Alice Naylor-Leyland’s Guide To Fabulous Family Hosting

Hoping to throw a lavish garden party or a fuss-free family gathering? Alice Naylor-Leyland, founder of luxury homeware brand Mrs. Alice, is an expert on both fronts. Whether you’re after tablescaping inspiration, hosting tips, or an insight into her trademark ‘whimsical maximalist’ aesthetic, she’s got plenty of wisdom to impart – and we sat down with her to chat all things design and entertaining.

Alice Naylor-Leyland Talks Hassle-Free Hosting, Summer Tablescapes & Whimsical Maximalism

Ruggable X Mrs. Alice

You recently launched a collection with Ruggable. How did that come to life?

We always admired the brand, and we were actually thinking of doing our own rug collection, but then they got in contact with us. We love everything about the brand – we love their designs, their attention to detail, their aesthetic. I really love working with brands that have a really strong aesthetic themselves, but they were so accommodating and they really did want to make it feel like a Mrs. Alice collection; I didn’t realize how much freedom they would give us. They really let us do what we wanted to do, which was wonderful. 

Do you have a favourite piece in the collection?

I do – I love the gingham with the bows.  I’m going to put it in my daughter’s bedroom. You know, I think the whole crux of this is that it’s washable; that’s just crazy, in my view. That’s what you want in a rug, and that’s what stops people buying rugs. But you can just put the topper in the washing machine and you’re good to go.

Ruggable X Mrs. Alice

What’s the secret to nailing the ‘whimsical maximalist’ aesthetic?

I think one of the key things is layers: maximalism only really works when there are layers behind it. You can’t suddenly just build a room with so much colour; it’s got to have the layers and the textures behind it. It’s asking questions like: do you want to add that plate on the wall? Do you want to add that rug? Do you want to add a trim on a blind? There are so many components to think about, to build those layers, and that’s what makes things a bit more maximalist, it gives a room that extra something.

Is there a specific print or colour scheme you’re loving at the moment?

Weirdly, I’m really loving neutrals, which is very off-brand for me, but I’m loving an olive and a putty. I’m doing a lot of that in a lot of my homemaking at the moment. I just feel like olive and putty work really well, and they work on any palette, really.

Do you have any tips for a showstopping summer tablescape?

I think that summer lighting is key; it’s a real showstopper. My guests are always delighted when I put my rechargeable lights on… I think in England, we’ve been really behind the times when it comes to doing that.

A tablecloth will also elevate where you’re sitting; particularly if you’re dining outside, a tablecloth really comes in handy. And then I think if you can have a statement plate, it’s a good way to take things up a notch.

Ruggable X Mrs. Alice

You’re all about hosting without hassle – what’s the key to hosting an impressive family gathering? Are there any hacks you can share?

Organization is everything. Even if it means you’re staying up really late the night before and going through every last detail, that’s the only way you can enjoy yourself. It’s hard for your guests to enjoy themselves if you’re stressed. So I really believe that you need to do the preparation beforehand: build your theme, build your colours.

It can be simple, of course – even if you’re just gathering some roses from the garden as central feature, and you’re going to use pink plates, and that’s the table. Just making those decisions but not doing it on the day means that you yourself are much less hassled and in a better hosting mindset.

Anyone you’d invite to your dream dinner party?

I would invite the Queen. And probably Michelle Obama.

Check out the Ruggable X Mrs. Alice collection at ruggable.co.uk