So long, long tables; the loop is taking over

Move over, overgrazed, Pinterest-perfect rectangular tables. You’ve been dethroned. Round and curvy, the loop is the new MVP of dining décor, playing double, triple duty as a stage, a conversation-starter, and even a bit of immersive theatre. 

The appeal? For starters, circular tables are the rebels of the dinner party world. No awkward head-of-the-table drama here—every seat is equally fabulous. Then comes the aesthetic appeal. These tables aren’t just functional; they’re a statement. They set the tone for the evening, whether you’re hosting a cosy creative gathering or an elegant event like the Jo Malone Diwali soirée in Delhi, where the massive setting was decorated by Maitri Shah of Mai Stories.

“We’re so done with long tables," Shah declares, highlighting the loop’s ability to complement a venue’s architecture and elevate the entire event’s aesthetic. For Shah, her table wasn’t just a centrepiece; it was the epicentre, the foundation upon which the entire event was meticulously built. She experimented with different materials, from gold finishes to acrylic sheets, aiming for a perfect balance of functionality and festive grandeur. “The material matters immensely. It elevates the whole thing. I went through many options to find the perfect ones because I wanted the table to reflect the night sky,” she explains the process of arriving at the final setting, which involved mirror topped table for 60 guests with a grand piano at the centre.

While Shah’s was an evening event, Delhi-based Eeshaan Kashyap, a food and beverage creator, took the concept of the rounded dining table as a statement piece to dazzling effect for a festive brunch in Delhi. For him, the 30ft-long oval ultramarine table he set up was a canvas. “I love geometry and the colour blue,” Kashyap explains, “I wanted this table to pop as soon as one entered the garden.”

Kashyap views dining setups as dynamic spaces, often featuring chefs preparing food live in the centre or performers engaging guests from within the loop. “These tables aren’t designed for the purpose of interaction. Instead, they are treated like a performative stage, punctuated by poetry, live music, dance, design, or even art. We once had a chef in the centre and he sort of almost danced around with his team in all directions,” he recalls.

Round or oval, these tables are sleek, minimalist, and unashamedly simple—a full U-turn from the overcrowded banquet and grazing tables we’ve seen over over our feeds over past few years. Take the Lovebirds 10th anniversary party from last week. Every IG story confirmed that it was a masterclass in less-is-more glam, and here, the true scene-stealer was the round table. Bathed in a warm, seductive red glow, with a single lamp stationed at each seat like every guests’ personal spotlight, the tablescaping moodboard allowed diners to scribble little somethings and send to other guests around the table. No sprawling floral jungles, no over-the-top accessories, no centrepieces—just a beautiful circle of people, coming together in celebration.