The cloaks are back, the round table is waiting and The Celebrity Traitors has returned to our screens.
There is, of course, the plotting, suspicion and inevitable question of who can actually be trusted. But for interiors lovers, there is something else competing for our attention: the setting.
Filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands, The Traitors has created an instantly recognisable world of grand rooms, rich colours, candlelight and wonderfully dramatic tables. It feels theatrical without losing the warmth you would expect from an old country house.
While recreating a Scottish castle at home might be taking things a little far, there are plenty of ideas worth borrowing.
Think tall candles, deep velvet, beautiful glassware, traditional details and a willingness to make the dining table feel like an occasion.
Here is how we'd bring a little Traitors-inspired drama home.
Start With Candlelight
Few things change the atmosphere of a room as quickly as candlelight.
For a suitably dramatic starting point, METRE Black Tapered Candles bring height and an almost architectural quality to a table.
Available in 50cm, 75cm and an extraordinary one-metre length, the elongated black candles make a statement before you've even lit them. They're also unscented, so they can sit comfortably on the dining table without competing with whatever you're serving.
Rather than filling the table with lots of smaller decorations, try using a handful of tall candles at different heights. Against simple tableware and glass, black candles provide just enough theatre.
Shop METRE Black Tapered Candle Pair
Give the Table a Little Drama
If ever there were an excuse to embrace velvet, surely The Traitors is it.
The Kika Bespoke Velvet Ruffled Table Runner introduces the sort of rich colour and texture that immediately makes a dining table feel more considered.
Handmade in the UK from upholstery-grade velvet, it comes in six shades including Burgundy, Forest Green, Chocolate, Rust, Teal and Dusky Pink.
For a castle-inspired table, we'd gravitate towards Burgundy, Forest Green or Chocolate.
Run it through the centre of a wooden table, add tall candles and keep everything else relatively simple. The gathered ruffle provides enough detail without the table needing to become overly formal.
And because a little unpredictability seems appropriate here, the Kika Bespoke Leopard Print Velvet Ruffled Table Runner offers an altogether bolder alternative.
Shop Kika Bespoke Velvet Ruffled Table Runner
Bring Out the Good Glassware
There is something about a dramatic table that calls for proper glassware.
You don't need everything to match. In fact, mixing different glasses can stop a table feeling too formal and give it the collected-over-time quality that works particularly well with darker, more traditional interiors.
This is where Emma Britton glassware comes in.
Decorative carafes, coupes, wine glasses and tumblers can introduce pattern and colour among the darker elements of the table. Against black candles and rich velvet, patterned glass also catches the light beautifully.
Try placing a decorative carafe in the centre of the table rather than automatically reaching for flowers. It gives the setting height and interest while still being useful throughout dinner.
Set Your Own Round Table
We couldn't talk about The Traitors without mentioning the round table.
You may not be deciding who gets banished from dinner, but beautiful cutlery is one of those details that can completely change how a table feels.
For this particular look, we'd lean towards something with a more traditional character.
The Charingworth Fiddle Vintage Satin Cutlery has the right balance. Its familiar fiddle-shaped handle and satin finish feel at home alongside velvet, glass and candlelight without turning dinner into a period drama.
It is also a good example of why mixing old and new works so well. Traditional-shaped cutlery doesn't have to sit alongside matching traditional tableware. Pair it with contemporary plates, coloured glass and unexpected textiles instead.
Borrow the Colours, Not Just the Look
One of the easiest ideas to take from castle interiors is the confidence to use deeper colour.
Burgundy, forest green, rust, chocolate brown and charcoal can all create warmth, particularly as we move further into autumn.
And you don't need to repaint an entire room.
A dark table runner, coloured candle, cushion or piece of glassware can introduce these shades on a much smaller scale. Against natural wood, cream walls and softer neutrals, they become particularly effective.
The secret is contrast.
Something dark often looks better when it has something lighter sitting beside it. Something traditional becomes more interesting next to something contemporary.
It is the combination that prevents a room from looking themed.
Create Atmosphere Beyond the Dining Table
The look doesn't have to stop when dinner is over.
Lighting is one of the easiest ways to make a room feel warmer and more atmospheric during the darker months.
Instead of relying entirely on the main ceiling light, use smaller pools of light around a room - a table lamp on a sideboard, a wall light beside an armchair or a portable lamp moved wherever you need it.
Add candlelight and suddenly an ordinary October evening feels rather different.
Explore our Lighting Collection for table lamps, wall lights and portable designs from brands including Tala and houseof.
A Table Worth Gathering Around
The best thing to borrow from The Traitors isn't a particular chair, colour or castle accessory.
It's the atmosphere.
Autumn gives us an excuse to make home feel a little more cocooning again. Bring friends around the table, light the candles, get out the glasses you've been saving and make an ordinary dinner feel like an occasion.
Start with pieces you already own and add texture, colour and candlelight rather than trying to create a perfectly matching table.
Although whether you choose to trust the person sitting opposite you is entirely up to you.
Explore more:
Candles & Candle Holders
Tablecloths & Runners
Glassware
Cutlery
Lighting
