Create a Coastal-Chic Holiday Table

Breezy fabrics, woven textures and seashells work surprisingly well with evergreens, mercury glass and elegant china. With seashells available in craft stores year round, you don't have to live by the seaside to use beach inspired decor when the holidays roll around. Add in favorite pieces beach vacation finds to give the table a personal touch.

A piece of loosely-woven, almost-sheer fabric provides a fresh and textural backdrop for this table setting. To keep things simple and casual, leave edges raw and allow them to fray slightly. Use fresh evergreen branches in place of a runner and sprinkle small shells and sand dollars randomly over them.

Place cards are a great way to make guests feel welcome and special. Create a beachy version by writing each name on the inside of a clam shell with a metallic permanent marker. Rest it on a small evergreen sprig or a colorful napkin — you want to make it stand out. Allow guests to take it home as a small favor. Tip: Leave a blank shell and marker for each guest, so they can embellish it or write a holiday greeting to the host.

Woven textures like rattan and grass cloth reinforce the beach feel of the table in a subtle way. Look for placemats, chargers, napkin rings or serving baskets in these natural, woven materials. Pieces like this can then be used in for future occasions, since they are not specifically beach-or-Christmas-themed.