Breakfast is a meal frequently overlooked. The fast pace of the working week means it’s often just a coffee to-go or quick slice of toast as we fly out the door. But weekends, or certainly the best ones, are all about breakfast. Weekend breakfasts are a time for losing oneself in the weekend paper or enjoying lengthy debates over whether to do apple crumble or sticky toffee pudding after Sunday lunch. They are a time to recharge and often to reconnect. Weekend breakfasts should be reserved for treating yourself, slowing down and, of course, for indulging in the breakfast table. Breakfast is a wonderful opportunity to make the most of setting the table and our lifestyle editor Alexandra Dudley, shares her tips on how to use your china to elevate your breakfast table.
Don’t Be Afraid Of Colour
It’s a popular opinion that the best breakfast foods are beige: hot buttery toast, flakey croissants, syrup-drenched waffles and fluffy pancakes! Using china with an element of colour is a beautifully simple way to elevate these delicious yet bland-toned foods. Pile a bag of humble pain au chocolat onto a vibrant blue platter and the colours instantly pop. The Renaissance Gold Collection from Wedgwood is a wonderful range to consider for your breakfast table. Featuring striking royal blue trims and elegant gold gilding, it is both bold and unmistakably classic at the same time. Setting the table with a china set instantly brings the feeling of occasion to a meal – but it also brings the comfort of familiarity, encouraging everyone to sit down together and sink into a slow morning.
Think about Varying Shapes, Prints and Heights
Whether you’re serving a full-works fry up or simply assembling a bag of pastries, the way you set the table can immediately bring an element of drama and excitement to breakfast. Think about using different shapes, prints and heights to add the feeling of layers to the table. One way is to stack plates of different prints, perhaps the top one intended for fresh berries or pastries and the second reserved for a round of scrambled eggs or marmalade on toast. Wedgwood’s Renaissance Gold Collection features plates of three different prints. Layer the classic Wedgwood cameo dinner plate with the confident yet understated cobalt blue-rimmed side plate, or opt for a little more dazzle with the Renaissance Gold Florentine accent plate. Take your breakfast to the next level with the Renaissance Gold four piece set, which also includes a dinner plate, side plate, cereal bowl and mug – all crafted in Wedgwood’s timeless fine bone china.
Get Creative with Props
The best tables are the ones that people don’t want to leave. Using props is a clever way to draw everyone to the table and ensure that they’re constantly entertained. Especially at this festive time of year, I like to think of the table as something to unwrap. Layering plates is one way to do this, as is the way you fold your napkins. I am a big fan of the napkin knot (not least because it requires no ironing) but at Christmas I love to use baubles to tie a waist in my napkins. The Wedgwood Christmas baubles bring a playful yet refined element to your place setting. If you’re feeling particularly generous, they make for a wonderful gift for friends too. Fruit also brings a lovely freshness to your table. At this time of year, leafy clementines are an apt choice – and bring a stunning contrast to the bold blue of the Wedgwood Renaissance Gold collection. Get creative with the way you use certain pieces as well. The Renaissance Gold sugar pot is perfect for sugar – but fill it with little chocolates or sweets and watch the delight as people discover what is inside. Pepper the table with bowls of nuts, dried fruit and chocolates for an additional treat. Cereal bowls are perfect for this. I’ve been known to use my sugar pot for sweets and a cereal bowl for sugar. The joy of such a steadfast and elegant collection is that you can afford to play a little while still creating a sophisticated table. There really are no rules!
Related Article: How To Use Mix-And-Match To Style Your Table This Christmas