There's a kind of table setting that's technically perfect and somehow a bit joyless — every piece from the same set, the same brand, the same aesthetic. It looks coordinated rather than considered. The more interesting approach is to mix deliberately: different materials, different origins, different textures that share a colour story or a sensibility. Here's how to do it.
Start with the ceramics
The plates and bowls are what people eat off, so they anchor everything else. The Ivanros hand-painted dinner sets from Córdoba, Spain are a strong starting point — the bold patterns and vivid colours give you a palette to build from. Choose the ceramic colour or pattern first, then work outward to the glassware and linens.
You don't need every piece to match. Dinner plates from one Ivanros colourway alongside side plates or bowls in a different but complementary pattern reads as intentional rather than mismatched.
Add glassware with character
Handmade glassware brings a different kind of character to the table — slight irregularities in shape, bubbles in the glass, a translucency that varies from piece to piece. Beldi glasses, handcrafted from recycled glass in Morocco, have exactly this quality. They're not polished and uniform in the way machine-made glasses are. Alongside handmade ceramics, that quality reads as complementary rather than mismatched — both are things made by hand, with the marks that come from that.
Keep linens simple
If the ceramics are doing visual work — bold pattern, vivid colour — the linens should stand back. Plain linen or washed cotton in a neutral tone (white, natural, sand, a soft grey) gives the eye somewhere to rest. If the ceramics are quieter, a linen with a subtle texture or a very soft colour works without competing.
The job of the tablecloth or placemat is to separate the ceramics from the table surface, not to fight for attention.
The thread that ties it together
Mixing works when there's a coherent element running through all the pieces. Usually this is colour. Pick one colour that appears in the ceramics and repeat it somewhere else on the table — in the glassware, in a folded napkin, in the flowers in the centrepiece jug. That repetition makes a mixed table feel curated rather than random.
Alternatively, the thread can be material or finish — all the pieces unglazed, or all the pieces with a matte surface, or all handmade objects regardless of origin or material. Consistency of character is as effective as consistency of colour.
Centrepiece: the jug
A ceramic jug in the centre of the table — filled with flowers, or left empty — ties a table together more effectively than a formal centrepiece. It's informal enough to suit everyday meals and handsome enough to work for a dinner party. The Fish Gluggle Jug from Portugal is a favourite for this — distinctive enough to be a talking point, practical enough to be filled with water and passed around the table.
Frequently asked questions
How do I mix tableware without it looking mismatched?
Choose a shared colour or finish and make sure it appears in at least two or three elements on the table. Keep the linens simple if the ceramics are bold. Vary the materials (ceramic, glass, linen, wood) but keep the scale consistent.
Are Beldi glasses dishwasher safe?
Check the product listing for specific care instructions. Handmade glassware is generally more fragile than machine-made glass and benefits from hand washing.
Where can I find natural linen table linens to complement the ceramics?
Explore the table and dining collection at Kiki Bazaar for current linen and tableware options.
Shop table and dining
Explore the full table and dining collection — ceramics, glassware and linens — or browse the ceramics range from the Ivanros workshop in Spain.
