How To Master The Art Of Tablescaping, With Food Stylist & Cook Kirthanaa Naidu

Taking Insta and the foodie universe by storm with her I-need-another-slice-please Pandan and coconut cheesecake is Kirthanaa Naidu. One scroll through her feed and you’ll see why she’s known for her outrageously chic tablescaping, as well as the mouthwatering dishes she serves alongside them at her coveted supper clubs and events. So, of course, it’s Naidu we turn to for advice on creating the dream dinner party set-up.

Here, the London-based, Malaysian-Indian food and table stylist, cook and creative consultant shares the inspiration behind her menus, decor tips and her go-to finishing touch for any tablescape...

Lay The Table The Night Before

“Whenever I’m hosting, that involves both cooking and styling, so my one piece of advice for the table is to set it the previous night. The day before, I’ll get all my ingredients, buy some beautiful flowers at the market and set the table in the evening. It means that, on the day, I just have the cooking to focus on. So when the guests start to arrive, everything flows smoothly and I can be present, rather than distracted and running around trying to finish it all – which isn’t fun for anyone.”

Do All Your Prep In Advance

“I tend to cook dishes that can be pre-prepared, such as curries – which develop deeper flavours after being in the fridge overnight. Then, when people arrive, all I need to do is add fresh finishing touches, such as herbs and garnish. If there’s no time, I go for minimalist dishes like salads or delicious deli ingredients that can be pulled together, so I’m styling and curating rather than cooking.”

Don’t Bother Ironing Your Linens

“I always choose linen tablecloths. I have a huge collection and love the way they fall – rather than ironing them, I bunch them up to crease them for an effortless, undone look. I always find myself coming back to white linen – it can be dressed in so many ways and it always works well because it’s just so simple. If I’m going for pattern, it’ll be a check or a gingham because they’ll never date. Beeswax candles are also always on my tables, I get mine from Wax Atelier in London, which hand-dips them in beautiful natural colours that pair so well with white linen.”

Keep Things Relaxed

“I aim to keep my style chic and considered while also relaxed. I rarely make a plan for tablescaping, I just grab a bunch of linens, candles and the flowers I’ve got and play around with it. I want my tables to feel inviting and welcoming, not like they’re overdone, so people feel like they can’t mess it all up a bit over the course of dinner.”

Create A Welcoming Vibe With Sharing Dishes

“The way I cook and serve food is very much based on the way I was brought up in Malaysia, where my mum would cook family-style dishes. I’ve always been around big plates of sharing food, so ‘starter-main-dessert’ isn’t really me. I love hosting friends who don’t know each other, so sharing plates is a great way for us to interact, where we all pitch in, pass around huge platters and enjoy talking about the food in a communal way.”

Always Add A Few Colourful Touches 

“For me, flowers bring in colour. I’m very much inspired by the seasons when it comes to tablescaping. For autumn, I lean into browns and umbers that make the space feel warm. For more shots of brightness, I bring in colourful vintage Murano glasses, which I find on my travels – the antique markets in France are particularly great – as well as colourful napkins. It’s fun to mix and match wherever I can to create looks that are fresh and new.”

5 Stylish Tablescaping Buys, Recommended By Kirthanaa Naidu

1. Feldspar Butter Dish – This British brand focuses on creating ‘objects for life’, and this pared-back bone china design (classic white, with a pop of colour on the handle) is refined enough to work with any kitchen, dining room or table decor. £75, Feldspar
2. Sophie Lou Jacobsen Cocktail Glasses – Planning to serve cocktails with our next spread? This colourful set of martini glasses by French-American designer Sophie Lou Jacobsen will brighten up any table. Plus, they come with stainless steel garnish skewers for a professional touch. £99 for two, La Gent
3. Summerill & Bishop Napkins – Luxury linens are British brand Summerill & Bishop’s speciality. These napkins, crafted from 100% linen, provide that elegantly crumpled texture to add a relaxed touch to any dinner party – plus a pop of playful colour. £60 for two, Liberty
4. Glassette Frenchette Bistro Glasses – Glassette is known for bringing together a beautiful curation of homeware from brands big and small. And after an attempt to find the perfect short-stemmed glass from another brand, the team decided to create its own. This versatile design is ideal for serving water, wine, cocktails... any drink you like! £55 for four, Glassette
5. Gohar World Taper Candle – This ‘tableware universe’ offers pieces designed in New York and crafted by family-owned ateliers around the world. Its 12-inch taper candles, adorned with trailing bows, make the ultimate centrepiece. £40, Gohar World.

Amy Moorea Wong is a freelance interior design writer and author of Kaleidoscope: Modern Homes In Every Colour