The holidays are fast approaching and we all know what that means…stretchy pants! Can I get an Amen? Two of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are celebrated with family and friends sitting around the table, with good conversation, laughter, and loads of really good food. So knowing how to set a pretty table is key to creating a festive holiday atmosphere for family and friends to gather.
I personally LOVE to set a beautiful table. It’s one of my favorite parts of preparing for the holidays. I will set aside an entire morning to make sure I set the perfect table. I love the entire process of setting the table, from ironing the tablecloth and cloth napkins, to polishing the silver and creating the perfect centerpiece. A beautifully set table creates the tone for the entire holiday. It lets my family and friends know that I care about them and that the meal that’s coming is going to be a really good one! No hot dogs or mac & cheese is on the menu, LOL!
It can seem rather intimidating setting a more formal table. Where does everything go at each place setting? Is it going to be expensive to do it? Where do you start? There are so many questions, that it can quickly become too overwhelming. As I thought about it I realized that not everyone is as obsessed about setting the table like I am. Not everyone wants to or has the time to spend an entire day setting the table.
First let me ease your mind, setting a pretty table does not have to cost you a fortune. Nor do you have to go out and purchase all new dishes, stemware or utensils or loads and loads of tchotchkes to create an elaborate centerpiece. I’m a huge fan of using what you already have in creative ways. I challenge myself each year to use what I already have in creative new ways and not purchase anymore stuff.
I’ve put together this post to go through everything, step-by-step, from setting the most basic, everyday table, to setting a much more elaborate table for those special occasions like the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday celebrations that are quickly approaching.
So take a deep breath and relax. You can do this, I promise! I’m going to give you the basics, plus loads of ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Let’s start with an everyday, very basic table setting. When I was growing up and my mother told me to set the table for dinner this is pretty much how it looked.
There are five basic components to a place setting:
- Plate
- Fork
- Knife
- Beverage glass
- Napkin
Depending on what is being served, you may need to add a spoon to the basic components.
Whether you are setting a very basic weeknight table for your family or a more elaborate table for the holidays or a special occasion, every place setting will start these basic elements. On a busy weeknight I rarely bother with cloth napkins; disposable paper napkins or even a paper towel will do for a quick, casual weeknight meal.
TIP: For the longest time I could never remember what side of the plate the forks and knives went on. Then a friend shared this easy way to remember. The word LEFT has four letters, and fork has four letters, so the fork goes on the left side of the plate. The word RIGHT has five letters; knife and spoon both have five letters, so they go on the right side of the plate. Such a simple, easy way to remember where the fork, knife and spoon go at each place setting.
That was easy, right? So let’s step it up a little. Let’s say you’ve invited your best friend over for dinner. No need to panic. I am using my everyday dishes and utensils at each place setting. How do you take a basic table setting and make it just a little fancier? I’m here to let you know the easy secret. Adding layers!
A basic weeknight table setting looks just a bit more special when you add a placemat underneath. Not only are you adding another layer, but it’s an easy way to add some texture which makes the setting look just a little more luxurious.
Now let’s step it up a few more notches and set a more formal table for the holidays. Each place setting will contain the basic elements, just like what we used for an everyday place setting. But now we are going to step up the “fancy” by incorporating a few more layers and a couple more elements. If you have a table cloth, cloth napkins, napkin rings, and stemware you will want to gather them together.
TIP: Thrift stores are a fantastic resource if you are looking for dishes or stemware. You can pick them up for a song!
It’s the same basic components, I just added more interest with color and a few more layers. Not only does a placemat add interest, but it helps keep crumbs and drips off the surface of your table, making clean up after the meal a snap. You still with me? I told you this is not hard.
Using multiple layers is an easy and inexpensive way to add interest to the table and transforms a basic place setting into one that’s much more special for the holidays.
Adding a festive table cloth, a cloth napkin with a special napkin ring, and stemware transformed a very basic table setting and turned up the “fancy” factor. Notice that I used the same plate, silverware and placemat that I use on my everyday table. Not only will you save money if you can use your everyday dishes for your holiday table, but they can go in the dishwasher after the meal. No need to spend time hand washing fine china after the big meal. That means you have more time to spend with your family and less time spent in the kitchen cleaning up. That’s a win-win-win situation all around!
