Set the Table With Nine Local Labels Serving Up Very Nice Napery

Photo: Courtesy Of Bed Threads

Level up your dinner party (or backyard picnic) with these Aussie-designed table coverings. Make a statement with bold florals, ruffle trims and boho prints, or pare it back with classic stripes and soft neutrals.

Words by Alice Jeffery · Updated on 26 Mar 2025 · Published on 27 Feb 2025

Tablescaping is more than just a passing trend. Dressing up your table for date night or a long lunch with friends can turn even casual menus into a magical meal – regardless of the occasion. Choose bold designs awash with hand-painted illustrations or lean into minimalist vibes. Candles and cutlery can also make a difference to your spread.

From covering the table you bought on Facebook marketplace five years ago as a “temporary” measure to protecting the piece you’ve truly invested in, these local labels deliver tablecloths, placemats and napkins that will add personality to your space.

The Sustainable Life Co

Craftsmanship and sustainability go hand in hand for this Melbourne label, which produces in small batches to minimise waste and excess stock. Its tablecloths, made from pure French flax linen , come in classic neutrals like oatmeal, white and plum, while napkins are available in eight hues for a contrasting pop of colour. The fabric softens beautifully over time, making each piece more inviting with every wash.

Buy at The Sustainable Life Co

Bonnie & Neil

A bold and bright disposition is at the core of Bonnie & Neil’s design DNA. The Melbourne-based brand applies its playful vibe to a range of minimalist and maximalist table coverings. Choose from painterly florals and fruit-filled styles or keep things classic with stripes and checks. Pieces come in cotton as well as linen weaves – sizes vary to fit small or large; round or rectangular.

Shop at Bonnie and Neil

Maison Balzac

There’s an eccentric spirit woven into Maison Balzac’s surrealist-inspired linens. Delicate embroidered placemat and napkin designs are shaped like fig leaves, lips and moth wings. The Tête-à-tête tablecloths feature four faces that drape over the edge of the table, almost like additional friends at your party. And the brand’s iconic cello apron is designed as wearable art – for when you don’t have time to get changed before guests arrive.

Shop at Maison Balzac

Hommey

Hommey’s collection of 100 per cent organic cotton tablecloths are instant crowd pleasers. Choose solid or striped options for your next soirée. Matcha, Wasabi and Rocky Road stripes will add flavour to your meals, while shades like Cocoa and Sage have more classic appeal. The stonewashed finish makes the napkins soft, too.

Shop at Hommey

Rendr

Rendr’s minimalist designs are elevated by thoughtful details – contrasting embroidered edges, scalloped finishes and delicate floral motifs. The Melbourne label sees its pieces as future heirlooms and says the European flax linen gets better with each use. A nationwide hiring service (which includes delivery, cleaning and return fees in the price) means you can kit out tables for events without having to worry about doing the washing after.

Shop at Rendr

Aura Home

Since Tracie Ellis founded Aura Home in 2000, the Aussie label has become a go-to for textural homewares. Its table linen, woven on a handloom by artisans in India, comes in a palette of warm hues like tobacco, shell and clay, alongside softer tones such as marshmallow, limestone and slate. Each piece is treated with a vintage wash and natural dye, with all water and fabric offcuts from the process carefully recycled and reused.

Buy at Aura Home

Bed Threads

Sydney brand Bed Threads is steadily taking over every room in the house with its signature linen styles. French flax linen tablecloths come in 11 core colourways – from classic white and oatmeal to more saturated shades of olive green, lavender and turmeric. Mix-and-match with scalloped-edge placemats and napkins to create layered settings that make you feel like you’re dining in the South of France.

Shop at Bed Threads

Dancing Grass

Inspired by her Italian heritage, Carlotta Pischedda creates art-filled linen tablecloths to brighten up your next long lunch with friends and family. After moving to Melbourne, the Rome native adopted new traditions and discovered new ingredients to add to her culinary vocab. Working with a number of local artists, Dancing Grass offers hand-illustrated designs that hope to spark conversation and add texture to meals.

Shop at Dancing Grass

I Love Linen

I Love Linen applies its namesake fabric to a collection of dining essentials. Timeless striped and gingham designs can be used for everyday meals. Ruffle trims level up the whimsy, whether you’re setting the table for a backyard picnic or hosting a festive brunch. Use natural, white or charcoal styles as the foundation for minimalist settings, adding seasonal colours to the mix whenever the mood strikes.

Shop at I Love Linen

Additional reporting by Simone Richardson.

A version of this article appeared in Domain Review, in partnership with Broadsheet.

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About the author

Alice Jeffery is a freelance writer and Broadsheet’s former shopping editor.