A Recipe for the Perfect Holiday Tablescape
Including the Easiest Way to Get Creases Out of a Tablecloth Without Ironing
I love to host dinner parties for friends and family. After years of renting – without much space to entertain – I was thrilled that our new home has enough room to seat all our loved ones. However, we all know the holiday season looks a bit different in 2020…
Regardless of how you are celebrating this year, whether with close family, a “pod,” or over FaceTime or Zoom, I encourage you to create a festive atmosphere.
Tablescape Ideas for Any Holiday
I follow the same “recipe” every time I set a table, switching a few key elements depending on the season.
Fresh greenery – such as cedar garland for Thanksgiving or Christmas, or seeded eucalyptus for Easter or 17. Mai (Norway’s Constitution Day).
Seasonal blooms – grab what you like from a local florist or grocery store, or even better, cut some trimmings from your garden or along the side of the road.
Candles – mercury glass candle holders are perfectly sparkly for the holidays, or bring in red, white and blue for Independence Day.
A festive element – in the dark months of November and December, I love using twinkle lights; for 17. Mai I scatter small Norwegian flags; and for Easter, I use miniature pastel eggs. Creative place cards are also a great way to amplify a theme.
Mixing and Matching Dinnerware
Don’t stress if you don’t own enough matching plates, wine glasses or flatware for your guests. Mixing and matching styles can work well, as long as it’s done thoughtfully.
For example, you can follow a pattern of every other place setting or have the heads of the table vary from the rest. Here, I didn’t have eight matching wine glasses, so I used another type at the heads of the table. You can bring in different plates, chargers and flatware – just aim to spread the various elements evenly and keep symmetry in mind. This also applies to mixing chairs!
How to Get Creases of Out of a Tablecloth - Without Ironing It
I learned this trick a couple of years ago and I can’t believe how simple it is! Gone are the days of struggling to iron a large tablecloth – all you need is water and a spray bottle. Simply lay your creased tablecloth on the table, mist it with water (be careful not to soak it to avoid damaging your table), and then smooth out the creases with your hands. Let it sit for a few hours and the creases will magically disappear.
A Case for Setting Your Table the Day Before
It seems like no matter how much you prepare in advance, every holiday comes with some stress to the host, so I like to set my table the day before an event. This allows me more time to focus on cooking and other aspects of hosting – like mixing the perfect welcome cocktail.
I’d love to know, how are you celebrating this year?
