With holiday gatherings quickly approaching, hosting can feel intimidating. Laying a holiday tablescape can feel daunting, when it can be a fun activity filled with whimsy and creativity. Here are our tips for making a tablescape that feels authentic and approachable for your holiday spread:
To start, pull out all of your favorite dishware and vessels. These don’t need to match, but should feel reflective of your home and personality. For my tablescape, I pulled a Ripple large pasta bowl and Skali coupe dinner plate from Haand, a side plate from Joe Sink Pottery, and a well-used set of dinner plates from Target.
Match these items to your holiday menu: Do you have a bowl for a salad? A serving platter for mains? A cutting board to serve charcuterie?
If you’re missing items like cutlery, glassware, or napkins, swing by your local thrift store to pick up options. There’s no need to match, and you may end up with an eclectic mix that adds to the coziness of your setting. Keeping a minimalist home? Send these finds home with your guests as small souvenirs from the night.
Once you’ve chosen your vessels, arrange them on the table in the spaces they will occupy. This way, as food finishes, you can simply lift dishes from the table then return them to their designated space.
Set your dinner plates, napkins, cutlery, and glassware out while you wait for items to bake, so the entire table is meal-ready and food can be served hot.
For decor, consider placing a few candles for ambience and gathering decorative pieces from around your home or yard.
Remember, it doesn’t have to feel overtly “holiday”. Instead, incorporate autumn colors or small touches of green and red for an effortless holiday look.
Share the load! It’s completely normal to ask guests to bring dishes or drink options, it should also be normalized to ask them to bring their own plate or a set of serving spoons if you feel like you don’t have enough on hand.
Our number one tip is your table should feel authentic to your home, and reflective of your personality. Don’t over-invest in holiday tableware, but curate year-round essentials that are durable and excite you every time they grace your table.