Beautiful napkin rings can cost a small fortune if you are hosting a large group for Thanksgiving. Learn how you can easily create these Gorgeous, Nature Inspired Napkin Rings for your Thanksgiving table in under an hour using natural, inexpensive elements.
Don’t have any napkin rings? Not feeling especially crafty? Too many things on your to-do list with the holidays approaching? Try this last minute napkin ring idea. Tie a length of jute twine, string, or ribbon around a cloth napkin in a simple bow for an instant, inexpensive napkin ring. Tuck in a cinnamon stick and a sprig of greenery from your garden to create this beautiful nature inspired napkin ring. Not only is it inexpensive, quick and easy, but it adds texture and interest along with a lovely natural scent at each place setting!
Once you have mastered the basic formula for each place setting it’s so very easy to change it up for each holiday. Notice how changing out the color scheme with the tablecloth, napkins, napkin rings, and a few simple seasonal touches completely transforms the look? Swapping out the water hyacinth placemat with a gold charger adds a more formal, elegant look for Christmas.
If you look closely, the same basic elements are used, just in slightly different ways. The use of color, multiple layers and a variety of textures gives each table below interest and makes it feel more special for the holidays.
My favorite part of setting a holiday table is creating the centerpiece, the coup de grace. Again this doesn’t have to cost you a small fortune. Some of the prettiest center pieces I have created over the years were made from items I already had on hand and were primarily made with natural elements I picked up when I was out on my morning walks. Mother Nature is so often my inspiration for beautiful accents and decor.
A beautiful centerpiece can be as simple as a long wooden dough bowl filled with pinecones or Christmas ornaments. How about using a silver tray to display fall colored leaves and acorns collected on a morning walk for your Thanksgiving table?
Keep these elements in mind when creating a centerpiece for your holiday table:
- Pick a theme.
- Stick with a tight color pallet to create a cohesive, pulled together look.
- Use natural elements that are easy on the pocketbook to add texture and interest.
- Keep the center piece low enough so it doesn’t hamper conversation and guests can see each other while seated around the table.
- Candles add shimmer and sparkle, incorporate them if you can.
- Keep it simple.
If you are looking for some great holiday inspired ideas, check out this post I wrote last year after attending a ladies Christmas luncheon at my church. It’s chock full of beautiful images to get your creative juices going. Holiday Inspiration For Setting A Gorgeous, Elegant Christmas Table.
You can copy these ideas or use just an element that inspires you. You can go full out fancy or keep it much more simple. Sometimes the simplest touches add a lovely elegance to the table that can get lost if you have a lot of decorative items on the table. One of my personal favorite table settings was the one I created for Easter last year. I used a row of mismatched crystal candlesticks that I had collected from various thrift store trips over the years as the centerpiece. It was a very simple, minimalist centerpiece but it had such an understated elegance to it that I just loved!
Find out the Easy Formula For Setting An Elegant Easter Table.
When you sit down at the table this Thanksgiving to break bread with those that mean the most to you, I encourage you to take the time to create a beautiful setting to enjoy, not just the fabulous food you prepared, but also the company of those you love. Family seems to linger longer when they are sitting at a beautifully appointed table. Some of the best holiday memories I have are the ones of family and friends seated around the table enjoying a long, leisurely holiday meal together. You don’t have to set aside an entire day to set a beautiful table, and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to do it either. Just start with the basic elements. Use what you already have, and add in a few special touches to elevate the everyday into a beautiful, truly memorable holiday table. You got this!!!
Did You Set A Beautiful Table?
Be sure to snap a pic and tag it #naturewayblog I love, love, love hearing from my readers! Please, don’t forget to leave a comment and a review below, and tag me on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, or TWITTER!
May I ask a small favor? If you enjoyed this blogpost would you be so kind and like the page? Just click the “like” button down at the very bottom, at the end of the post. It lets me know what you are enjoying the most. It also helps me focus my attention on creating content that will be most meaningful and beneficial to you, my readers. And don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so you never miss out on all the latest that’s happening here at Nature Way. Thank you and God bless!
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35
Remember…Jesus ❤️’s you!