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Holiday Table Setting Ideas
There are endless ideas when it comes to setting a festive table. Here are some basic guidelines to help you get started on your own holiday creation:
- Pick a theme and style - formal/traditional, modern/whimsical, country/rustic
- Pick your colors - eg red & silver, red & white, red/black/white, silver & gold
- Chose you table linens
- Select flatware, tableware and stemware (you can even mix & match, but make sure each diner has the same combination of tableware as her neighbor)
- Select additional festive items like place card holders, napkin ring holders and chargers. Additional tip from Hallmark: Place card holders can also be used to display small photos, conversation starters, or a special message or wish for each guest at the table
- Add an attractive centerpiece and some candlelight. For longer tables, you may want to consider smaller arrangements or vases placed at intervals up and down the table. Rule of thumb: centrepieces should be shorter than about 12 inches tall. For a very basic centrepiece fill a bowl or vase with color-coordinated ornaments in various sizes and finishes. For candlelight, try various heights and sizes from low votives to tall hurricane candles.
Items you could use for centrepieces:- Floral and evergreens: Roses, lilies, holly, mini spruce trees, berries, boughs or sprigs of evergreens, pinecones, twigs
- Food: Pomegranates, nuts, artichokes, crab apples, peppermint candies
- Christmas decor: glass balls and ornaments, small wrapped gifts, beads, ribbon
Our Favourite Holiday Entertaining Ideas
From Better Homes and Gardens:
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| “Noel, Noel” - Glass candlesticks look like elegant pedestals for these oversize red ornaments decorated with glittered letters. |
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| “Natural Light” - Nestle chubby candles in a bed of mixed nuts and tiny red ornaments set on a tray for portable ambience. |
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| “Serving up Sophistication” - A pair of stacked cake plates dressed with evergreens, glass balls, pinecones, and red berries makes a sophisticated, no-fuss centerpiece. |
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| “Vases & Trays” - In the back, a tall glass vase is filled with a handful of holiday ornaments in two colors. On the silver tray, a few flat cedar branches are surrounded by five votives in clear cups, three ornaments, and a pinecone. |
From Pottery Barn:
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| Create the look with personalized placecards, white dinnerware and red table linens with a paisley runner. Add a centre piece with glass pillar candles of various heights and shapes, pinecones and a pine garland. |
From Pier 1 Imports:
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| Unique color theme ideas include Gold & bronze and red & pink |
Top Table Decor Products
More of our favorite ideas on what to buy for your holiday table in the Learning Centre.
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| Rustic reindeer place card holders available at Chapters/Indigo and Hallmark ($15 US) |
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| Modern red acrylic candelabra designed by Tord Boontje for Target ($30 US) |
More Table Decor Info
For more table decor ‘How-To’ tips check out Martha Stewart’s, Simple Guidelines For Setting A Table and her step-by-step article for do-it-yourself Table Runners.
Other recommended table decorating links:
- Holiday Table projects from Hallmark
- Christmas Centre Piece Ideas from BHG
- Super Simple Holiday D�cor from BHG
- Simply Elegant Holiday Arrangements from BHG
More Christmas Ideas on Central Roost
Look for table setting and other Christmas ideas in Central Roost’s Project Gallery and visit the Learning Centre for other Christmas decorating articles.
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