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Trying to be the host with most this year? Want a holiday table with a ton of stunning style? Host your family and friends this holiday season with these eight smart, budget-friendly table-setting ideas and you might be surprised by how impressed they are.
Always Add Placemats
Placemats are an easy way to add a pop of seasonal color or texture. They’re an inexpensive investment, or you can make your own from felt or fabric remnants. Try to avoid using disposables, as these are usually not very eco-friendly.
What is the best material for a placemat?
You have several options for placemat materials, depending on the ease of maintenance and look you’re going for:
- Fabric placemats: Because they’re soft, versatile, and easy to clean (you can throw them in the wash!), fabric placemats will always be popular. Choose from lightweight versions such as cotton and linen for an ethereal feel at your table, or stick with heavier canvas or woven selections for increased durability.
- Plastic or vinyl: If you have young children or will be eating outside, vinyl or plastic placemats are fantastic. They can easily be wiped clean and come in all the colors of the rainbow.
- Cork or wood: For a distinguished look which can also be wiped clean easily, choose a wooden or cork placemat! They will stay in place on your table and definitely serve as a dramatic focal point for your dining room.
Vinyl and cork placemats are an especially good idea if you’re planning on serving lots of hot food because these materials are naturally heat-resistant. Therefore, it’s likely a good idea to get a few of these anyway to place under thin fabric placemats, just to protect your table.
Invest in Classic White Dishes
For a versatile, timeless look, use classic white dinnerware for both every day and entertaining. White dishes also show food to its best advantage – which is why the pros use them for all of their culinary presentations, both in their eateries and for all those delicious looking Instagram shots!
You can purchase inexpensive white plates and bowls in complete sets or a few pieces at a time, since whites will always match with other whites. Bonus: It’s easy to replace pieces if they break.
Alternately, if you want to make holiday cleanup super easy, and still set a stylish table, you could invest in one of these sets of eco-friendly disposable chinaware sets instead.
Or Pull Out Your Vintage China
Dinner parties and the holidays are a great time to use your heirloom china – or the mismatched collection of flea market finds you’ve assembled. When using different sets of dishes on the same table, try to stay in the same color family for the most cohesive results, or unite different patterns by mixing in your white dinnerware for a visual break.
Skip the Fancy Flatware
No one notices, anyway, so press your everyday utensils into use if they’re in good shape. If you need more sets than you own, buy a big batch of discount silverware that you’ll be able to put into service year after year. One great place to look? Thrift stores. There you can often find whole, very fancy sets for just a few dollars, and the same goes for plates, glasses and dishes too.
Stock Up On Stemmed Glasses
Buy sturdy, large wine glasses with plain stems. They can be used for red, white, or sparkling wines, and can even serve as juice or water goblets for adults who aren’t drinking.
Extra Water Glasses are Useful
Plain 12-ounce water glasses are also a good entertaining investment, and also can be used for room-temperature wine or mixed drinks. If there will be kids at the holiday table, invest in some plastic tumblers for their use, as cleaning up broken glass during the big holiday dinner is the last thing you need!
Add a Table Runner
A white tablecloth is always classic, but you can add a layer of color and dimension to your table setting by choosing a table runner cloth in a contrasting tone or design. Or leave a beautiful, textured wood table bare and simply use a table runner in the center.
Cloth Napkins Add Extra Decor Style
Cloth napkins are one of the most inexpensive ways to instantly dress up your table. Napkin rings aren’t necessary; simply fold napkins or roll and tie with a ribbon and a sprig of green. If you have time, iron your napkins first for a detail that makes a difference.
Feel like getting a little fancy and have about an hour? Try out some of these napkin folding ideas, as some of them create truly impressive results with minimal effort!
Need help with holiday decorating? At Just Organized by Taya we offer both specialist holiday home decorating and holiday home organization services. Book a free 15-minute Zoom call here and let’s chat about just how we can help make your holidays easier and more organized, as well as just as beautiful and pulled together as all those Instagram holiday decor images you’ve been drooling over.
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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