A Touch of Glass
There are countless ways to set a table, as the (almost) infinite number of books, websites, Instagram feeds and TV programmes would attest. So much of it has to do with your personal taste. When setting a table for a group of special guests, do you channel your inner Martha Stewart (complete with Ralph Lauren tableware), embrace your boho-Scandinavian by opting for a Kinfolk theme, or do you go the minimalist Marie Kondo route? Whatever your vibe, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more versatile option than glass for adding those finishing touches to a table.
A beautifully set table should never distract from the food or the conversation (the more colourful your guests, the more flamboyant your table décor can be, but that’s a conversation for another time). But at the same time, your table should never shy away from starting up a conversation either. Some elements at your disposal include candles, flowers, garlands, and natural ingredients echoed in the dishes you serve (think onions, various fruits for pops of colour, or even cabbage leaves).
Now, by adding accents of glass – like candle holders, bowls, vases and urns – it amplifies all the other elements on your table by reflecting and refracting the light falling on your centrepiece, adding a magical atmosphere to the room that invites your guests into the fantasy you’ve created.
Here, you can really start playing with all kinds of light sources. Classic, pillar and floating candles, tea lights, fairy lights and even solar-powered glass jars (especially when taking the proceedings outdoors with a starlit night braai).
But don’t overdo it. Remember that the table will also be populated by drinking glasses of various shapes and sizes throughout the night, so leave some space for the more functional glassware, dinnerware and cutlery to shine.
Opting for a few statement pieces, like a set of large vases, you’ve got all the makings of a great centrepiece that you can use again and again – dressing it in a different way for every occasion or season.
Crystal Urn Vases
