Holiday Tablescapes

Nov 12

Entertaining

Candlelight, layered plates and flowers low enough to talk over. How we set a holiday table, shown in ten of our projects.

Dining room with a long walnut table, a row of lit taper candles and a glass globe chandelier — Centenary AvenueA long walnut table lit with a row of taper candles under a cloud of glass globes.

A holiday table should look generous and feel easy. Here is how we set one, with pieces you probably already own.

01Light every candle

Dim the chandelier and let candles do the work. Mix heights and keep them unscented so they never compete with dinner. Brass, wood or a row of simple tapers all look festive.

Dining room with chinoiserie wallpaper, navy windowpane plaid chairs and brass candelabra — Clover Lane & Walnut CreekBrass candelabra on a burl table with windowpane plaid chairs; tall tapers and teal glasses on a long table under a brass pendant.

Dining room with teal velvet chairs, taper candles and a brass tiered pendant — Clover Lane & Walnut CreekBrass candelabra on a burl table with windowpane plaid chairs; tall tapers and teal glasses on a long table under a brass pendant.

02Layer each place setting

A charger, a dinner plate and a smaller plate on top give every seat height. Mixing patterns is easy if you keep one thing constant, like the color or the flatware.

Layered place setting with a striped charger, linen napkin, brass napkin ring and bamboo flatware — Morton StreetA striped charger under a lilac and green plate, a linen napkin with a brass ring and bamboo flatware.

03Bring out the good china

This is the time to use it. A glass-front cabinet keeps it in sight all year and makes setting the table half the fun.

Dining room with a chinoiserie mural, a painted china cabinet and a beaded chandelier — Winding Creek CourtA painted china cabinet full of white dishes against a hand-painted chinoiserie mural.

04Keep flowers low

Guests should see each other across the table. Keep arrangements under about fourteen inches and save the big, dramatic one for the sideboard.

Dining room with patterned drapery, a brass tulip chandelier and a low flower arrangement — Ridgehaven Drive & Greenbriar DriveA low arrangement of tulips on a long table; a tall arrangement on the sideboard with blue tapers on the table.

Dining room with a crystal chandelier, a large flower arrangement on the sideboard and blue taper candles — Ridgehaven Drive & Greenbriar DriveA low arrangement of tulips on a long table; a tall arrangement on the sideboard with blue tapers on the table.

05Set up the bar away from the table

A bar in another room keeps guests moving and the host out of the kitchen. Put out the glasses, a bowl of citrus and something to snack on.

Wet bar with colored glassware on glass shelves and a brass backsplash — Glenwick Lane & Prosper StreetColored glassware on glass shelves against a brass backsplash; a plum bar with pomegranates and limes.

Plum bar cabinetry with graphic wallpaper, pomegranates and limes — Glenwick Lane & Prosper StreetColored glassware on glass shelves against a brass backsplash; a plum bar with pomegranates and limes.

06Plan for the morning after

House guests remember breakfast too. A bowl of clementines and fresh flowers on the kitchen table make the next day feel like part of the holiday.

Breakfast banquette with a wood table, houndstooth chairs, clementines and a wall of decorative plates — Signature SpacesA breakfast banquette with clementines and flowers under a wall of collected plates.

Before guests arrive

Set the table the day before.
Leave room for serving dishes.
Light the candles first, then answer the door.

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