Holiday Table Inspiration // 6 Tablescape Ideas for All Types of Families
November 17, 2017
By:
Becca Grabner
One of the best parts about the holiday season is spending quality time with friends and family. It’s the time of year that we all travel near and far to be close to the people we love. It may even be the only time of year you get to see certain people, which can make the holidays extra special. And what do we do with this precious time we have with our loved ones? We gather around the table.
We baste turkeys, we mash potatoes, we compile green bean casseroles. Some of us bake pecan pies from scratch using grandma’s recipe. Some of us pick out the prettiest pumpkin pie at the grocery store. However we do it, we put together a feast because somehow food and love go hand-in-hand. We pour the wine, and we gather around the table to celebrate the blessing of friends and family.
The LIY Team & I [hi, this is Becca] put together several tablescapes, in hopes that one of them inspires you as you set a place at the table for your loved ones this holiday season. Whether you like to dress your table to the nines, or you prefer something simple and easy, we have you covered. Below you will find table-top inspiration for Thanksgiving and Christmas in three different categories; Quick and Easy, Kid Friendly, and All Decked Out. Choose the one that works best for your family, and your table will be ready for guests to arrive!
Quick and Easy // Thanksgiving
Even though this tablescape looks beautiful, it can be recreated in 3 easy steps! First, lay out a blanket scarf that can serve as a table runner. The flannel scarf we chose adds a warm and cozy look to this table. Next, pick up 3 bouquets from your local florist, grocery store or even your backyard! We chose flowers in autumn colors and added them to these beautiful vases from the Hearth & Hand collection. And lastly, add some fun paper napkins to pull it all together! Below, you’ll find the items we used to create this look — simply add to cart and you can recreate this Thanksgiving tablescape in minutes!
This tablescape is fun and festive, but it serves two other purposes as well — reminding everyone to count their blessings, and keeping the little ones occupied during dinner! Each place setting includes a card for guests to write or draw what they are thankful for [print yours here], as well as color in the turkey! Simply print off the cards the LIY Team designed just for you and add a bundle of colored pencils for each guest! The table also has a Kraft paper runner, faux pumpkins and clusters of pinecones for all the autumn vibes!
All Decked Out // Thanksgiving
If you want your guests to “oooh” and “ahhh”, this is the tablescape for you! The long mirror in the center doubles the sparkle from the candles — talk about ambiance! We went with a black and gold theme, and all the little details from shiny gold chargers to place card holders to the “Gather” napkin rings make this tablescape absolutely stunning!
Quick and Easy // Christmas
For those of you who want your table to look nice but don’t have a lot of time to invest, try this simple idea for a holiday tablescape! No need to waste time on washing table linens after dinner is over — we created this table runner by rolling out some pretty wrapping paper! Next, we added three beautiful lanterns with pillar candles inside — Tip: If you want your home to smell incredible, try the ones from the Hearth & Hand collection at Target. Finally, we finished off the look with festive paper napkins. It’s as easy as that!
Kid Friendly // Christmas
Christmas morning will be remembered for more than just the gifts with this cocoa bar tablescape! We created this adorable table setting for a holiday breakfast that the kids will love! We started with a dark-colored tablecloth that can easily be thrown in the wash after the meal [in case of cocoa spills]. Down the center of the table, you will find varying shapes and sizes of vases and jars [use plastic if your kiddos are younger] overflowing with cocoa toppers such as marshmallows, sprinkles, candy canes and more! We added some cute little deer figurines, cars and garland to add to the holiday fun! At each table setting, you will find a festive melamine plate, a holiday mug, and a stocking with each child’s initial. The stocking holds silverware and sits on top of a coloring page to keep those little busybodies occupied! This tablescape might mean a sugar high, but it will likely be worth it for the fun memories made around the table!
One Christmas tree is good, but 20 trees are definitely better! We created a little forest of trees for this tablescape — a magical forest of green, red, white, silver and gold trees of varying shapes, sizes, textures and materials down the center of the table overtop a glimmering table runner. Each table setting includes a shiny gold charger, a little house place card holder, and an ornament sitting atop a fabric napkin. It doesn’t get more festive than that!
There you have it! Six tablescape ideas for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Hopefully, you found a bit of inspiration in this post, and are ready to set the table for your family this holiday season!
Where ideas and aesthetics meet, Becca is our creative mastermind behind the brand. As LIY’s Creative Director, she is responsible for curating the content you see on the blog, the designer of our Life + Style Planner, and keeps LIY moving forward in new and exciting ways. With a desire to see the world [and all of the Gilmore Girls episodes on repeat] Becca is happiest traveling the globe or at home with a full glass of wine in hand.
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