Even for a simple, mid-week dinner at home, Kate Berry enjoys the ritual of setting the table.

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“We always light taper candles, it makes every meal feel special,” says the creative consultant, who styled the tabletops shown here. Berry loves to cook, and her choice of serveware is as considered as the ingredients: “We eat family style a lot, so I use a lot of serving bowls and platters, and small, pretty dishes for vegetable sides and pickles.”

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When hosting, a thoughtfully-laid table creates a warm welcome: “gathering around the table and sharing a meal is a universal act that brings people together,” says Berry. Here, the tablescaping pro shares some of her top tips for creating easy but impactful settings.

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Don’t save anything for best

That beautiful platter that only sees the light of day on Thanksgiving? Life’s too short: “I use my silver every day, not just for special occasions—and I get a lot of pleasure out of that,” shares Berry. While fragile pieces rightly demand hand-washing and handling with care, there’s no enjoyment to be had if they’re stashed out of sight. Use hand-finished serveware to ripen bananas in, and platters piled high with pastries or bagels for breakfasts on weekends.

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Pick a theme...

…but don’t get hung up on everything matching. “I use different patterns but there is always a thread that ties everything together and it’s usually color. For example with a floral tablecloth, I’ll use a blue and white napkin and a mustard glass because all those colors are in the print, so it all comes together,” says Berry. And there’s more good news if you don’t have sets by the dozen: “mix things like glasses, which creates an eclectic look.”

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Use what you have

Obviously, floral arrangements make an impact down the center of a table (Persian carpet zinnias are Berry’s current favorites) but styling up what you have in the fridge can be just as charming. Fresh eggs in hand-painted bowls; juicy tomatoes from the garden; citrus fruits laid over bay leaves—anything goes. “For casual meals, I just use plants or herbs,” says Berry.

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Dizzy heights

Ever used a cake stand for cheese? “Everyone can engage in it, and once it’s eaten, it still looks deconstructed and very pretty,” says Berry. Using different levels also adds depth to a tabletop: a wicker pedestal bowl intended for fruit can serve as a bread basket when lined with a napkin, and will save space in the process.

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And if you invest in only one thing…

Berry is a lifelong collector of crockery. But the piece with the most impact is the tablecloth: “You can have the same set of plates on repeat, but a striped or floral tablecloth will instantly change up the mood,” she reasons. An added bonus: storing linen is easier than finding a home for myriad sets of plates.

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