If you’re anything like me, you love to set a beautiful Holiday Table for your friends and family on the holidays. It’s just not Thanksgiving or Hannukah without candles flickering, holiday music playing, and the smells of roast turkey and sage wafting through the house. And even if you don’t cook yourself, there are still lots of ways to partake in this holiday tradition by simply setting a gorgeous table. Here are my top five tips for making sure that your holiday tablescape looks as beautiful as your grandmother’s used to:
Start with your tablecloth.
First, choose a tablecloth that complements your decor. If you’re hosting a formal dinner party, for example, it’s best to go with white linen or an elegant damask pattern. On the other hand, if you want to create a casual Christmas atmosphere that’s perfect for holiday entertaining—think leather and candles—a burlap cloth will do the trick. It’s important to remember that your tablecloth should be large enough to cover the entire surface of your dining table.
In addition to being color-coordinated with your décor, make sure that there are no stains on its surface (or in its folds) before placing it on top of your nice dishes and flatware; otherwise, they may get stained by any food spills or wine drips once guests arrive at their seats! Once this step has been taken care of make sure that it isn’t wrinkled either: nobody likes sitting down at a dirty-looking table (it makes them feel uncomfortable). To ensure this doesn’t happen use steamers or irons if necessary but make sure not to iron too much because doing so will ruin those lovely wrinkles!
If there are any patterns on these linens then they should be simple ones like stripes or checks which don’t distract from what matters most—your home-cooked meal!
Layer on the placemats.
A great way to add color, pattern, and texture is with placemats. You can use them to create focal points on the table, or you can use them in subtle ways as part of a theme. For example, if you’re doing a Christmas dinner and want your table to be festive, but not too much so (to please guests who aren’t big fans of red and green), try using gold or silver placemats under dinner plates for a pop of sparkle without going overboard on colors and patterns. If you’re doing something more neutral like Thanksgiving dinner (or any holiday where green isn’t really involved at all), try using black or white placemats underneath glass plates to give your meal an elegant look without having to worry about clashing colors for different dishes on the table!
Add candlelight and greenery.
Greenery is one of the most important elements of decorating your home for the holidays. It adds color, texture, and earthiness to a space. You can use it to add festivity, or even make a statement about where you live by using native plants that are native to where you live.
Here are five options for greenery:
- Foliage from trees – This is probably the easiest way to go if you have access to trees in your area. If not, you can still find branches at craft stores or online. If it’s really cold where you live (or if it’s summer!) then consider artificial foliage instead of real—it will last longer!
- Evergreen branches – Choose small Christmas trees or bushes with brightly-colored leaves like cedar that will stand out against any background color scheme. Keep them away from candles because they might catch fire if they get too close!
Mix and match your china, glassware, and silver.
Mixing and matching your china, glassware, and silver is a great way to add interest to your table. Use a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors—you want the collection to be eclectic enough so that you don’t notice any one piece standing out but also cohesive enough that it looks intentional. It’s all about balance!
You can also add drama by combining various patterns—gingham with stripes or solids with florals. If you’re going for a more formal ambiance, stick with fine china in white or cream for the top layer and everyday dishes on the bottom; if you’re going for something more casual (and less expensive), use whatever you have on hand that fits with the theme of your holiday meal: fancy silverware will look fabulous at Thanksgiving dinner but mismatched plates are perfect if you’re hosting brunch.
Play with texture.
The texture is another way to add interest to your table. For example, you can mix and match the textures of your plates and bowls with those of your wine glasses or silverware. If you have a set of dishes that are all the same color, use texture to break up the monotony: for example, it’s normal for elegant china sets to have only one pattern but many different shapes of plates and bowls—so use this convention by choosing different textures for each piece in your set. Other ways to play with texture include using mismatched glassware or mixing modern-looking flatware with traditional crystal stemware.
Don’t forget about the napkins!
For my money, the napkin is one of the most underrated elements of a holiday table. Many people will focus on the centerpiece, or even the plate design and color, but they forget about those thin rectangles that are often forgotten in favor of more attention-grabbing items. But if you think about it for a moment, napkins can be used to add texture to a table! They can also add color or pattern—all by simply adding some choice words printed across them.
You can create a beautiful table for the holidays by playing with texture, mixing up your china and glassware, and adding lots of candlelight.
Here are a few tips for setting a stunning holiday table:
- Play with texture: Mix up your china and glassware so that you have a variety of materials. You can keep things simple by using all white dishes, or combining different shades of white. If you’re feeling adventurous, try mixing different patterns and tones of colored dishes.
- Add lots of candlelight: Candles give the most beautiful glow when there is darkness around them, so make sure your lights are dimmed!
Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you set a table that’s worthy of the holiday season. Don’t be afraid to get creative and just have fun with it. The holidays are all about bringing friends and family together to celebrate, so don’t stress over it too much!
