Design Guide: How to Style the Perfect Holiday Table!
Want to make your holiday table feel extra special this year? We’re sharing our best tricks to create a tablescape the whole family will love.
Holiday entertaining is about so much more than the perfect tabletop decor. It’s about family and friends gathering to create lifelong memories. Memories that transport you back in time, where you can recall the place, people, smells, and emotions of the moment. But holiday styling and decor are an important part of the equation. A well-designed tablescape creates ambiance, transforming your dining table from every day to festive, magical, and welcoming. This is true for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any day worth celebrating. Maybe you’ve always wanted an Instagram-worthy table, but never quite know how to create a holiday tablescape from those Pinterest pins. We’ve got you, friend. Not only are we sharing festive tablescape inspiration for your table, but we’ve rounded up all the must-have design ingredients to help you recreate this holiday table and centerpiece in your own home.
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CREATE A FOUNDATION FOR YOUR TABLESCAPE
Let your setting dictate your tablescape. Before you begin, determine the basics of your holiday gathering: how many guests, where you’re eating, and when you’re serving the meal. This can help you decide not only the furnishings you’ll need, but what tabletop decor is appropriate.
Our studio is located in Texas, so we opted to host our studio Thanksgiving gathering outside. We selected a handcrafted table with a rich, weathered patina and paired it with industrial chairs that are classic and simple. While you likely have a functional table and chairs, the holiday season is often when people opt to upgrade their dining room furniture, so we’ve linked some great options below.
We decided on an evening meal, both to take advantage of cooler temps and because we love a more intimate dining experience with soft evening lighting. These fundamental choices create our blank canvas to begin designing the perfect tablescape for our holiday meal.
SHOP FURNISHINGS
ADD LAYERS AND TEXTURES TO YOUR TABLETOP
Now that you’ve got the basics in place, the real fun begins. The secret to designing a holiday table that’s warm and inviting? Layers.
Unlike off-the-shelf matching sets, layers add richness, warmth, and comfort to your tabletop. This can feel intimidating – after all, a new set of perfectly matched dinnerware feels foolproof – but it’s actually good news. You can often mix and match what you have on hand to create really interesting, personal place settings.
Vintage is a great approach and often affordable. For our tablescape, we layered a white linen tablecloth that we scored at an estate sale for only $1.00! Because we didn’t want to cover up the richness of our artisan tabletop, we draped the tablecloth into a runner and let some of the wood grain shine through.
We added wooden beads, off-white linens, leather napkin rings, and woven baskets for additional texture. Up for a little DIY? Caroline over at Burkatron shares the simple steps to create your own leather napkin rings. Find the instructions here.
Got a set of fancy china you never use? No need to be overly formal, here. Try layering in the salad plate with your everyday white dinnerware for a mix and match table setting that’s personal and special. We used classic enamelware to complete our place settings for a slightly elevated, yet informal appearance.
Remember, beautiful tablescapes may look effortless, but anyone who’s had to design their own holiday table knows the key is experimentation. So don’t be intimidated! Try out a few different arrangements and material pairings until you find a combination that feels right.
SHOP LAYERS AND TEXTURES
Add IN Natural Elements
Autumn’s natural beauty speaks for itself. Seasonal produce and florals can elevate your tablescape in a major way. For our table, we brought in nature with pumpkins, flowers, and greenery.
We opted for jewel-toned flowers to bring a pop of color to our neutral centerpiece. The rich plum and muted green eucalyptus signal the changing of the seasons, and would be at home on a Christmas tabletop as well.
We purchased our flowers, but utilizing ingredients from your garden or yard is a great way to personalize your table setting.
SHOP NATURAL ELEMENTS
GET YOUR TABLESCAPE LIGHTING JUST RIGHT
When we decided on an evening dinner, we knew the lighting would be just right. But every tablescape needs some candlelight.
We brought in ambient lighting with plum tapers that tied together beautifully with the floral arrangements and set them atop modern brass candlesticks. I love the juxtaposition of the modern candle holders against the weathered tabletop.
These layers of color, texture, and finish create depth and enhance the atmosphere of your holiday table.
SHOP LIGHTING
PROVIDE PROVISIONS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY TABLE
There would be no party without great food! We opted for a more family-style approach and started the evening serving up an assortment of charcuterie, crackers, and produce on a warm, wooden serving board.
The best part about a cheese board (other than that brie) is that it doubles as a centerpiece on its own. Layer in fruits and vegetables for rich color, an assortment of crackers, cheeses, and spreads, and you’ve got a little something for everyone at your holiday table.
SHOP PROVISIONS
GATHER YOUR PEOPLE
While we love creating a magical tablescape, we know the most important part of your holiday table is who you share it with.
This year has been hard. You may be missing friends and family you typically see more often. The holiday season might look different than in years past, and traditions you’ve enjoyed for years might not feel the same.
We see you. No matter how you celebrate this year – whether your table is set for 2 or 12 – we hope these tips have inspired you to make the day a little extra special. To stop and soak in the moment, to look at the faces around you (or on your Zoom call), and acknowledge all the good.
We truly hope this year’s holiday table is where good company is shared and cherished memories are made.
LOVE THIS TABLESCAPE? IT CAN BE YOURS!
We have so much to celebrate here at the Studio. A new city, office, projects, and friends. And: We reached 500 instagram followers! To share in the celebration, we’re giving away the key elements of this tablescape to one lucky winner so you can recreate the magical holiday table in your own home for the holidays.
What’s included in the tablescape giveaway?
Vintage white tablecloth
6 woven linen napkins
6 tan leather napkin rings
6 drinking glasses
Brass candlesticks w/ plum taper candles
Wooden beads with tassels
Solid wood charcuterie board
That’s over $200 worth of timeless decor shipped right to your door.
So how do you make this tablescape yours?
There are a few ways to enter in our giveaway – we invite you to take advantage of them all.
First, follow @ledgerandladder on Instagram and tag a friend. Each friend you tag equals one entry, so the more the merrier!
Second, share our giveaway post in your stories for 5 additional entries in the giveaway drawing.
Finally, sign up for our Studios monthly newsletter. We’ll send our insider design tips, home inspiration pics, and behind the scenes details on current projects. Plus, insiders are the first to know about future promos and giveaways. Sign up for 10 entries into the drawing.
Thanks for reading, friends! We hope this post inspires you to decorate for the upcoming holidays. And be sure to share with friends and family for their chance to win, too!
That about sums it up,
Jocelyn