This is an advert in collaboration with Portuguese Treasures
Eating at home more often doesn’t mean giving up on that “restaurant feeling.” Many of us cook to save money, but that doesn’t have to mean meals that feel rushed or forgettable. A few small tweaks and simple upgrades can make your dining table feel more luxurious without breaking the bank.
A table doesn’t need much to feel polished. A linen tablecloth and napkins, a few candles, an olive wood serving board, a cork placemat. Little details like these make a table feel curated with almost no effort. Even a weeknight meal suddenly feels a lot more special.
The table isn’t just decoration; it’s part of the experience. How you set the scene frames the food, the drinks, and the conversation, giving ordinary every day moments a sense of luxury.
Featured products: Olive Wood Serving Board, Olive Wood Container, Olive Wood Tapas Dish, Natural Cork Coasters, and Natural Cork Pot StandsKeep the table tidy.
Dim the lights. Put some music on. The atmosphere matters more than anything else. These simple touches set the tone more than anything else. Cluttered surfaces, harsh overhead lights, and noisy distractions will always feel uncomfortable, no matter how good the food is.
Set out everything before you sit down
Silverware, napkin, drink, salt and pepper. Nothing ruins a meal faster than mid-bite scrambling for something you forgot. And don’t save the “best” glasses for a special occasion. Vintage charity-shop finds are perfect: cheap, beautiful, and capable of making even tap water feel like a treat.
Thrift nice serving dishes, sauce bowls, water carafes
They make your table feel intentional without effort. You’d be surprised how much joy a unique jug or a hand-thrown bowl can bring. These little details signal that this meal—even on a rushed weekday—matters, because it does.
Don’t save the good stuff
Eat off your best china. Use cloth napkins. Beautiful objects exist to be used daily, not just brought out for special occasion dinners. They make ordinary food feel considered and thoughtful because you deserve it.
A few flowers can do more than you’d think
No need for a big bouquet. A handful of garden stems, a bunch of daisies, or whatever’s in season will do. They’re the kind of detail people notice without realising, helping to make the meal feel considered while you barely lift a finger.
Simple culinary touches help too
A drizzle of quality olive oil, a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, fresh herbs on a salad, a locally made hot sauce on the side. Tiny flourishes like these elevate mealtime staples into something deliberate and a little indulgent.
Style should serve the table, not the other way around
Function matters so don’t sacrifice practicality for prettiness. Choose items that can stay put or be moved easily, so the table looks considered without getting in the way of how you use it outside of mealtimes.
If you want to keep mealtimes effortless while still feeling polished, Portuguese Treasures’ olive wood boards, cork placemats, and simple serving boards and bowls make every meal feel a little fancier. They’re not flashy; they just elevate the table setting, letting your food and your space feel a little more refined without overthinking.
It’s all about small changes and little tweaks. Tidy your space, give your dishes and glasses a little thought, add a flourish to your food. Weeknight dinners feel less rushed and more enjoyable. You don’t need to eat out or wait for a special occasion. The table you already have can feel a little more special, every single day.
Eating at home stops feeling like “just dinner” and starts feeling more luxurious… minus the restaurant bill!