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Growing up, Harling Ross Anton wasn’t particularly interested in interior design. Known for her discerning eye for fashion and style, the New York–based writer and brand consultant admits that she did not take design seriously until moving into her current apartment in the West Village. “My mom always joked that I would catch the bug eventually because I always had a lot of opinions about what I wore,” Harling says.
But after years of being swept up in the tides of different trends and algorithms, Harling has found a new sense of freedom in trusting her instincts. In her current apartment, she discovered that making intentional choices about her living space had a positive effect on her mood. Now, the writer channels this energy into the hobby known as tablescaping, an activity that some may consider sort of…old.
Traditionally defined as “a decorative arrangement of ornaments or other objects on a tabletop,” tablescaping has developed into a new medium for millennial creatives like Harling to express an inventive aesthetic energy that is meticulous yet wildly vivid. Thanks to an eclectic mix of new and vintage tableware and linens, Harling’s tablescapes are maximalist, transporting any guest to a place of warmth, indulgence, and fantasy.
With so many people turning toward their kitchens and dining rooms for solace during the pandemic, tablescaping has seen a renaissance. There are Instagram accounts solely dedicated to the lost art; some content creators have even been cataloging the evolution of their tablescapes in real time, displaying porcelain avocado tins alongside plates with painted ladybugs.
Quite notably, The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago, an important work in the canon of 1970s feminist art, is on view at The Brooklyn Museum. Ultimately, it’s clear that this trend has re-emerged within the shift of our cultural consciousness. “Much like OOTD and foodporn, [tablescaping] has joined the lexicon of Instagram aesthetic fodder, and in the process has become less prescribed and more personal,” Harling notes.
Harling compares her own method to her process for putting together a good outfit. “I usually start with the most statement-y ‘base’ item, which in the case of tables is usually a tablecloth or placemats, and build from there by mixing in other pieces with colors or designs that complement it,” she says. Her approach highlights a unique ability to curate colorful plates and combine seemingly contrasting patterns in one place.
In fact, the writer places a lot of emphasis on curating a style that feels distinctly personal, describing her own sensibilities as “dogged.” Harling’s dedication is evident in the spellbinding table schemes that are sprinkled throughout her Instagram feed. “I would always rather have my taste be a little different, even if that means it’s sometimes a little weird,” she adds.
Harling looks to contemporary brands like The Sette, Coming Soon, Estelle Colored Glass, YOWIE, Les Ottomans, Misette, Sabre, Edie Parker, and Lisa Corti for inspiration. Though different in their approaches to curation, what these retailers do have in common is an assortment of bright, colorful tabletop items combined with a joyful and vibrant aesthetic that rivals the dining sets in dollhouses. “I’m also obsessed with plates, so that’s part of it too,” she says. “If I could fill my apartment with plates instead of furniture I probably would.”
For those eager to attempt tablescaping at home, a hack that Harling highly recommends is utilizing a throw blanket as a tablecloth—she says that it’s a simple way to add variety to a table without having to purchase additional placemats or tablecloths. “In this tablescape I shared recently on Instagram, the vintage kantha quilt I typically keep as a blanket on the edge of my sofa doubles as a tablecloth,” Harling explains. Another pro tip entails incorporating floral elements to add a softer touch to an eclectic mix of heavier fabric and materials. Harling’s favorites are tulips with fringed edges, which she describes as “hearty,” but are sometimes hard to find.
Ultimately, Harling aspires to be the kind of person who throws dinner parties. Though she hasn’t been able to bring that fantasy to fruition due to the pandemic, her fascination with the aesthetics around them has allowed her to pursue tablescaping with more intention. “I’ll get an idea in my head about how I want something to look or feel, and once that happens I’m very determined to make it resemble that in real life—or at least come close,” she concludes. “Since I prefer buying vintage home decor when possible, this kind of obsession leads to a lot of dead ends before it leads anywhere promising, but that’s what makes it extra satisfying if and when it all comes together.”
How to tablescape on your own
- Start with a statement base like a tablecloth or patterned placemats.
- Choose a set of utensils and arrange them on a colorful or dainty napkin of your choice.
- Curate your plates: Make them all match, or create a more eclectic mixture of different patterns and sizes.
- Select a few pieces of vintage glassware to add texture.
- Add a bouquet of flowers from your local florist to impress future dinner party guests.
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Estelle Colored Champagne Coupe Stemware (Set of 6)
“Estelle Colored Glass is like the tableware equivalent of a candy shop, featuring glassware galore in a plethora of pastels. Even though they’re more prone to sloshing than their vertical equivalents, I’m a sucker for the fancy factor of coupe-style Champagne glasses.”
