Setting the Table For Celebration
Nourishing Seasonal Gatherings Through Healthy, Thoughtful Design.
WORDS Elissa Rose
The advent of winter invites us to slow down. As daylight fades earlier and meals shift indoors, the table becomes a place of grounding and a stage for warmth, nourishment and connection. Yet just as the food we prepare influences our wellbeing, so too do the materials that surround it. From the tablecloth to the cookware, every choice has the potential to either support or disrupt the body’s balance.
Creating a healthy, sustainable table for a celebration of the holidays isn’t about aesthetic perfection. It’s about cultivating calm through mindful selection and choosing natural over synthetic, simplicity over excess and objects that carry integrity from their making to their daily use.
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R+D. Lab linen Tela Napkins. Photo courtesy of R+D. Lab |
Philo Linen Tablecloth by Standard Affair. Photo courtesy of Standard Affair by George Barberis |
Table Linens: A Natural Foundation
Linens set the tone, visually, tactually and environmentally. The healthiest options begin with natural fibers, like organic linen, hemp and cotton grown and processed without pesticides or formaldehyde resins. Textiles are often treated with formaldehyde to make them wrinkle or stain resistant. These organic fabrics, however, breathe, resist bacteria naturally and age beautifully with each wash.
Avoid synthetic blends, which often contain polyester or acrylic that shed microplastics when laundered and can trap odors. Instead, look for GOTS-certified textiles colored with low-impact or plant-based dyes. Linen’s subtle texture evokes a sense of groundedness, which is a quality that aligns with the slower rhythms of winter.
When stains occur, choose paraben-free detergents and air-dry them – a simple process that honors the textile’s longevity and reduces energy use. Consider brands such as Standard Affair, R+D.Lab and Libeco for high quality table linens.
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Moody Blooms Candle by The Quiet Botanist. Photo courtesy of The Quiet Botanist |
Hand-dipped beeswax Mother’s Milk candles by Wax Atelier. Photo courtesy of Wax Atelier |
Candles and Scent: Clean Light, Clear Air
Soft candlelight defines winter evenings, but conventional candles are one of the most overlooked sources of indoor air pollution. Paraffin, a petroleum by-product, releases soot and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene and benzene when burned, the same compounds found in diesel fumes.
For cleaner air and a calmer mind, turn to candles made from beeswax, soy and coconut wax, scented only with pure essential oils or left unscented. Beeswax is especially restorative as it burns cleanly, emits negative ions that may help neutralize pollutants and carries a gentle honey aroma.
Pair natural candles, such as those from Wax Atelier or The Quiet Botanist, with uncoated cotton wicks and glass or ceramic vessels that can be reused once the wax is gone. Lighting fewer but higher-quality candles invites more presence, making each flicker feel intentional rather than decorative. Avoid synthetic fragrances in diffusers; instead, simmer citrus peels, cinnamon and cloves in water for a gentle natural scent. The absence of artificial perfume allows food aromas to lead, reconnecting the meal with the senses that evolved to enjoy it.
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Standard Affair’s recycled clay stoneware. Photo courtesy of Standard Affair |
R+D. Lab’s Luisa Calice in Sand. Photo courtesy of R+D. Lab |
Glassware and Tableware: Transparent Choices
What we drink from matters. Conventional glass often contains lead or heavy metals in its coloring, while inexpensive crystal glassware can still leach small amounts of lead into liquids. Choose lead-free crystal or borosilicate glass, which is durable, thermal-shock resistant and entirely inert.
Colored or recycled glass, like that produced by R+D.Lab or John Pawson, adds beauty without harm, but ensure the tint is mineral-based and not synthetic. For serving dishes, opt for vitrified stoneware, porcelain and unglazed ceramic sealed with lead-free glazes. These materials are naturally stable at high temperatures and resist chemical migration far better than plastic or melamine.
Ceramics bring a tactile warmth to winter gatherings, grounding the table in natural materiality. Look for pieces made from high-fired stoneware or porcelain with lead-free glazes, which are materials that are durable, inert and safe for serving hot or acidic foods. Brands such as Standard Affair, Serax, John Julian and Robynn Storgaard champion this balance of purity and craft, offering forms that feel both functional and quietly expressive.
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La Embajada’s handmade Verde Ovalada Dutch Oven. Photo courtesy of La Embajada |
Cookware and Utensils: Health from Heat to Table
Cooking vessels are often the hidden source of toxins at the table. Non-stick coatings made with PFAS (‘forever chemicals’) can emit harmful fumes and persist in the body and environment for decades.
Safer alternatives include:
- Cast iron, naturally non-stick when seasoned and rich in trace minerals.
- Enameled cast iron or ceramic-coated steel, which resist corrosion without releasing metal ions.
- Stainless steel, a workhorse material that withstands high heat and does not leach.
- Pure copper is an excellent heat conductor when maintained properly.
When serving, avoid plastic utensils that can degrade with heat. Choose sustainably harvested wood, and stainless steel instead. Wooden spoons, boards and salad servers, like those made by John Pawson, treated with natural oils (such as food-grade mineral or walnut oil) embody a tactile warmth. Vincent Van Duyson also creates beautiful serving dishes that marry a ceramic base with a wooden lid to keep food warm from oven to table.
When the days grow shorter, our homes become our ecosystems. By setting the table thoughtfully and grounding meals in natural materials, gentle light and conscious rhythm, we transform winter’s stillness into a source of vitality.
Health, after all, begins not only with what we eat but with the quiet spaces that hold the act of eating itself.
Discover more homeware products at the WLLW Shop.
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La Embajada’s handmade Verde Circular Pot. Photo courtesy of La Embajada |
Vincent Van Duysen Ceramic Pots with Walnut Lids designed for When Objects Work. Photo courtesy of When Objects Work |
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Deep plate in rust/smoky blue from the Terres de Rêves Tableware collection, designed by Anita Le Grelle for Serax. Photo courtesy of Serax |
Philo Linen Napkins by Standard Affair. Photo courtesy of Standard Affair |
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R+D.Lab’s Festone Flat Plates. Photo courtesy of R+D.Lab |
Disclaimer: As the WLLW community, alongside interest in healthy products, grows, we remain committed to transparency. Some products featured in our content may also be available in the WLLW shop. Recommendations are made based on quality and alignment with our health and sustainability standards.
Feature Image: Tableware and Tablecloth by Standard Affair. Photo courtesy of Standard Affair by George Barberis
Photography: R+D. Lab, Standard Affair, George Barberis, The Quiet Botanist, Wax Atelier, La Embajada, When Objects Work, Serax
