The Good Design Journal
Host Better With 14 Dining Table Accessories That Know How to Work a Room
You’ve done the menu. You’ve cleaned the cutlery drawer. But if the table’s just vibing with a white plate and a candle stub, you’re missing the main event.
The best hosts know that people eat with their eyes long before they reach for the sourdough. That your salt dish should say something. That a grinder can double as a conversation starter. And that napkins, styled correctly, will always outshine the chicken.
This is your dinner party’s unsung cast: the dining table accessories that hold the party together.
Here’s our edit of dining table accessories that transform the mood, the moment, and maybe even the menu.
1. The hottest salt dish on the table
EKTA LIVING Salt Me Salt Dish
A solid little statement in black oak, this is salt styling at its peak. Minimal in shape but big in impact, it adds a grounding note to any tablescape. Pair it with the matching grinder for full-table coordination.
2. Grind, but make it exceptionally Scandi
EKTA LIVING Crush Me Salt/Pepper Grinder
A matte black form that could easily be mistaken for modern art — until someone reaches for the seasoning. It’s designed to feel good in hand and even better on display.
3. For when the seasoning is also the centrepiece
TOM DIXON Mill Grinder, Tall
This towering mill means business. With a polished finish and weighty silhouette, it brings a certain drama to the act of grinding pepper. Best styled as a pair with the smaller size — tall and small is a good hosting duo.
4. Short and shiny
TOM DIXON Mill Grinder, Small
Don’t let the size fool you. With its polished finish and satisfyingly weighty feel, this grinder does everything the tall one does, just with less table space and more restraint. Use it solo or set one at each end for symmetry that works.
5. Soft structure, strong message
DESIGNSTUFF Stripe Jute Placemat
With thick woven texture and confident contrast, this placemat delivers a quiet punch. The kind of base layer that makes everything you put on top look styled (even when it’s just last night’s leftovers).
6. Fringe = fun, obviously
DESIGNSTUFF Napkin w/ Fringe
Because napkins should never be an afterthought. These ones bring tactile softness and a little movement to the table. Fold them neatly or tuck them into a ring with a casual flair. They don’t mind either way.
7. Plates straight from Pinterest
HAY Barro Side Plate (Set of 2)
Clean, round, and stoneware solid, these off-white plates have that modern energy with a softened edge. Ideal for first courses, snack-sized showstoppers, or just making crackers look curated.
8. A little loop of luxury
FERM LIVING Flow Napkin Rings
These black brass beauties do exactly what a napkin ring should: bring order to the fold and a little luxe to the table. Slightly irregular in shape, and all the better for it.
9. The fork that fixes your flatware
OYOY Yuka Fork (Set of 4)
Weighty, matte, and beautifully balanced, this is what happens when cutlery gets a design degree. The Yuka fork feels good in hand and even better on a styled table. You’ll find matching knives and spoons too… if you’re into completing the set.
10. The centrepiece that doesn’t need decorating
101 COPENHAGEN Bloom Tray Big
Curved, weighty, and sculptural in all the right ways, this is form-first styling at its best. Leave it empty and let the silhouette do the work, or layer in something simple: a cluster of citrus, a strand of beads, a found object. It’s not about filling space. It’s about creating pause.
11. The glass that got all the compliments
FERM LIVING Damo Glass Centrepiece
All curves, no clutter. This sculptural glass piece doesn’t need much. Style it with a stack of fresh figs, a polished stone, or nothing at all. That negative space does the talking. You just set the table.
12. Sharp lines. Serious presence.
101 COPENHAGEN W Candle Holder
This isn’t your dainty dinner table candle moment. With a jagged, interlocked form and matte black finish, the W Candle Holder anchors the table with graphic intensity. Light it up, or leave it unlit, it holds attention either way.
13. Dinner party drama (in a good way)
ESTER & ERIK Taper Candle, 32cm
Tall, aubergine, and mood-enhancing. This isn’t just a candle, it’s a colour moment. Set it alight just before guests arrive and let it do its thing: slow burn, high impact.
14. The new centre of attention
EKTA LIVING Table Frame Trivet
Why hide your trivet when it looks like this? A sleek black oak design that frames hot dishes like they belong in a gallery. It keeps things safe and stunning.
What counts as a dining table accessory?
Dining table accessories are the pieces that live on your table and make it feel intentional — not just set. They’re the small but high-impact objects that shift a meal from functional to styled: napkins with texture, a tray that grounds the centre, a candleholder that knows what it’s doing. If it adds atmosphere and earns a spot during dinner, it counts.
Do all my dining table accessories need to match?
No — but they should belong to the same visual conversation. The best dining table accessories play off each other without looking like a set. You might have mixed materials (ceramic, jute, glass) or contrast in shape (soft linens with structured cutlery), but there’s always some thread tying it together — tone, palette, or intent. That’s what creates cohesion, not matching for the sake of it.
How do I style dining table accessories without making it look like a showroom?
Start with the essentials and let each piece have a job. Trivets protect, trays gather, salt dishes spark conversation. The best styling doesn’t overload the table — it sets a rhythm. Use dining table accessories to add form and focus, but always leave breathing room. Real tables aren’t perfect. They’re layered, lived-in, and easy to move around.
Are dining table accessories worth investing in if I’m not hosting dinner parties?
Absolutely. The right dining table accessories make everyday meals feel like a ritual instead of a rush. Whether you’re eating toast alone or throwing together pasta midweek, styling the table adds structure to the moment. You’re not just decorating — you’re shifting how the space feels. That’s worth something, guest list or not.
You’ve got the food. Now style the scene.
You started with a table. Now you’ve got a setup that frames the whole evening, whether it’s roast chicken for six or takeaway for one. The right dining table accessories don’t just support the food, they shape the experience. And the best part? You only need a few to make the shift.
Explore the Table Service capsule and start bringing people together like you mean it.
