How To Create A Modern Holiday Tablescape

Whether it's your first attempt at hosting a holiday family gathering, or your 10th, inspirational ideas never go out of style.

The Top 4 Holiday Tablescape Ideas

Table Toppers. So many options! A classic white, cream or “greige” (grey + beige) tablecloth provides a blank canvas to bring your tablescape vision to life.  White or neutral dinnerware looks beautiful against a colorful background.  A table runner “runs” the length of your table and creates the perfect runway for your holiday décor.  Placemats let you set each place setting individually - and there’s no rule that says everything must match.

Cloth napkins are inexpensive and you'll have them forever.  They are multi-functional (it's how to keep those fresh-baked rolls warm), and you can also have some decorative fun.  Fold them, tent them or create a pouch where you can insert silverware, a flower or herb sprig or even a mini menu.  Mix colors and patterns to add to your table’s holiday magic.

Flowers add visual candy with colorful pops of holiday florals. The most popular include: Amaryllis, Poinsettia, Orchids and Roses. And then there’s dried:  Canella berries, grasses, wild lily pods or blue thistle. Mix them up in glasses, pitchers, ice buckets or even a wicker basket for some visual fun.

Get Glowing: Who doesn’t love candlelight? Candles come in so many shapes and sizes so get creative and mix and match. Try them in a trio of lanterns. Or place tall pillar candles inside cylindrical vases. Mercury glass votives create shimmery dots of light around the table. Or craft a holiday centerpiece with a mix of candles, fresh and dried flowers. You can’t go wrong mixing up nature’s elements.

Now that you know what goes on top of the table, let Emma + Oliver help you set the groundwork. Shop our serving and bar carts. Lots of family? Shop our folding tables and stacking side chairs that neatly store away after the holidays. Shop our folding chairs. Entertaining little people? Shop our folding tables and chairs for pint-sized guests. Does the holiday host need a place to rest? Shop our bean bag chairs.