepper cellars with little spoons. Intimate and timeless, they let guests season their plates as they like – just like at nonna’s house,” says Criado. “Then large pasta bowls – always the stars of the show – and the more artisanal, the better. And mini bowls for cheese, olives and fresh vegetables – small touches that invite everyone to nibble and share. Finally, a water carafe in glass or ceramic is a simple but essential presence on any Italian table.”
Mix rather than match
“I like to mix styles of glasses,” says Martin. “For example, I’ll put a colored La DoubleJ water glass together with our clear wine glass and then also put out my grandparents’ cut crystal champagne coupes from the 1950s. It’s also great to use antique cutlery – not all of the pieces need to be from the same set; it’s fine to mix them so that it looks a little funky.”
Stack the place settings
“Play with height – stacked plates, mismatched glasses, a tall central vase with smaller bowls around it – to avoid too much symmetry,” Criado suggests. “And put individual candles in front of each guest if it’s an evening gathering; it brings warmth, intimacy and a magical glow.”
Bring in rich, timeless touches
“The overall aesthetic should be timeless – classic but modern at the same time,” says Isabelle Buckland, creative director of event design and culinary studio Tables. “Italy’s rich heritage in craftsmanship and textiles inspires me to incorporate elements like woven silk or velvet ribbons into the menus, lace-trimmed napkins and placemats, or even make a bold statement with a stylized ceramic art runner as the centerpiece of the table. And, of course, I’d naturally include some kind of fresh produce, like big piles of grapes, tomatoes or figs, depending on the color palette.”
Add a Baroque-inspired drape
“Draping the tablecloth – whether in elegant, soft styled swoops or with the structure of a fabric like taffeta – makes me think of the fabrics draped around women in Italian Baroque paintings,” suggests Buckland.
Leave wiggle room
“Italians are very good at buffet-style dining (in Italy, you should be ready for five extra guests you didn’t plan on showing up!), so it’s fun to either have some wiggle room in your seating arrangement and have a few extra chairs ready for those added guests – or simply lay out a buffet spread to keep it simple,” says Martin. “If it’s a seated dinner, the typical Italian meals come in courses. The La DoubleJ dessert plates are so fun to play with, as they’re already mixed and matched. I like to use them at the end of the meal or as a salad dish, so all the guests have different ones – it’s always a conversation starter.”
Don’t forget the imperative aperitivo
“The other thing imperative to the Italian dinner party is the aperitivo – usually staged throughout the home so you can move from one spot to another,” says Martin. “You want to have pretty much everything available on the aperitivo bar, ready for your guests to serve themselves and mingle.”