Crafty + Classic Christmas Table Setting

The holidays are all about entertaining; make the meal memorable with our tips for a beautiful Christmas tablescape filled with crafty (but not costly) touches.

December 19, 2019

By: H. Camille Smith

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Photo By: Cassidy Garcia; Styling by H. Camille Smith

Pull Up a Chair

For most of us, the holidays equal hustle and bustle — make time to relax, enjoy a lazy meal and catch up with friends and family. Setting a guest-impressing holiday table (without cutting into your Christmas gift fund) is easier than you may think — read on to learn how.

From: H. Camille Smith

Pick a Palette

Red, green and white is a Christmas color combo that never goes out of style. Keep it classic by choosing dishes, linens and decor in these three colors, then make it interesting by mixing patterns.

From: H. Camille Smith

Silverware: What Goes Where?

Place setting 101: Start with a charger (check your local dollar or craft store for inexpensive options), followed by the dinner plate. Top it with a smaller salad plate, followed by a place card or favor. To the left, place the napkin and fork, to the right: the knife (blade turned in) and spoon. Voila, a beautiful place setting in a snap.

From: H. Camille Smith

Play With Patterns

When planning your place settings, ditch matchy-matchy and mix different patterns for a designer look. For ours, we mixed a Scandinavian-inspired embroidered napkin with a porcelain plaid dinner plate topped by an inexpensive melamine striped salad plate.

From: H. Camille Smith

Craft Easy Upcycled Vases

In just a few steps, you can turn dollar-store, shatterproof ornaments into mini vases to brighten up your holiday table. Add a handwritten tag so they can also serve as place cards, then send them home with guests as a blooming favor.

Get the How-To: Christmas Craft: Make Easy Upcycled Ornament Vases

From: H. Camille Smith

And, Mini Yarn-Wrapped Trees

Chunky yarn, hot glue and wood rounds are all you need to give dollar- or craft-store foam topiaries a cozy, Christmasy makeover.

Get the How-To: Easy Yarn-Wrapped Mini Christmas Trees

From: H. Camille Smith

Soften Seating

Ensure guests want to linger by cozying up hardback chairs with colorful throws or pillows. Choose materials that fit your classic Christmas theme, like a traditional tartan or festive Fair Isle knit.

From: H. Camille Smith

Rock a Vintage Vibe

Nothing boosts your table's style cred like antique and vintage Christmas collectibles, especially when they're family hand-me-downs that add a sentimental touch. But, don't worry if you didn't inherit your grandmother's funky starburst candleholders. Many Christmas collectibles can be found for a steal at estate sales, flea markets, church bazaars and garage sales.

From: H. Camille Smith

Go for the Gold

Move over, stainless steel — it's gold's turn to shine. Gold has increasingly become designers' choice for fancy flatware but, like anything that's trendy, new sets can be pricey. Check estate sales, thrift stores and yard sales for vintage sets, many still in their original box, with the same golden gleam as new flatware but without the hefty price tag.

From: H. Camille Smith

Light It Up

Nothing adds a magical glow like candlelight. Set your table alight with tapers placed down the center of the table.

From: H. Camille Smith

Give Guests Their Space

Get-togethers can sometimes feel a bit stuffy. Help your guests relax and avoid the question of, "Is this your fork or mine?" by giving each place setting a bit of breathing room.

From: H. Camille Smith

Charge On

Give each place setting an added touch of glitz with chargers. Also known as underplates or service plates, chargers look fancy but can be found at your local dollar or craft store, making them a wallet-friendly way to boost your table's wow factor.

From: H. Camille Smith

Crafty + Classic Christmas Table Setting

Related To:

Shop This Look

Pull Up a Chair

Pick a Palette

Silverware: What Goes Where?

Play With Patterns

Craft Easy Upcycled Vases

And, Mini Yarn-Wrapped Trees

Soften Seating

Rock a Vintage Vibe

Go for the Gold

Light It Up

Give Guests Their Space

Charge On

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