I love setting a festive holiday table. Whether it is for Christmas brunch, an informal holiday gathering or a party for 100 people, I usually start setting up the table a few days in advance. Between ironing any linens, figuring out a centerpiece and selecting the right serving pieces, it can take me a few days to get things right. But once I have the table set, I start to relax knowing things are starting to look party-like!
It is not too early to start thinking about what our holiday table should look like! I was in HomeGoods the other day looking for a few things to dress up my every day white dishes. I found some fun new chargers that will be just perfect to add a little holiday shine. I also found some cotton kitchen towels that I can use for informal dinner napkins this year. You can see it all in the photo above (I love the trim on the towel — you can click on any of the photos to enlarge them!)! Since I don’t have holiday china, I like to add in some festivity through linens, accessories and centerpieces.
I also enjoy having my kitchen and dining tables set throughout the season. If I keep it set with festive decor, I have found we enjoy more sit down dinners, the kids are less likely to pile junk on the table, and I get more enjoyment out of passing by the table every day.
Here are five tips for creating a unique and special holiday table:
1. Pick a theme
Why not pick a fun theme for your table this year? It doesn’t have to be holiday related to be festive! Think of what you already have or what your hobbies are. Maybe a garden theme, a beach theme, or try a color theme like silver or white. The photo below shows a polka dot and real oranges theme, now that is really unique!
Photo: BH&G
2. Be creative
Table settings do not need to be formal or stuffy just because it is the holidays. For fun, bring in some youthful and contemporary touches. Don’t have a tablecloth? Throw the rules out the window and line your table with paper (give everyone a crayon to draw with or use rubber stamps for fun!), use quilts, coverlets, lace, fashion runners out of curtains, sheets or use pillow shams!
TIP: If your tablecloth is too long, you can gather up the ends and tie to the legs of the table with a pretty bow. It works!
Like the polka dot theme of the photo above, the table below is dressed in a green polka dot cloth! Not a traditional Christmas look, but very fresh and creative!
photo: BH&G
3. Add some sparkle
Holiday tables really shine when you find ways to add in a bit of light, especially for those evening gatherings. Small mirrors, glass, battery powered Christmas lights, and candles can add just the right sparkle for a pretty table.
Using gold or silver accessories can bring understated elegance to your table.
4. Keep centerpieces on the down low
If your guests will be eating at the dinner table, keep your centerpieces low.
There is nothing more awkward than sitting down to eat and realizing you have to peek through the centerpiece to see your guests. Try for full but shorter centerpieces.
5. Don’t be afraid of drama
While on any given night we might toss our table settings on the table without much thought, the holidays are a great time to show off a little flair. You can have a still have an informal table with dramatic elements. Ribbons and greenery tied to chair backs, special napkin folds or handmade menu cards can make an event special and memorable.
What are your holiday table plans this year? I’d love to hear your ideas for color and table decoration in the comments!
It is really fun to think outside the box and put your own spin on holiday decor! It just takes a little time and thought, but the result is a unique table you and your guests will always remember.
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1. Hi Melissa -
Another great post! Your tablesetting inspires me. I have white dishes and have wondered what to add to my holiday table this year that would be different. Looks like I need to head toward HomeGoods and get me some chargers and cute kitchen towels. Thanks for the idea.
~Adrienne~
from WithAGratefulHeart
by Adrienne — 11/14/08 at 8:49 am #
2. The polka dots are fun!
I sometimes let my kids make the centerpiece – it may be a favorite toy they place there or flowers but either way, they feel special doing it, and it makes the holiday more for everyone not just me!
by Deanna — 11/14/08 at 9:46 am #
3. Love the cookie cutter on the plate- what an inexpensive way to add a little festivity to your settings!
At the kids table- we alsways cover it with paper and the centerpice is made of jars of crayons, markers, and stickers- the kids have fun and leave the grownups some time to themselves!
by gina — 11/14/08 at 9:52 am #
4. I absolutely love HomeGoods and this blog posting. I agree with the idea that not every holiday table needs to be set in a formal way. I like to have my table look elegantly casual because I live in a cottage and I want my guests to feel comfortable. To me holiday decorating is all about helping our family and guests create wonderful memories of these special shared times in our lives. HomeGoods helps me do just that!
by Bonnie — 11/14/08 at 10:27 am #
5. Thanks ladies! Thanks for sharing your thoughts…you got me thinking!
I love the idea of making the holidays special for the kids too. In our quest for making everything pretty we can miss out on making it fun.
by Melissa — 11/14/08 at 11:43 am #
6. Thanks, Melissa, for some beautiful ideas. Home Goods is fortunate to have you.
by Jen — 11/14/08 at 4:38 pm #
7. wow! you continue to amaze me! what great photo selections and tips you have offered despite your busy sked!! i will go to all the links in my leisure, but this article already gets me in the holiday mood! jkj
by jane — 11/14/08 at 5:45 pm #
8. Lovely, as always! Gets me inspired to start decorating!
by martha — 11/14/08 at 10:13 pm #
9. I really like the idea of towels for napkins…
Keeping the table set won’t be a practical thing here, but I can see how it would benefit in many homes.
