The art of tablescaping: Creating a table to remember for your next dinner party

Small tweaks to your usual dining room situation can make a big difference when it comes to throwing a shindig.

Growing up gets a bad rap. Utility bills, screeching hangovers, increased responsibilities, grappling with the joy that is life admin – it can feel like there’s not a lot to look forward to. I will admit, there’s been one saving grace I’ve found in my mid-twenties: dinner parties. 

The thought of dinner parties used to conjure up images of 1950s housewives in scallop-trimmed waist aprons. That’s no longer the case now that Gen Z and millennials have taken over the kitchen. In place of meatloaf and three roast veggies, we’re embracing potlucks, tastefully curated playlists and even pop-up dinners with strangers. 

Interested to hear how others navigate the world? Head to our Life section.

It’s not just about the food, it’s about the theatre of dining. Lighting, decor and furniture work together to create the perfect dinner set-up. Designed locally in Australia, online retailer Mocka knows the importance of this and its range of contemporary furniture lays the foundation for any good dinner party(and its curated bundle and save packages can help save you some cash).

Small tweaks to your usual dining room situation can make a big difference when throwing a shindig. Event planning and hosting can be unreasonably stressful, so here are some budget-friendly ideas to zhoosh up your place. 

Decor is king

Decor may feel like the icing on the cake, but never underestimate its importance when it comes to dinner parties. Your dinnerware might not be exciting and your sharehouse chairs may be wobbly, but you can gloss over it with the help of ornamentation. 

Think candles – long, short, curved, twisted, coloured or patterned. Foliage and flowers (we’ll turn a blind eye if they were picked from a neighbour’s front garden), brighten and liven up a place too. Scavenge around the house and repurpose little knick-knacks like existing vases and trinkets (see, I knew that shell from 2011 would come in handy). 

Playlists at the ready

Never underestimate the power of a good playlist. You can choose to dial up the energy or keep your gathering low key depending on the tunes you play. 

To nab some inspiration, check out ‘TimeWarp Dinner Party’, ‘Songs 2 Make Friends 2’, ‘Dinner Party for FJ’ and ‘Dinner Ki Vibes’, playlists previously recommended to us by Australian creatives. Make sure your speaker is charged!

Add a personal touch

I’m on dinner party TikTok which means I’m constantly envious of perfectly styled dinners shown to me on my For You Page. While a lot of the setups can seem out of reach, I’m taking one styling tip onboard: handwritten menus. It’s personalised, affordable and easy on the eyes. 

Don’t forget the drinks

You’ve plated your food up carefully, sprinkled your garnishes and snapped your obligatory Instagram photo. But alas, your drink situation is abysmal. A sad bucket of ice sits in the corner, other drinks are shoved sideways in the fridge. Make your drinks section pop with a bar cart, like this bar cart. The ultimate grown-up move. 

Bring back the tablecloth

I want to sing the praises of the humble tablecloth. Among the glitz and glam of fancy plates and coloured highball glasses, the lowly tablecloth has been tucked away in that front cupboard nobody uses. There’s nothing as simple or as effective as a tablecloth – they add a splash of colour, change up a tablescape’s vibe depending on the fabric and, importantly, hide any stains baked into the table.

Head to Mocka to spruce up your next gathering.