Set the tone for a celebratory occasion.
Alison Gootee
Gearing up for big holiday hosting plans?
A successful soiree starts with a stunning Christmas table setting (and a festiveChristmas tree).
Credit:Alison Gootee
Here are our favorite holiday dinner table ideas.
Get yourdining roomdinner-party ready this holiday season with these stunning table arrangements, from place tweaks to centerpieces.
These Christmas dinner table decorations are simple, stunning, and seasonal.
Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; styling: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER
The Easiest-Ever Place Card Holder
Robbie Caponetto Calligraphy: bessbooth.com.
Flatware, place mat, dinner and salad plates, and napkin: shopalkmy.com.
Dessert plate: brombergs.com
Invite guests to the table with personalized pomegranates.
Credit:LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER
Cut a small slit in the crown of the fruit, and then tuck in a calligraphed name card.
Keep the pomegranate from rolling around on the plate by placing a sprig of greenery behind it.
Add hints of greenery into it and you might have a beautiful, understated table.
Credit:Robbie Caponetto Calligraphy: bessbooth.com. Flatware, place mat, dinner and salad plates, and napkin: shopalkmy.com. Dessert plate: brombergs.com
Add a whole star anise for a geometric flourish.
Once theyre complete, set them aside to dry.
Place one at every setting for a festive embellishment.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto; Design: Kathleen Varner
This setup features blue wine glasses, blue rimmed salad plates, and hints of blue in the tablecloth.
Hints of Pink
For a lesser-expected Christmas color palette, weave pink notes into your tabletop.
The tone is also subtly woven into the place cards and simple flower arrangements.
Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; styling: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER
A switch from the standard silver flatware gives this setting extra holiday luster.
Buffy’s tricks could apply to most earthenware, pottery, or transferware dishes.
The CenterpieceGarland draped down the table acts as a runner.
Credit:Alison Gootee
Insert pops of color with red berries, green pears, small apples, and fresh amaryllis.
In lieu of place mats, Buffy improvised with red plaid dish towels folded in half.
“It was just the right look.
Credit:Alison Gootee
I wanted a fabric with a large print, but a table-cloth would have been too dressy.
These were a less expensive option,” she says.
“I mix them with pewter candleholders to take the shine down a notch.”
Credit:Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez Styling: Christina Brockman
The place card holders are easy to make.
Hot-glue three candy canes together with the curved ends fanned out at the bottom so they will stand up.
Fill silver bowls with additional red-and-white peppermints, or scatter them down the table.
Credit:ALISON GOOTEE; STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER
Naturally Neutral
This airy table setting works great in dining rooms with large windows.
Quietly sophisticated china patterns like White Christmas or Eternal by Lenox work perfectly here.
Don’t skip on the mirror underneath the centerpieceit will give the whole table a special glow.
Credit:HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ; styling: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER
The CenterpieceGo for the unexpected when picking traditional flowers for this whimsical table setting.
Buffy chose white ranunculus, star of Bethlehem, and silver dollar eucalyptus to compliment colorful amaryllis and poinsettias.
Fill a small glass vase with about 15 seasonal blooms and fill the gaps with eucalyptus.
Credit:ALISON GOOTEE; STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT MILLER
“Gold is gold,” she says.
That extra hint of shimmer also helps the pastel plates pop off the darker tablecloth.
Buffy secured each folded napkin with ribbon and threaded the tails through a big gold button.
Credit: Southern Living
Their retro shapes are unique, and their textures complement the loose flower arrangement.
Gold spray-painted pinecones bearing names written on eucalyptus leaves serve as place cards.
Finish the table off with mercury glass votives for a warm glow.
Woodsy Wonderland
This forest-inspired setting exudes cottage charm.
For a similar look, Waterford Wood Grain and Martha Stewart Faux Bois give a similar holiday-cozy tone.
The delicate, moss-filled place-card holders.
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Rustic And Refined
Have a richly-colored wood dining table, or even a weathered surface?
Hence this simple, red velvet cake box-inspired display.
Airy Evergreen
A fresh take on the usual greens of Christmas.
An all-greenery arrangement pairs well with the retrained glitz of these silver ornaments.
Colorful Christmas
Color-lovers, rejoice!
This crafty table works summertime colors into a seasonal setting.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
Layer plates to make each setting vibrant.
The whole look is rich, fun, and celebratory.
Go for holly berry-red goblets to elevate your glassware to holiday mode.
Echo the feel with fauna-themed china and add glow with gold-rimmed glassware and votive candles.
Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Credit: Southern Living
Credit: SOUTHERN LIVING
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Credit: SOUTHERN LIVING
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn
Credit: Photo: Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling
