It’s been a glorious few days of fun and excess which has me now paring back to the simple and I thought whilst in this merry mode, I would do a blog that focused on the understated.

Keep it simple is a mantra tossed around in abundance and really, it most often is the best way to go. Be it with eating (natural with nothing processed if you please), dressing (always always always take that one last item of jewellery off so as to not compete with the christmas tree) or decorating – interiors and tabletops!

Yes, it so much easier to make a statement with a lot of adornments, trouble is it may not be the one that was intended (or desired ).

And no question about it that a lot of flash will stop people in their tracks. But again, is that hesitation because it looks good? Does it have a WOW factor of appeal? Or is it just so dismally tacky that the crowd is stopping and gawking for a silent snigger (horrors!!!)

But a cleverly orchestrated understated table can have an impact like no other …

… and so often leaves that pondering thought of ‘Mm, so simple yet soo effective …’

Eastern culture has long had a jump start on the rest of us for stylised simplicity. With the wonderful lifestyle of meditation, living in the moment and just being, it is no wonder that elegance is personified with the seemingly basic. It is a sophisticated artful style that appears to happen without any effort and one that we now clamour the world over to replicate.

Personally I am a big fan of the zen type table and, while I love them all, out of these few, have fallen head over heels for the above spectacular table.

So what do you think … zen influenced tablescapes … Spectacular or Standard? Oh, and which one is your favourite … do tell?

Till next time.

Tipsy Pipsy xo