When you’re having guests over for the holidays, you can do more to make your guests feel welcome and special than simply set the table! Through tablescaping, or table landscaping, you can truly set the stage for a festive event. By taking the time to decorate your tabletop with stunning centerpieces and place settings, you can impress your guests and establish a warm, welcoming atmosphere!
Your holiday tablescape is an expression of your creativity, so feel free to have fun with it. Not sure where to get started? Check out these top decorating tips that can help you turn your tabletop into a feast for the eyes. You could even use elements from each trend to come up with something that’s uniquely your own! Get overstock promo code 20 off at Coupon4share
- Create Scenes
Props can be an important part of tablescaping, so get creative with holiday-themed serving bowls, utensils, and plates. You can also use select objects to create scenes for your centerpiece. To create a Thanksgiving theme, you could arrange large and small ceramic turkeys down the center of the table, and mix in two or three mini pumpkins or small wheat bundles. During Christmas time, you could allow three or four poinsettias to take center stage along with ornaments from your tree and fresh holly.
- Add a Personal Touch
Scavenge your home for personal objects to incorporate into your tablescape, such as a picture your child drew of a turkey at school, mementos from things you did throughout the year, heirlooms from holidays past, or small, artfully displayed photos of your guests. Think of your tablescape as a visual conversation starter.
- Mix Colors and Patterns
Place settings are an important part of your holiday tablescape’s look and feel. But instead of having everything match, try using varied dishes and linens in different patterns. For a Christmas-themed tablescape, for example, you could use green, white, and red plates with plaid and solid linens. To create a coordinated look, you can pick two or three napkin colors from your centerpiece as accents.
- Keep It Light
Candlelight can add an inviting glow to your holiday tablescape. Just remember to keep a watchful eye on the flames throughout the day and night! You could also dress up your tablescape with LED garlands, branches, or a collection of flameless candles, instead. If your candles are on the tall side, be sure to arrange them at strategic locations so that they’re not blocking anyone’s vantage point. The best conversations among your guests will happen when they can easily see each other.
- Add Layers
Place mats and charger plates (those large decorative base plates that you place directly under plates and bowls that aren’t meant to be in contact with food) can add a luxurious dimension to your holiday tablescape. But they serve a practical purpose, too. Charger plates can catch food spills that might otherwise stain your tablecloth. They also help dinner plates retain heat so that your food stays warmer.
Position your chargers one inch from the table’s edge, to create perfect alignment down the table. Before guests sit down, place menu cards, name cards, napkins, and napkin rings on top. After the entrees, remove the chargers from the table with the dinner plate. Chargers aren’t typically used at dessert. In addition to using chargers at each place setting, you can use one of these plates as a colorful base for an elegant centerpiece of pillar candles or flowers.
- Use Your Tablescape as Inspiration for Your Whole House
To give everything a cohesive feel, you can take elements and colors from your tablescape—such as fall-themed gourds and corn—and incorporate them into decorations on your fireplace mantle, your guest bathroom, and small centerpieces on side tables where your guests will be spending their time. Extending elements of your tablescape in targeted rooms increases the festive feel, while also making your home feel coordinated and organized.
