This holiday season snuck up on me. Can’t say that I’m as prepared as my usual list making self. Maybe you find yourself in the same situation. So, when thinking about what I could offer you for this holiday I looked to see what have been the most frequently viewed posts. It’s no surprise that the various table setting and napkin folding posts take top billing. (I’ve included those links below). If you’ve utilized those you might be in need of a few new table decor ideas. Since my holiday season has been beyond busy for a litany of reasons, I don’t have time for super fussy decor. But does that mean my table should be bare? I think not. These ideas are intended to be simple, elegant and affordable. Time’s a wasting, so I’ll stop my yapping. Here we go.
These first two ideas are a bit more home grown, but add a sense of whimsy to a place setting. Typically I do not assign seats with place cards when I entertain. I let people choose where they want to sit. That said, I’ve always felt that having the host choose where guests sit elevates the dining experience. There is a certain sophistication to it. Plus, if the host is truly thinking about table conversation, careful placement encourages people to interact with other guests. For this holiday season, I subscribe to this thinking and will be telling people where to park themselves.
Wanting to keep it simple and organic, as well as something you all could easily re-create, I pulled out my scissors and scrolled through my garden looking for a hearty, long leaf. I cut Rhododendron leaves which were ideal in color, size and sturdiness. I found some decorative paint in my stash and painted the tips and stems gold . You can also use a Sharpie or one of those gold paint pens from an art store, such as Michaels or Target. Then I scripted the names on the leaf. That’s how simple this is.
The next little DYI project is for those of you who don’t have seasonal napkin rings. This one is right out of the creative crafts bucket. You’ll need:
Toilet Paper Rolls
Double sided tape, or regular tape rolled to double sided
Snipped greens from the garden
Scissors
Next:
Cut the roll into 3/4” rounds (or whatever thickness you prefer).
Wrap the tape all the way around the roll, or you can try glue. I just didn’t want the sticky fingers that often times occurs when using glue.
Trim the greens to small, manageable pieces and place them around the taped part. Add tape or glue to tack down the fronds or if you want to cover more of the roll.
Once you’re done playing, slide your holiday themed napkin through the ring. Then lay the leaf place card against white plates set on a gold charger with a deep green velvet placemat and you’re all set.
Cost: $0 since I had the paint, and the leaves and greens were from my garden, and the roll of toilet paper, well…
Now, onto centerpieces. I like when the table decor allows for guests to see across the table. A low profile centerpiece does just that. Bear in mind that this idea is for those who like to have a permanent centerpiece as it is not meant to be removed for dinner.
Simply place a neutral runner or fabric down the center of the table. This could be brown kraft paper, burlap or muslin. I used two rolls of natural burlap I purchased awhile ago at Michael’s Craft Store. The more earthy toned the better for this theme to keep the feeling of nature. I like to add the candles first in order to have a sense where to place the other decorative elements. From there you just start filling in the spaces using the greenery trying to tuck the end stems under other greens. Add some pine cones to fill in the gaps. I bought this whole bunch of greens which included a Quesnelia flower for $8 at Trader Joe’s. I had the pine cones from my garden. A beautiful, warm centerpiece for $8!
This next one is a variation on the above idea but using actual large leaves or large leaf placemats instead of the natural colored runner. I picked up these placemats years ago when I was hosting private events at Despaña in Soho, NY. I used them a multitude of ways back then, and they are still coming in handy. You can find these in various stores, but of course Amazon has everything under the sun. Thus you’ll be able find a fairly prolific selection of leaf types in the link above. Lay them down the center of the table, and as previous, place the candles first. Since the base is green, I suggest leaning into more white florals and pine cones for this version to create more contrast.
And because I’m a sucker for options, if you like the above two ideas but need them to be removable, then build the centerpiece on long wooden boards, or trays. This way the entire centerpiece can be lifted to create space for food platters.
I created all the centerpieces directly on top of my dining room table without a tablecloth. You can either use placemats for your place settings or lay down a neutral tone cloth first. Your choice.
The last, simple but elegant centerpiece is a trio of vases in varying heights of all white flowers. What I love about this design is how the monochromaticity elevates even the most common flower. By utilizing a single color, you create more impact, allowing you to use affordable, inexpensive florals to create something stunning. Sure, red & green are lovely for the holiday season, but they are visually abundant this time of year. Which is why I adore a Winter White theme. For me, it is elegant simplicity. The best part is that you can easily lift these off the table if you need the center space for food platters. Added bonus; when you don’t need them as a centerpiece, you now have three separate floral arrangements to spread throughout your home. I used the large leaf placemats to anchor the entire centerpiece, allowing for the candles to feel more integrated.
I used 4 types of flowers, all purchased at Trader Joe’s for a total of $24. For less than one of those multicolored, mulit-flower bouquets I was able to create a stunning, sophisticated and abundant centerpiece.
Roses $10
Carnations $5
Veronica $5
Alstroemeria $5
I hope these give you a few more holiday decor ideas for your table this season. Wishing you the happiest and healthy of holiday seasons. As you know, I love hearing from you in the comments. Let me know what you think and if you used any of these or other ideas. Thank you for your loyal readership.
For more table setting & holiday ideas, check out these posts:
Napkin Folding - 5 Basic Folds - Countless Options
Table Setting - A Multitude of Options
Napkin Folding - A Few Festive Ideas
Thanksgiving Table Settings - Casual to Elegant Although this post has a Thanksgiving/Fall feel there are elements that can inspire any holiday table.
