We've spent enough time deciding what to wear this festive season. Turns out, the dining table deserves a wardrobe of its own.

And we're not talking about bringing out the good crockery once a year. Think colourful glassware beside heirloom brass, printed linens layered with hand-painted ceramics, and candleholders that could easily pass for sculptures.

The perfectly matched dinner set? It's having some competition.

MATCHING IS OVERRATED

Somewhere between the elaborate centrepieces and colour-coordinated place settings, hosting got a little too serious.

The tables we're interested in now are more personal. A vintage brass piece next to something contemporary. Flowers sharing space with fruit. Plates that don't necessarily match but look rather good together.

The trick isn't getting everything to coordinate. It's giving every piece a reason to be there.

And Indian homeware labels have plenty of ideas.

THE GLASSWARE HAS ENTERED THE CONVERSATION

Why should cocktails have all the fun?

Rayt's coloured goblets make a convincing case for mixing pastels, while Good Earth's Alhambra Cocktail Glasses bring an almost ornamental quality to the bar cart.

And then there's Nestasia's Sphere Wine Glass, with its playful pink spherical base. Because sometimes even a glass of water deserves an interesting outfit.

PLATES WITH A POINT OF VIEW

The classic white dinner set will always have its place. But it's hardly the only option.

Nicobar's Palm Bloom Tea Plates introduce colourful tropical motifs, while Baarique's Rangeela Kansa Dinner Plates bring together traditional metalwork and vivid decorative details.

For something with a deeper craft story, Nishita Fine Tableware's Threads of the Nilgiris draws on the geometric language of Toda embroidery, reimagining its motifs for contemporary dining.

Three very different approaches. All considerably more interesting than playing it safe.

IT'S ALL IN THE SETTING

Sometimes, the smallest pieces are the ones guests remember.

Take Topp Brass's Ivy Georgie Candle Holder, where climbing vines turn a familiar table accessory into a sculptural accent.

Or Kainaat's Tanjore Pichwai Rust Table Runner, which brings a distinctly Indian decorative vocabulary to the linen drawer.

There's also Fleck's Riti Lotus Platter, an elevated serving piece that looks as interesting without food as it does with it.

Address Home's Bluenova Tray introduces a more contemporary mood with its swirling blue-and-grey design, while Yellow Marigold's Rustic Candle Holder makes a case for the charm of distressed finishes and candlelight.

The point? You don't need an entirely new dining set. Sometimes a single unexpected piece changes the whole table.