Thanks, Melissa!
by Vee — 11/14/08 at 11:19 pm #
10. Hi Melissa, I have never been over here…but can tell right away I am going to love coming here and reading what you have said. Love the post. I hope your house plans run smoothly, and that the weather is good for your house hunting! Blessings, Debbie
by Debbie Booth — 11/15/08 at 1:27 am #
11. You are amazing, I often wonder do you guys ever sleep.
by pam — 11/15/08 at 10:54 am #
12. You are so creative! I love your posts and decorating ideas!
by Jenny — 11/16/08 at 12:40 am #
13. Hi Melissa, It’s fun to see you posting your creative ideas on this fun site. I love reading about new ideas on setting a pretty table. Being another person obsessed with dishes and pretty things, this sort of conversation just always speaks to me!
by Donna@designson47thstreet — 11/16/08 at 9:15 am #
14. HELP, I love HOMEGOODS, its over an hour drive from where I live, so I dont get to go as often as I like. I have bought several things there, love all of them, I bought a thanksgiving tablecloth and what I thought was eight napkins to match, quess what its only four napkins, I have been back in several times since, no more napkins, help I need four more, there made by Harvest Moon, and there a pumkin color, and before that I bought a really nice canvas picture for my grandson”s room of a tractor and a dump truck, now I cant find anymore that would go with that one, PLEASE , I hope you can help me, and one more thing, a countryside harvest turkey gravyboat. HELP ME PLEASE.
by Sharon — 11/16/08 at 3:34 pm #
15. Dressing my table is one of my favorite things. This year we are using a bronze table cloth topped by a rust table runner with fall appliques. I’m placing an open avocado napkin with the point down under each place setting. My dishes are white, and I am alternating dark red and dark green chargers. My napkins are varying plaid designs with each of the other colors included, and I am tying them with brown satin ribbon. I’ll make a low centerpiece with fall flowers and berries, and surround it with a pair of pilgrim figurines and gourds. I will have small clear glass votive holders filled with ivory candles at each place.
by Beverly — 11/16/08 at 7:51 pm #
16. Thanks, for the great table ideas. I love looking at the dishes at Home Goods. I like trying to combine different things. I have a lot of white, which is perfect since it goes with any color.
The causal festive look is inspiring, keeps me from just use paper plates instead.
by chris — 11/16/08 at 9:13 pm #
17. Thank you for contacting HomeGoods.
We understand that you have been trying to locate specific merchandise. As an off-price retailer, we make every effort to keep our prices low, and our costs down, so that we can pass these savings on to our customers. For this reason, we do not provide a service of tracking merchandise. In addition, we do not have the privilege of ordering specific merchandise from our vendors. To locate the merchandise, we suggest that you continue to check with the stores in your area directly. We would be happy to provide you with store locations in your area. If you would like a store list, please e-mail us back, or call our Customer Service Department directly at 1-800-888-0776.
Sincerely,
JoAnn
HomeGoods Customer Service
by HomeGoods Customer Service — 11/17/08 at 1:25 pm #
18. Thanks for all of your comments! Great ideas too, thanks for sharing all your inspiration.
Sharon, regarding the napkin dilemma, you might find that getting creative about mixing and matching is the way to go. Finding a complementary color and alternating them on your table can actually look great. Or, you can find a patterned napkin that brings in the same color and adds in new ones to tie in your dishes and room decor. I always seem to have that problem of not enough dishes or whatever for a bigger group. But mixing things up can be a lot of fun. Same with the situation with the canvases, you might not find ones that actually match, but if you can find similar things that “go”…either because they are the same theme or have similar frames or colors, it will still work.
Have fun with your decorating!
by Melissa — 11/17/08 at 5:20 pm #
19. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the green polka-dot table cloth! What a nice touch to a holiday table setting!
by Maria — 12/16/08 at 5:25 pm #
20. Use a jello mold or bundt cake pan and fill with bits and pieces of evergreen, berries, cranberries, miniature glass ornaments, cinnamon sticks, clove (stay away from things that melt or fade in water) then fill within an inch of the top with cold water. Freeze completely – over a couple of days. Run hot water over the mold for an easy release.
place the frozen mold in a low bowl, but deep enough to catch the melting water. I layered my bowl with some additional evergreen. Place a candle in the middle.
As the ice melts it gets clear and translucent showing all the Christmas treasures. The candle sets off the shimmer!
by Stacy — 12/17/08 at 10:12 am #
21. Love the cookie cutter on the plates. I have a few nephews in their 20’s, what would you suggest on their plates – don’t know if the cookie cutters is a good idea for them. One year I had small picture frames with eveyone’s baby picture in it and they had to find themselves at their seat – very fun!
by Liz — 12/17/08 at 12:20 pm #
22. Love the decor lovely
by Beautiful — 12/17/08 at 2:17 pm #