Colour and texture

'The classic white plate is the white T-shirt of the tabletop world,' says Donna Hay, Livingetc's contributing food editor. Donna suggests thinking of your tabletop in the same way you think of fashion. 'Adding colour or texture is easy to do with dipping bowls, platters and other smaller items. Just as with fashion, these are those inexpensive accessory purchases that are easy to part with after the trend has passed'. Another way to introduce personality is by mixing basics with well-loved, vintage hand-me-downs or flea-market finds. 'We're definitely getting more eclectic,' says Bill Granger. 'I used to have cupboards full of white plates, but now colour and pattern are creeping back in. I have plates that don't match for the first time in years.' This works equally well in reverse if you've inherited a traditional dinner service, as by interspersing homely items, you can create a much friendlier atmosphere. Alternatively, Caroline Clifton-Mogg, author of China and Glass (Jacqui Small, £25), suggests going for different textures and tones of white to create a more varied look. 'Buy dishes that include white in the design, but add one or two new colours or a motif in a different hue.'

Click here to return to the main menu.