If anyone knows the magic beautiful styling can bring its CULTIVER Brand Manager, Anna Delprat.  

King Living partnered with CULTIVER to bring our Dining Collection campaign to life and found inspiration in the unique perspective Anna brings to the world of design. 

Here, Anna shares her insights and tips on dining styling, offering a wealth of inspiration for anyone looking to enhance their dining experience. 

Featuring the Issho Dining Table and Quay Indoor Dining Chairs. Styled with CULTIVER Linen Table Napkins in Dusk.

Q&A with Anna Delprat

How do you approach a dining styling brief?  

It's embracing the space itself first and foremost, making sure it’s comfortable and appropriate for guests. Does it need shade, padded chairs or more space for shared plates? Next it’s ensuring it fits to the seasonal needs, level of formality or time of year. If you’re planning courses, you’ll need more plates, additional glassware and cutlery. I prefer to do mismatched settings to make things more interesting. With the foundation set it’s the fun part - decorating. I like to experiment with the centrepiece, style something unexpected such as produce, or ingredients used in the dish. A stack of tomatoes becomes a piece of art, for instance, or an artful arrangement of herbs in lieu of flowers. They are just as beautiful as flowers and give off a lovely herbaceous scent. 

Featuring the Issho Dining Table and Quay Indoor Dining Chairs.  Styled with CULTIVER Linen Table Napkins in Dusk and Linen Tablecloth in Slate.

When styling a dining table, what are your top 3 tips?  

Firstly, textiles, they create a sense of occasion. I love those moments, in excited anticipation of guests arriving, laying a lovely fresh big tablecloth over the table and setting the places, folding the napkins just so. A dining table just isn’t a proper table without proper linen, I feel.   

Secondly, I love adding personal touches such as handwritten menus or place cards. I’m a bit of a bowerbird so I’m guilty of collecting them myself, and have many keepsakes from over the years. They’re tangible memories of lovely weddings, birthdays and special occasions that make me smile.   

Thirdly, flowers. I relish visiting multiple florists to take my pick of what’s on offer and arranging my finds in multiple vessels. Large floral arrangements are impressive but sometimes just aren’t practical on the table. I like to place singular gems in an abundance of bud vases, so they can be easily manoeuvred and also you can see above and through them. Or instead of a formal arrangement, a thinner statement branch which winds along the table can work nicely.  

Featuring the Issho Dining Table and Quay Indoor Dining Chairs. Styled with CULTIVER Linen Table Napkins in Dusk and Linen Tablecloth in Slate.

Are there any specific considerations for different types of dining events? 

Apart from the extra layers needed for a formal occasion such as extra glassware, cutlery and plates, I think that the energy the host imbues is the most important consideration, it can make or break an occasion. So focus on what you’re good at and don’t worry about the rest. The more comfortable the host is, the more comfortable the guests, and they’ll leave with that covetable feeling of pure contentment, whether an impromptu barbecue or the Christmas meal. 

What is your approach to incorporating seasonal elements into a table setting?  

I prefer to nod to a season or holiday via colour, produce or flowers, but not let it saturate the look. It can be through a more celebratory colour palette, or the playlist that you curate for the occasion, or a seasonal garnish in a cocktail. There’s likely to be much less waste if you don’t go out and purchase unnecessary plastic decorations, which is also why I favour less is more seasonal styling - it’s chic and sustainable. 

Featuring the Issho Dining Table and Amara Soft Dining Chairs. Styled with CULTIVER Linen Table Napkins in White and Linen Tablecloth in White.

Describe how to use layers and textures in styling and the benefits of doing this. 

The eye needs to travel! In styling, in art, in photoshoots, in your home. Everywhere. Layers and height are essential in creating visual depth and interest. When it comes to dining one needs to balance softness and hardness, low and high, and light and darkness. For me the willing formula for a dining setting is soft textiles (CULTIVER linen of course), handmade ceramics, delicate glassware and considered touches of metal. 

 
What effect on a room and mood does beautiful styling have?  

It’s not something to be underestimated. It’s almost invisible if you don’t look closely at the finer details such as texture, scent and light. In the dining room it’s this tactile setting in which to enjoy the company of others - whether it’s friends, family, or strangers (about to become new friends). The table setting should set the scene, the mood, and be secondary really, to people. That’s the real magic of styling a dining table for me, it’s creating this backdrop for human connection. 

Featuring the Issho Dining Table and Amara Soft Dining Chairs. Styled with CULTIVER Linen Table Napkins in White (left) and Linen Table Napkins in Dusk (right).

How do you choose a colour palette? Are there any secrets to how many colours you should go for?  

To me, it's instinct, what feels right, so I select my palette based on that. I don’t believe there’s ‘secrets’ but I do have tips. Firstly, viewing colours in the flesh, screens can be so deceiving, so order samples and try to visit the real deal in real life. Choose colours that you simply love, it's like art, if you’re drawn to a particular colour or hue, trust that feeling. I also believe in the classic design principle of odd numbers - one, three or even five colours will feel harmonic, just right.   

What is your personal preference when it comes to colour palette?  

My personal preference is to keep it tonal. I love soft, natural tones - layering hues in a similar colour palette is my go to for simplicity. Then I like to layer with texture - linen, ceramics, glass, brass. I often joke that if I had to choose, beige is my favourite colour, and it’s not untrue. 

Ready to create your perfect dining moment? Explore the CULTIVER Collection, shop the King Living Dining Collection or visit your nearest King Living Showroom.  

For more dining inspiration, explore: 

• How to choose the right dining chairs for your home 
• Tips for buying the right dining table for your space 
• Discover the Heritage Extension Dining Table & Heirloom Dining Chair