Friday, October 15, 2010

Preparing A Beautiful Christmas Table

by Sabrina Kaufman

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year, made all the more wonderful by good food and good company. Whether your holiday dinner plans are casual or elaborate, a beautiful Christmas table is easy to prepare and can set the backdrop for a decadent meal and memorable conversation. With just a few simple pieces and a bit of planning, you can have a beautiful Christmas table that guests will want to linger around.


Christmas is the most decorated of all holidays and since you'll likely have multitudes of trees, lights, greenery and other decor about the home, your table won't necessarily have to stand on its own. Whether your home is open to neighbors, family, or friends for the holidays, it's simple to dress it to impress. Using the right combination of linens and decorations, a holiday table can be a thing of beauty and downright enjoyable to create.

For formal occasions, consider using layers on your table. Couple a linen tablecloth with a table runner and linen napkins bound in festive rings. You can even place matching or coordinating placemats under place settings. Finish the table with a few decorative holiday pieces such as pine cone and holly candle rings, a miniature lighted tree, or a poinsettia centerpiece.

To keep color selection simple, choose festive colors that coordinate with other decorative items used throughout adjoining rooms. Red, green and white are certainly traditional but you can also make use of more modern color variations such as cranberry, forest or lime green, and even cream. Gold and silver are also good accent colors to use with white and even black, depending on your holiday color scheme. Heavy fabrics create a rich, warm feeling regardless of color and are most suitable for use in winter.

When choosing linens for your Christmas table, make sure to coordinate with your place settings and serving dishes. For example, if you use silver trays look for other accents in silver like napkin rings or even linens with silver threads. For a casual, more country feel, try dressing up wooden or plastic napkin rings with sprigs of holly or mistletoe, or even paint them with holiday images or apply decoupage details. Adorn table runners with garland, poinsettias, and candles to complete the look.

At each place setting, layer dishes on top of one another to create a formal feel to the meal. You can use tablecloths of varying sizes and colors to create a layered effect that doesn't disrupt the meal on top. Use a lavish centerpiece and leave room to spread the place setting out once the meal is served. Floral arrangements in holiday colors are a nice touch or you might even consider arranging coordinating bulbs or ornaments in a bowl as a centerpiece, and giving one to each guest as a parting favor.

Due to the vast selection of holiday dishes, table decor, and linens, a holiday table is one of the easiest to dress. Choose the colors, styles, and patterns that you are most drawn to and arrange them however you like. For a completely trimmed room, don't neglect items like sideboards and hutches. You can place matching linens underneath serving trays, candles, or other decorative items to tie the entire dining area together. After all, when it comes to the holidays, the more the merrier!

As a final touch to your holiday table, remember to take advantage of aromatic candles, potpourri, or air fresheners in scents like pine, cinnamon, and cranberry. Lighting can also add flair to your dining area so place lighted garland or strands of lights around window toppers, on shelving, or even on the table itself. Battery-powered light strands are a good option for tabletop lighting, especially if you don't like to use candles.

A beautiful Christmas table is not essential to enjoy the holidays but it can add a considerable amount of warmth and welcome. Table linens and decor can be found in so many different holiday colors, patterns, and styles. Have fun with your table and your guests will enjoy your welcoming touch as much as the meal you serve. - 39969

About the Author:
At TrendexHome.com we offer thousands of coordinated styles and sizes reflecting the latest pattern and color trends. It's simply an entertainers paradise. From casual at-home entertaining, to weddings, showers and special events, TrendexHome.com will help you create the perfect setting every time. Find the right tablecloths, throw pillows, chair pads or napkin rings to take your home from ordinary to extraordinary. Visit online today.

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