How to Create a Stress-Free Holiday Table

It’s official. The holidays are here! In recent years the festive season has caught me a little off guard. I never felt ready, and like I couldn’t fully relish it all. Last year I didn’t even have a tree (this was my last second solution). But no more. This go round, I’m planning to learn from all my past mistakes and make the most of the most wonderful time of the year. Decking the halls, cookie making, tree decorating – you name it, I’m doing it. I’ve learned if you have a game plan, the holidays don’t have to get the best of you.

Case in point: the big holiday feasts. The menus, the table setting – it can all get overwhelming. Thankfully, the Friendsgiving I shared last week is serving as my inspiration for big T-day table. With that plan set, it’s time to turn my attention to December’s gatherings. With a little preparation, you can throw the perfect holiday fete without breaking a sweat. I’ve laid out my top tips for you below.

Pick a Color Palette
When setting a holiday table, it can be a little hard to figure out where to start. To give yourself direction, it’s a good idea to pick a color palette. Color can help you create and stick to a look that feels pulled together. To keep things from getting too busy, stick with 3-4 colors max . For the holiday season, subtle pops of red and metallic lend a festive mood. All things copper are also having a major moment. For this table, I grounded the palette with deep forest green pine boughs and classic white dinner plates. I included the copper trend with some cool glassware and added just a pop of red on each plate for that perfect holiday touch.

Create Layers with Your Plates
These days, there’s no need to stress about place setting etiquette. Feel free to let your creative side come out. Layering your plates is a nice way to elevate each place setting. A dinner plate topped with a salad plate and a cloth napkin tucked in between is a super easy way to create a stylish place setting. And no need to worry if your dishware doesn’t match. I simply topped a collection of random white dishes with a decorative salad plate that pulled the entire look together. Adding a seasonal touch of greenery atop each plate really enhances the entire look.

No Rules with Glassware
To set a warm, relaxed atmosphere, continue the mismatched vibe with your glassware. By mixing different types of glasses, it adds more color and texture to the table. For this holiday table I combined copper dipped stemless glasses with smokey gray tumblers for a fun look that goes beyond the pint glass – a traditional choice that’s typically reserved for beer. All in all, the variety of glasses encourages your guests to try a little bit of everything throughout the evening.

Keep It Casual but Keep It Consistent
Whether you want the glasses on the left or right, or you set your silverware on top of the plates or all to one side is totally up to you! Just be sure to keep each place setting consistent. This will ensure you achieve that simple and clean look, even with a few mismatched plates and glassware.

Dressing Things Up With Seasonal Greenery
Adding seasonal greenery like a sprig of pine or bundle of rosemary can instantly give your table that holiday touch. When adding florals to your table, it’s best to make sure any scents compliment the drinks and food and don’t detract from them. Garlands of greenery are great as they don’t block conversation and add interesting dimension on your table without needing a huge stock of vases. In this case I used pine boughs as the centerpiece and toyon berry for the pop of red in the place setting. Unable to find those? Garlands of magnolia or boxwood are a great alternative. And if you find yourself needing a vase, a great trick is using pieces from your own collection of glassware. It all plays nicely with the eclectic, mismatched vibe.

Finally, Enjoy the Moment
Before your guests arrive, be sure to take a moment to capture the table you’ve just created and give yourself credit. It is not always easy being the host during the holidays but with these tips, hopefully you can have a stress-free celebration so all you have to worry about is enjoying good drinks, tasty food and the company of great friends.

 

original photography for apartment 34 by delbarr moradi 

 

This content was created in partnership with Pints and Plates.

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