A Simple Spring Table for Two

Clear the part you will actually use. Move the laptop, paperwork and things waiting to go upstairs somewhere they can be dealt with later. Put down two plates and pull out the chairs before adding anything decorative.

If the table is small, use individual placemats or nothing at all. A folded cloth can soften the centre without making the whole surface difficult to use. If you love a tablecloth, use it; if you dislike ironing one, the wood is a perfectly good alternative.

Choose a colour already present in your home. Blue napkins with clear glasses. A green bowl with cream plates. A soft yellow cloth beneath a little bunch of herbs.

The pieces can differ. Repeating one colour or material gives them enough in common. You can stop before the water glasses begin to feel underdressed.

Try the combination before buying anything. Everyday white plates often work well with the more interesting glass or bowl that has been waiting in a cupboard.

A small jug with a few stems is enough for two people. It should be easy to see over and easy to move. If you use flowers from your garden, choose something you are happy to cut; a simple bought bunch can be divided between a vase and the table.

You can also leave flowers out. A bowl of lemons, radishes or fresh herbs may already belong with the food. Let useful ingredients contribute to the setting when they suit the meal.

Start with one thing you want to eat and decide what it needs beside it. A familiar tart with salad. Warm potatoes and something from the deli. A pot of soup with good bread on a cooler day.

One shared dish is often enough. If the table is tight, serve the food in the kitchen and put only bread, water or a small bowl between you. A crowded table is rarely improved by a second centrepiece.

Before you sit down, put the serving spoon where it will be needed. It is a small kindness to the person who would otherwise have to get up. Quite possibly you.

Sit near the window if that is comfortable. As the evening cools, a nearby lamp may give you all the atmosphere you want. Candles are optional; the table does not need them to count as finished.

If you move outdoors, take the simple version. Two stable places to sit, plates that are easy to carry and a layer within reach. There is no need to move the entire dining room into the garden for half an hour.