Nikki Tibbles’ five-step guide to festive tablescaping

If there’s one person who can teach us how to perfect the art of tablescaping, it’s Nikki Tibbles. The Electric House member, and founder of floral company Wild at Heart, is an expert when it comes to creating the ultimate floral spread, especially when the theme is festive. 

December is the month where many of our hosting skills are really put to the test, with holiday gatherings and dinner parties filling up our diaries. And while we’ll definitely be making the most of the festive menus around the Houses and all the holiday movie screenings, welcoming loved ones into our homes is what we’re looking forward to the most. So, to make sure we do it well, we asked Tibbles to share her tips on tablescaping, using the best of our Soho Home collection to bring her vision to life. 

Here’s her five-step guide… 

1. Start with key ingredients 

‘When designing table flowers I start with the main ingredients. This includes structural foliage and supporting elements such as scent and texture to help add dimension and movement. Colour is also essential for making a statement.’ 

2. Consider the size of your table 

‘Bud vases are my first choice for a tablescape. Although playing with height looks fabulous, it’s important that you can see your guests. If your table is long, use lots of individual arrangements running down the centre, but avoid uniformity.’ 

3. Foliage first 

‘As with any floral arrangement, I start with foliage to add structure, followed by the other ingredients. For example, I’d use a fragrant mix of gypsophilia, crab apples, hydrangeas, rose hips and chrysanthemums with vibrant ranunculus and spray roses for drama.’ 

4. Use your surroundings for design inspiration 

‘I love to use pressed linen napkins, beautiful crockery and crystal glassware. When designing a table, it’s essential to draw upon nature and your surroundings, but even with a fairly neutral table setting I like to add a hint of colour at Christmas. Play with ribbons, dried orange slices and other cuttings to really lift a place setting. The final touches are key.’

5. Candles are the finishing touch

‘Finally, I add beautiful coloured candles. When dressing the table you can never have too many tealights and tapered candles. Varying heights add warmth and atmosphere, and everyone looks better by candlelight.’