How To Set a Festive Table: 4 Ways - Traditional, Vintage, Organic and Colorful

4 different table settings + 2 easy DIYs for a personal touch

This is our first festive newsletter of the month and it combines some of my favourite things: food, photography, decoration and crafts.

I bring you 4 different ways to set up a festive table so you can get some inspiration for the upcoming gatherings. Below you’ll find beautiful and original pictures, links to most of the items used (not sponsored), and two super easy tutorials that you can follow to create napkin details, ornaments or even home-made gifts!

Come in and grab a sit to my table(s)!

Traditional and Christmassy

This will be the table setting I opt for this Christmas. It’s a classic: a combination of white, green, deep red and gold to summon all the jingle bells and holiday joy.

As you can see, it’s quite simple but it still feels festive. I like that I can reuse most of the items for other occasions and the only thing that screams “Christmas” are the salad plates. Ross and I have definitely splurged with these plates, that are from a famous china store in Denmark, but we are hoping to keep them forever.

I left the centre quite clean with the usage of vases and pots that can be easily removed if the space is needed for serving platters. The greenery is a combination of eucalyptus and holly berry; and the pots are the most Christmassy flowers: Poinsettia. I also added some pomegranates because they tie in with the color and are a winter fruit.

Tip: incorporate a classic Christmas element while leaving the rest quite neutral for an elegant table. This way, you’ll reuse most of the items and save space as you’ll only be storing a set of Christmas plates rather than a full table of things.

List of items used:

Christmas salad plates: Royal Copenhagen Star Fluted Christmas plate

• More affordable Christmas plates: Villeroy & Boch Toy's Delight Appetizer Plate

White dinner plates: Zara Home Classic Porcelain Plate

Golden flatware: McGee and Co McNully Flatware

Green placemats: Bed Threads Olive Placemats

Red napkins: Crate&Barrel Marin Red Napkin

Napkin rings: McGee and Co Kinne Metal Napkin Rings

White table cloth: Bed Threads White Tablecloth

Glasses: Riedel Tumbler Collection

Candle holders: McGee and Co French Horn Taper Holder

Vintage and Wintery

I love how this table scape transports you to a winter wonderland. This setting would be great for Christmas, Hanukkah, a festive dinner with friends and New Years Eve. It all works because it’s tied to the season.

I combined green and blue plates with silver forks and knives for a cool feeling that reminds us of winter temperatures. The centre piece is a garland to which I added eucalyptus, pine cones and glass baubles to incorporate some colourful notes.

Probably the most charming part of this table scape are the homemade ornaments tied around the napkins (the placemats of the previous table setting).

Tip: I particularly like that most of the elements have been thrifted. If you want a similar look, try to collect plates, platters and cutlery from vintage stores, flea markets and antiques. You’ll create a unique table filled with stories.

How to make these ornaments:

You’ll need

• ½ cup Cornstarch

• 1 cup Baking soda

• ¾ cup Water

Instructions

1. Mix the dry ingredients and then add in the water. Stir well.

2. Cook on medium heat, stirring until achieving the consistency of mashed potatoes.

3. Let cool enough for handling, then make into a bowl and cover in cling paper until completely cool.

4. Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick.

5. Use your favourite cookie cutters and rollers to cut out shapes for ornaments.

6. Punch a hole in the top of each ornament so you can tie it later.

7. Set them on a flat surface to air dry for 24h. Flip them once.

8. Tie some string through the hole and use as tree ornaments, napkin detail or gift!

See the video I created of the step-by-step below:

List of items used:

Vintage plates: thrifted

• Similar ones: Zara Home Floral Earthenware Dinner Plate

Flatware: thrifted

• Similar one: Pottery Barn San Marco Flatware Sets

White table cloth: Bed Threads White Tablecloth

Glasses: Boston General Store Brattle Coupe Glass

Candle holders: McGee and Co French Horn Taper Holder

Organic and Rustic

This table setting brings us back to nature, to the last fall foliage on the ground and the fresh pines standing tall.

To recreate this one, you just need to buy some magnolia branches and make them into a garland, adding some pine cones for extra texture. The rest of pieces are everyday plates and coasters, so it’s very easy to mix and match. The festive touch is achieved by the addition of bows made with velvet ribbon and these dry orange slices that can be reused as ornaments for your tree and presents!

Tip: To pull off this style mix natural elements like rattan, wood and artisan-made ceramics. You can also skip the table cloth if your table is wooden and you feel like showing it.

How to make these ornaments:

You’ll need

• Oranges

• Mandolin / Sharp knive

Instructions

1. Set the oven to 200 °F / 93 °C

2. Cut thin orange slices

3. Place them on a parchment paper lined oven tray and bake for 2-4 hours (or until they are dry), flipping the slices every 30 minutes.

4. Make a small hole on them and tie some string to have ornaments to hang!

List of items used:

Salad and dinner plates: Broste Copenhaguen Nordic Sand Plates

Flatware: McGee and Co McNully Flatware

Wooden plate chargers: bought in Thailand

• Similar ones: West Elm Grooved Wood Charger

Rattan coasters: bought in Thailand

• Similar ones: McGee and Co Joanie Woven Coasters

Brown tablecloth: From Zara Home, Discontinued.

• Similar one: FormandBalance Washed Linen Tablecloth in Espresso Brown

Glasses: Zara Home tumblers discontinued

• Similar ones: Boston General Store Spanish Wine Glass

Colorful and bold

The final option is both bold and minimalistic. I have chosen a dark blue table cloth combined with deep red napkins and simple ceramic plates on the cooler side. All elements that can be mix-matched for many other occasions.

The touch of red is like a Christmas alert, but if the napkins were light grey instead, you could easily convert this table scape into a New Year’s Eve one.

I used vases again for a more minimalistic look that can be easily re-arranged. And this time I opted for tea lights rather than taper candles because they are less romantic and more modern-looking.

The placement of the napkins underneath the plates brings a new geometric shape that creates contrast. It also allows the different colors to “touch” emphasising their difference.

Tip: If you want to play with bold colors I suggest making a mood-board first to see if they will go well together and if they will convey the festive feeling you want to create. Sometimes the most unexpected pairings can be stunning!

List of items used:

Salad plates: Crate&Barrel Pedra Artisan Salad Plate

Dinner plates: Broste Copenhaguen Nordic Sand Plates

Silver flatware: Picard Wielpütz Mia

Red napkins: Crate&Barrel Marin Red Napkin

Blue tablecloth: From Zara Home, Discontinued.

• Similar one: Crate&Barrel Marin Indigo Linen Tablecloth

Glasses: I cannot find them.

• Similar ones: Crate&Barrel Aspen Martini Glass

To wrap it up

To wrap it up, here’s a summary of what we’ve been talking about:

• Choose a unique Christmas item for a traditional table mixing it up with neutrals to create an elegant look.

• Thrift vintage plates and flatware for a collected table scape.

• Use natural materials and fabrics for an organic-looking table.

• Be bold with colors but make sure they work first.

• Use your everyday pieces and elevate them with DIY ornaments for an easy festive look.

• Use vases and pots for a removable centrepiece.

• Create a garland for a dramatic scene.

• Have fun experimenting and tag me in your photos so I can see them!