3 Ways To Style Your Holiday Dining Room Table | Architectural Digest

TL;DR

Decorate a holiday dining table by choosing one of three approaches: traditional, modern, or kitsch-inspired. The traditional tablescape builds around inherited silverware, a red tartan tablecloth, white plates, and matching metals; the modern look uses neutral cloth and handmade stoneware, while the kitschy version embraces playful Christmas pieces. Read on for practical guidance on place settings, napkins, glassware, candles, and centerpieces.

Transcript

behold the dining room table she's cute it's the holidays it's her big day I'm an interior designer and I'm going to walk you through how to decorate this table I've put together three different tablescapes and I'm going to show you how to achieve those three different looks say you've inherited your grandmother's silverware we're going to build a ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🚰 Inherited silverware can be the inspiration for a traditional holiday table setting.
• 😫 Choosing the right tablecloth sets the foundation for the overall decor.
• 🤘 Mixing metals and textures adds interest to a modern table setting.
• 💟 Kitsch-inspired decor brings humor and a lighthearted atmosphere to the table.
• 🎄 Centerpieces can include fruit, flowers, or even extra branches from a Christmas tree.
• 🍄 Paper napkins with fun patterns can contribute to a themed table setting.
• 🤢 Personalized name cards can serve as both seating indicators and party favors.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you style a dining room table for the holidays?

Start by choosing a clear direction: traditional, modern, or kitsch-inspired. Develop a color palette, select a tablecloth that supports it, and coordinate the plates, silverware, napkins, glassware, and centerpiece around that look.

Q: How can inherited silverware inspire a traditional holiday tablescape?

Build the setting around the silverware’s ornamental, traditional character. Pair it with a red tartan tablecloth, white plates, a white napkin, and other silver-toned pieces so the metals match.

Q: How should silverware be arranged in a traditional place setting?

Arrange utensils from the outside in according to what guests will use first. Put the salad fork on the outside, followed by the entree utensils, and turn knife blades toward the plates.

Q: How do you arrange plates and glassware for a traditional holiday table?

Use a charger to mark each chair and help the white dinner and salad plates stand out, then place the butter plate on the left. Glasses can be arranged in a line or a group, with a different glass for each drink; the featured setting uses a flute for champagne.

Q: How can you style a napkin for a traditional place setting?

Fold a square white napkin into a triangle, roll it into a long shape, and slide a napkin ring over it. This creates a dramatic presentation and adds symmetry across the table.

Q: What makes a good holiday table centerpiece?

Fruit works well because it is seasonal, fresh-looking, and colorful. Keep fruit or floral arrangements low enough that guests can see one another across the table, and place individual candlesticks on either side if they suit the composition.

Q: Why should holiday dinner-table candles be unscented?

Use non-scented candles because fragrance can compete with the smell of the food. Candles can still contribute to the tablescape without interfering with the meal’s aromas.

Q: What distinguishes traditional, modern, and kitsch-inspired holiday tablescapes?

The traditional approach pulls from matching sets and uses elements such as inherited silverware, tartan, and white china. The modern setting uses a neutral tablecloth, handmade stoneware, and mixed metals and textures, while the kitsch-inspired look features playful Christmas elements such as nutcrackers, cabbage ware, and themed napkin holders.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video provides tips on decorating a dining room table for the holidays, focusing on three different tablescapes.

• The first tablescape is traditional, centered around inherited silverware and a tartan tablecloth.

• The second tablescape is modern, with a neutral tablecloth and handmade stoneware.

• The third tablescape is kitschy and Christmas-themed, featuring a variety of fun and festive elements.