Holiday Tablescapes

With the holidays come celebration, family, friends, and of course, home. Just because you are having an intimate family dinner at home doesn't mean you can't create a beautiful tablescape that is worthy of a luxurious wedding! I've come up with a cheat sheet for you, as well as a few inspiring tables we've found. Your family and guests will undoubtedly be impressed with your hostessing skills!

A few easy tips to remember:

Pick a theme...
First off, you must decide what feeling you are trying to evoke: rustic, glamorous, exotic, casual, etc. Make sure that you use this theme throughout your decision making process when selecting your color scheme, centerpieces, florals, etc. For example, if you are aspiring for a rustic feel, make sure to select colors and textures that express that; i.e. think warm color tones and different textures by incorporating burlap and twine. Whereas if you are going for more of a glamorous feel, you would use cool tones, whites, metallics, and clean lines. 

Use what you have...
Once you've selected a theme, look around your home and see what you have. Many times, there are great objects in your home that you can incorporate into your tablescape. For example, you may have many unused glass floral vases and/or interesting glass bowls. These can be filled with holiday metallic ornaments, different items in your color palette, branches that you've painted, stones, or floating florals, to name a few ideas. Some of my best ideas have come from using something ordinary that can be found in any home, to create an extraordinary tablescape. 

Don't be afraid to step outside of the "Holiday" box...
Even though you may be tempted to use green and red, fake snow, and poinsettias-remember that bold color choices (even a little zebra print!) can still evoke the holiday spirit! I challenge you to stray away from the "norm". You are more likely to wow your guests if you do the unexpected.

Get crafty...
There are many ways to put your own personal touch on the table, from the placemat to the napkin rings. For example, even if it is a small event, with just five of your closest friends, you can still make unique place cards with their names. For example, paint five stones a metallic color and then write their names on each stone. The stone can be placed on their respective plates. For more of a rustic feel, gather pine cones (or purchase at a craft store); write each name on a small card and place within the pine cone in front of each plate. Bling out a christmas ball ornament in rhinestones with the monogrammed initials of each guest. There are many simple craft ideas that will add that extra personal touch.

Make sure to HAVE FUN and be creative with decorating your table this holiday season; please share your pictures with us!

Happy Holidays to you and yours,
The Diva