Before Passover: 6 Table Styling Principles That Will Make Your Seder Unique
On the eve of Passover, the editorial team of the magazine asked a florist and set designer Lilia Suleimanov to share how to set a beautiful and stylish holiday table. After all, the whole family usually gathers around the table on this day, and its design plays an important role in creating a festive and celebratory atmosphere.
As a florist and set designer, I’ve always seen the table not simply as a functional surface, but as the emotional center of the evening. Passover is a holiday of gathering, conversation, and tradition. On this night, the table becomes more than a place for dishes – it becomes the heart of the celebration. A beautifully set table tells a story: about who you are, about memory, about the season, about your love for detail.
As Passover approached, I met with Tel Aviv–based lifestyle blogger Michal Weintraub in her cozy apartment to experiment with different holiday table settings: from more traditional interpretations to bold and unexpected combinations. Below are six principles I rely on when creating a table that feels alive, harmonious, and deeply personal, without the fear of “doing it wrong.”
1. Mix & Match: Don’t Be Afraid to Combine the Unexpected
The era of perfectly matching dinner sets is over. The most interesting tables are the ones with character.
I love mixing:
• vintage pieces with modern minimalist tableware
• plates in different colors within one setting
• crystal with ceramic
The contrast of textures and eras creates depth. But there’s one important rule: the composition should never look overworked. Even when everything is thoughtfully arranged, it should still feel effortless, as if the pieces naturally found their place next to one another. When colors and materials softly echo each other, the harmony feels organic rather than staged. And that quiet ease is what makes a table truly beautiful.
2. The Nostalgia Trend: Pieces with a Story
Today, there is a growing global interest in nostalgia and it is especially noticeable in table settings. Passover is deeply connected to memory and tradition, which makes it the perfect moment to incorporate meaningful objects into your table. Grandmother’s napkins, embroidered linens, vintage glassware, lace – these details bring a warmth that mass production simply cannot replicate. In my work, I often use crocheted napkins that I collect with love at flea markets around the world. Each one carries its own story, a gentle handmade imperfection, and its own character. Placed on a contemporary table, they feel surprisingly relevant. Sometimes it is the past that gives a table its distinctive tone.
3. Reimagine Everyday Objects
One of my favorite techniques is giving familiar objects a new role. For example:
• an oyster plate can be used as a Passover Seder plate
• a toast rack can hold matzah
• a small pitcher can hold asparagus
• candle holders can become egg stands
These small reinterpretations add individuality. There’s something special about the moment when a guest notices an unexpected detail and smiles.
4. Play with Contrast
I’m never afraid of contrast and I encourage you not to be either. Classic porcelain pairs beautifully with simple, home-style dishes. Minimal ceramic plates can highlight the vibrancy of seasonal ingredients. Passover itself is rich in symbolism, so I love when the table reflects that layered meaning and creative freedom. A setting doesn’t have to be rigid or overly “correct.” It’s a form of expression, and there is no single formula.
5. A Thoughtful Color Palette
If there is one principle I return to again and again, it is color. Here is my small tip: if you feel unsure about combining colors, don’t overcomplicate it. Whether you’re creating a bouquet or styling a table, choose one clear color story or focus on two or three shades. That alone is enough to create harmony and avoid visual noise.
6. Flowers as the Final Accent
I know how much Israelis love flowers and as a florist, I understand why. Flowers instantly bring movement, freshness, and life to a table. And here, the same principle applies: don’t overcomplicate it. If you’re unsure about combinations, choose a mono-bunch of your favorite flowers. One type, one shade – and that is enough. For our shoot, we chose white tulips.
To me, they are almost perfect: white is neutral enough to complement nearly any table setting, and tulips themselves feel like true spring. They carry lightness, movement, and a sense of freshness. Place them in a simple vase. Or in a champagne bucket or, as we did, in a pitcher. Sometimes it’s these slightly unexpected choices that make a table feel alive.
One Last Thought
A beautiful Passover table isn’t the one that looks perfectly symmetrical. It’s the one people want to linger around. Add personal pieces. Mix textures. Try something new. For me, table styling is never about perfection. It’s about attention, atmosphere, and care.
Items used in the table setting:
Green glasses, a pitcher, and brown cutlery — Golf & Co. https://www.instagram.com/golf.co
Vintage candlestick: local vintage tableware project Fourteenshop. https://www.instagram.com/fourteenshoppp
Champagne bucket: Mix & Match. https://www.instagram.com/mix_n_match_design
Dark blue tablecloth, brown matzah plate, brown pitcher — Zara Home. https://www.instagram.com/zarahome
White cutlery — Sabre Paris. https://www.instagram.com/sabreparis
Candlesticks, small brown plates — LF Ceramic. https://www.instagram.com/lf.ceramics
Metal pitchers, large blue serving plate with greenery — HAY. https://www.instagram.com/haydesign
Other items: vintage pieces and various other brands.
