There’s a reason hosting a meal over the holidays sends entertainers into a blissful tailspin. It’s the perfect excuse to break out your best and get creative (or, you know, obsessive) with every last detail. But for some, preparing to host the meal of the year is more like the nightmare before Christmas. Whichever camp you fall into, here are three holiday table setting ideas, each one a stunning scheme packed with moves to steal for your very own display.
The Look: English Charmer
For a holiday table that oozes welcoming vibes, consider a vintage-heavy scheme. Vintage blue transferware and scallop-edged china are classics that lend themselves especially well to a bit of mix and matching, as do cut crystal glasses. Use vintage silver serveware pieces to round out the look. Guests will be wondering which are cherished heirlooms. The overall effect is very English haute bohemian.
The Look: Artful Elegance
Layering lends graphic appeal to placesettings, especially when topping the heap are artfully geometric salad plates. A controlled color scheme (this one at the home of designer MA Allen even extends to the napkins) lends polish to the overall look. Style tip: Splurge on show-stopping salad plates and take a more economical approach to the chargers and dinner plates layered underneath.
The Look: Refined Rustic
Remember, the dinnerware doesn’t necessarily have to be the star of the table. A beautiful, and in this case classically festive, tablecloth can set the tone. Here, holiday greenery and rustic placecards embrace the wintry theme. The beauty of opting for simple dinnerware and timeless vintage flatware is that once the holidays are over, you can simply swap the linens and centerpiece and voila, instant Easter table!
