How to Create Memorable Holiday Tables

During the holidays, entertaining guests can be one of the most exciting activities for homeowners. This can also be one of the most anxious times, as the challenge of making the party memorable creates additional stress for the host.

Having a dining environment you can be proud of does not require loads of cash. Beautiful dining room sets come in many shapes and sizes, with a multitude of price points. Whether you choose traditional or contemporary styles, the holiday dining experience starts and ends with the dining table and, ultimately, what ends up on it.

What ends up on the table is often fraught with multiple moving parts. Recognizing many hosts may be intimidated by the thought of creating a memorable table setting, also known as a tablescape, Darvin Furniture hosted a free workshop to help homeowners ease the stress.

Christy O’Connor, Chief Floral Designer & Event Coordinator for BoKAY Flowers in Frankfort, has been creating distinct tablescapes for clients for more than 10 years. Her recommendations begin with breaking down the keys to taking a calm and structured approach to the tablescape.

Where to Start
Because there can be a multitude of different pieces involved in a potential table setting design, from the centerpiece, glassware and tableware to accents such as the napkins and place cards, O’Connor says finding a starting point helps focus the process.

There’s no wrong way to get to a beautiful table setting, O’Connor says, but there are some ways to minimize the stress. Overall, the goal is to make a statement.

Color & Theme
This is a popular starting point for many table settings and it is often dictated by traditional colors of the season, from oranges and browns for Autumn to reds, greens, silver and golds for December celebrations.

O’Connor emphasizes that there are no wrong color choices if they look great in the setting. Consider picking up less traditional hues such as blue for extra pop and interest around Christmas.

The Centerpiece
The centerpiece is the anchor for the entire table. It features the chosen color palette and reflects the holiday tone of the gathering. Go with as little or as much as you like, but be sure the centerpiece demands attention over the outer ring of featured items on the table.

Consider unique shapes and textures to create a focal point for the table. Consider items such as Birch logs, multiple size pumpkins or vertical shaped lanterns as a starting point.

With a decade of experience working with BoKAY Flowers, O’Connor points out that florals are always going to be a viable option for the centerpiece. O’Connor says you should never give up on a floral centerpiece just because of a few loose petals, just pull off the unsightly petals to keep it looking clean.

Accents Items
Introduce items to your table setting, pairing and adding as you go. If you have the option of gold or silver tableware, try each one to see which provides adequate contrast and impact in conjunction with your color scheme.

Linea Collection by Bernhardt

Napkin Folding adds an attractive and highly functional component to a necessity for the meal. Napkins provide an immediate infusion of color and, with the addition of a napkin ring, offer an instant visual opportunity for the place setting.

Accumulate & Organize
O’Connor suggests being confident when it comes to reusing things you already have in-house. Consider adding a new component every year and build up your available options.

Organize seasonal storage to avoid getting overwhelmed. If things are centrally located in storage you will be able to focus more on the design, rather than locating everything that may be an option.

When it comes to table settings, it’s easy to work within any budget, especially if you have accumulated items to provide yourself with fresh options each year.

Fall corn might get replaced by pine cones, but seasonal tablescapes are easily re-defined by simply changing out just a few items. O’Connor warns not to get overwhelmed by all the variables and not to be focused on changing everything – every year.

Get ideas on the base component of any Table Setting – the TABLE – or checkout the more than 170 dining sets on display at Darvin Furniture's Orland Park showroom.

Darvin PopUp Tablescapes Workshop