Setting the table for holiday dinners and family gatherings is one of my favorite things to do. It’s an opportunity to be creative, but still provides order and structure, which is perfect for this Type A mama. I love a beautifully done-up table that feels festive for the occasion, yet has room to be functional during the meal. Here are some ideas on how to set an easy and unfussy holiday table – not too stuffy, but pretty; the perfect backdrop to the delicious food on it and the lovely people sitting around it.
1. Allow enough elbow room
Adequate space between place settings is key to an enjoyable meal, so that when you’re passing the gravy, you’re not passing it directly over your neighbor’s plate. As the host, you’ll inevitably need to get up a time or two during brunch or dinner, and you want to be able to push your chair back and swing your legs around to stand up without needing to shimmy through a tight space. In our home, we often serve buffet style so there’s plenty of open space on the table for the necessary accoutrements, like salt and pepper shakers, a small butter dish, the bread basket and the wine.
2. Start with basics and add fancy touches
Most of my table settings include a casual woven runner I’ve had for years from Target. It creates a focused foundation down the center of the table for whatever goes on top. If you have a table you love, keep it bare beneath the runner. For a more formal look, add a bright white tablecloth underneath. Then add in a fancy element or two. Perhaps it’s your fine china, maybe some crystal candlesticks or gold-rimmed glassware – whatever you have that adds sparkle. Mixing casual and elevated pieces will help make your table inviting, approachable, and effortlessly pulled together.
3. Use elements from nature
This can be as simple as going into your yard and snipping some branches or holly and picking up a few pinecones. Often at Thanksgiving, I’ll use some of the pumpkins I have on my front porch steps as a centerpiece. I’ll also add a sprig of rosemary or eucalyptus into each place setting – I tuck it into the napkin ring or tie it in somehow with the place card. Both smell heavenly and I love the touch of earthy green.
4. Scale your centerpiece appropriately
You want to enjoy the company of your guests as much as your gorgeous holiday table, so be sure your decorations allow for good eye contact – no leaning around big floral displays or needing to stretch up taller to see each other! Vary the height of candles and keep flower arrangements low. If your favorite table décor is a big sprawling branch or a tall bunch of greenery, save that bigger statement piece to keep your table looking lovely when you’re not dining.
5. Finish with place cards
Having an assigned seat helps remove indecision for your guests and puts you, as host/hostess, in the most strategic spot (for me, that’s typically closest to the kitchen). As a child, I loved making place cards for our big family dinners. Back then, they were little squares of paper I cut and colored with crayon, tented atop each person’s plate. It’s a great way to keep the kids entertained and involved in the meal prep. Today, I like using simple card stock or gift tags and a metallic pen, tied to the napkin ring or set at the individual place setting.
Links to suggested items will be coming soon! Thanks for your patience – we’ve been without power for most of the last week and I’m still playing catchup! In the meantime, if there’s anything you need a rec for, feel free to DM me on Insta and I’ll hook you up. Be sure to tag me @homegirlbydesign in your holiday table photos so I can see how yours turns out!
