Les Inspirations / January 30, 2026

A Guide to Curating Mix-and-Match Plates

The era of the uniform, sixteen-piece dinner set is officially behind us. In its place, a more soulful, narrative-driven approach to hosting has emerged—one that celebrates the "art of the find" and the beauty of an eclectic table. This is the heartbeat of 2026’s biggest trend: The Lived-In Space.

By Lara Silva

Creating a Visual Anchor

The secret to making an eclectic table feel curated rather than chaotic lies in a common thread. To master the mix, you need one grounding element to tie the disparate pieces together. This might be a consistent colour family—perhaps a tonal range of moody forest greens and teals—or a shared material, like exclusively hand-thrown, matte ceramics.

By ensuring your base dinner plates share a similar weight or finish, you create a visual "anchor" for the eye. This provides you with the creative license to experiment more freely with the smaller details, like vintage starter plates or artisanal side dishes, without the overall look feeling disjointed or accidental.

The Interplay of Scale and Texture

A truly sophisticated table setting relies on what we like to call "the crunch"—the tactile interplay of different finishes. If your main plates are sleek and glazed, consider layering them with smaller, textured pieces that feature visible thumbprints or raw, unglazed edges.

Mixing heights and silhouettes also adds a necessary layer of dimension; a shallow, wide pasta bowl paired with a smaller, high-walled appetiser plate creates a sculptural feel that draws the eye. Don't be afraid to mix "high and low." The contrast between a refined, delicate porcelain rim and a chunky, rustic stoneware base is exactly what gives a Maison Flaneur-inspired table its unique, effortless character.

Incorporating Global Accents

To achieve that coveted, well-travelled look, search for plates that tell a story of provenance. Integrating hand-painted motifs from different regions—think Splatterware from Puglia alongside intricate, geometric patterns from South America—adds a vibrant, storytelling element to your meal. The key to successful pattern mixing is to vary the scale of the prints.

Pair a large-scale, bold botanical print with a much smaller, repetitive "ditsy" motif. This prevents the patterns from competing for attention and instead allows them to complement one another. The result is a table that feels like a curated gallery of your favourite global discoveries, sparking conversation before the food even hits the table.

The Power of the "Single" Find

Perhaps the most rewarding part of building a mix-and-match collection is the freedom to invest in "singles." When you no longer feel tethered to a full set, you can justify that one-off artisanal plate discovered in a small studio or an antique find from a weekend market. These "hero" pieces serve as excellent conversation starters and break the monotony of a traditional setting. Embrace the slight variations in glaze and the charming "wobbles" of handmade pieces; it is these very nuances that breathe life into a home and make every invitation to the table feel like a special, one-of-a-kind occasion. It’s about building a collection that is as unique and evolving as your own personal style.