The holidays are quickly approaching, which means that you’ll most likely be hosting family and friends over at least once in the coming months, whether for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or just a seasonal dinner party. Design experts agree that a decked out dining table will take any space to the next level. And focusing on this one area of the room comes with other benefits, too. “Decorating a key piece in the space stops you from buying a ton of holiday decor for a full room that makes the space look completely cluttered and incomplete,” Jasmine Crockett of Joy Meets Home points out. Read on for designer tips and get ready to style the dining table you’ve always dreamt of to add a little extra pep to your holiday parties.
Play With Patterns
Designer Amy Youngblood of Amy Youngblood Interiors is a proponent of styling a table to truly shine. “Tablescapes are the perfect way to decorate for the holidays and set the mood for a fun time,” she says. “We love going bold with a fun pattern whether that’s in your tablecloth or placemats. With your napkins, find patterns and colors that work well with that bold pattern; they can be the same but don’t have to be.”
Designer Marlaya Ross notes that some layering is important here. “Layering your table linens (and pairing with festive flatware, glasses, plates, and decor) welcomes your guests to a beautiful meal in the most stylish way,” she says. “The trick with layering is to keep a consistent color scheme between the various pieces.” Ross is also a proponent of using patterns and offers a helpful tip to keep in mind. “If you're mixing patterns, you want to make sure to have one large-scale pattern and the other pattern small-scale for contrast,” she notes.
Incorporate Festive Accessories
Don’t forget to bust out your favorite dishware and accessorize a bit with seasonally appropriate items. “Include fun and unique drinkware, utensils or dishes,” Youngblood suggests. “From there find some good quality foliage to decorate the table with and add candles for that cozy glow!”
Looking for other decorative accents that are ideal for December celebrations? “The perfect holiday table includes vintage ornaments, a traditional pattern, and a pop of color,” says interior stylist and blogger Lindsay Lewis. “I love incorporating dried fruit for a pop of color.” Our latest collaboration with Bauble Stockings is the perfect addition to any tablescape. Sprinkle the mini needlepoint ornaments around the table to dress it up for the holidays.
Incorporate Some Seasonal Scents
While the candles that will set on your tabletop are likely unscented tapers, you will want to introduce fragrance into your dining space, too. Designer Noelle Isbell of Noelle Interiors enjoys incorporating scents such as rosemary, cinnamon, or Christmas tree remains. Guests won't be able to get enough of the ambiance.
Need help picking patterns for your tablescape? Email our design team at design@pepper-home.com for complimentary assistance!