Styling a Welcoming Dining Table Setup for the Holidays

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and there is no time like the present to start thinking about how you’re going to decorate your home, especially if you plan on hosting any guests. As you dig out your wreaths, Christmas trees, decorative pumpkins, and scented candles, don’t forget the centerpiece of so many holiday celebrations: your dining room table. With food playing such a central role in the festivities, your table should be at its absolute best to help capture the holiday spirit. If you’re looking for some inspiration, just check out our helpful list of suggestions below.

But before we get started, if you don’t already have an appropriate dining room table, now is the time to get one! Our Sarasota furniture store has a wide selection of dining tables available for every budget and every need. When choosing the perfect table, make sure to choose one that will complement the room. If the table is too large, not only can it make it difficult for your guests to seat themselves, it will also overpower anything else in the room. Conversely, if the table is too small, it will be both impractical for your holiday meal but will also run the risk of looking disproportionately small. Remember, if, in doubt, many tables have leaves and can be adjusted to fit. Now, with that being said, let’s get into the decorating!

Table runners

If you’re not quite ready to commit to a full tablecloth (maybe you’d like to show off the beautiful wood grain of your new Matter Brothers table), then a table runner will be right up your alley. These run down the center of the table, adding a touch of interest and decor to your table setting without overpowering the decor. If you’re planning on hosting your family’s Thanksgiving dinner, try to avoid kitschy cartoon turkeys and pilgrims; instead, try a nice floral or minimalist acorn/pumpkin/leaf runner. Not only are these classy and modern, but they are also much easier to accessorize without looking too overdone. For Christmas, you’ll have some more varied options, but remember, less is more. It is much easier to decorate around a table runner with a simple design than it is one with a busy design. For Hanukkah, a royal blue runner with white, gold, or silver accents is not only very classic but looks wonderful with almost any decorations you may have.

Placemats

Placemats aren’t just a way to keep your table looking nice and neat (though they do that quite well), they’re also a great way to dress up your table for the holidays! You can find them in just about any sort of design imaginable, regardless of what holiday you’re celebrating. Again, we recommend that you avoid overly busy or kitschy designs, especially you plan on utilizing other decorations. Unless your table is exceptionally wide (or if it’s round or oval), we recommend that you not mix placemats and a table runner–otherwise, your table will look overwhelming. If you do choose to mix a runner and placemats, make sure that 1.) they match or at least coordinate well, and 2.) that there are at least 4-6 inches between the top edge of the placemat and the bottom edge of the table runner. If you’re buying a new table at our Sarasota furniture store, be sure to measure the top of the table so that you have an idea of how much space you’ll have to work with.

Foliage & other natural materials

Foliage is a classic way to decorate a table for the holidays, but that doesn’t mean that it has to look dated! Adding some minimalistic greenery to dining room tables is very popular at the moment. For a fall-themed table, pumpkins and other gourds are all very solid options; to make orange gourds stand out a bit more, try accessorizing with deep eggplant purple table linens. Dark hunter green will also work, especially if combined with the purple. For winter holidays, greenery (such as spruce or pine boughs), especially if combined with pinecones, red winter berries, and/or holly, is a wonderful choice. Just make sure that your pinecones aren’t scented; these can clash with the fragrances from the food.

Candles

Candles are such a versatile way to decorate tables–whether you prefer tall tapers or stout three-wicks, they’re a fantastic way to dress up your table. One of their distinct advantages is that you can use them to quickly and easily add color to your table; for example, if you’re decorating your table for Christmas dinner with a white table runner and winter greenery, red-toned candles will add a lovely pop of color without looking out of place (if you’re going for a more understated elegance with the above color scheme, try burgundy or deep red instead of bright cherry red candles). Furthermore, you can use decorative candle holders to enhance the effect. Cut crystal works well for elegant affairs, and hollowed-out gourds work great for Thanksgiving tables. If you’re worried about the fire hazard, you can opt to either not light the candle or use a flameless LED candle.

Placecards

Decorative place cards have been all over the internet for several years now, and for good reason. They offer a quick, easy, and stylish way to not only decorate your table but also to organize your seating chart. One of the beauties of using place cards is that you can make them yourself, either on the computer or by hand. However, if you’d rather outsource the job, there are a number of places where you can order them from. If you’d like, you can even get creative with them and have your guests’ names written on mini pumpkins, candles, or napkin rings.

Whether you already have a dining room table or are in the market for a new one (in which case be sure to check out our Sarasota furniture sale), dressing it up for the holidays doesn’t have to be hard. With just a little bit of planning and the strategic application of decorations, your dining room table will be all ready for the coming holidays, whatever they may have in store. Visit our Sarasota showroom today –  or any of our other 4 convenient locations, or contact us to get started on your beautiful new dining room – just in time for the holidays!