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Setting a Festive Table - Tips for a Striking Presentation
Setting a Festive Table - Tips for a Striking Presentation
You'll be slaving over a hot stove for hours, preparing a feast
fit for kings this Christmas. From the turkey to the desserts,
you put love into every recipe, and your family digs in with
gusto. Why not add some festive touches to the table as well,
and make the presentation as breathtaking as the dishes you'll
be serving? It doesn't take much time or money to transform your
table from humbug to very merry.
Choosing a Theme
The easiest way to coordinate your decor is to choose a theme.
Your theme can be as specific as a single Christmas carol, or as
broad as a certain style or colors. For example, you could
choose "Jingle Bells" as your theme, making the centerpiece a
miniature one-horse open sleigh, and attaching bells to
everything that doesn't voluntarily move. Or, choose a "Country
Christmas" theme and add lots of country touches to your table,
like felt cut-outs and cross-stitched napkins.
If you're planning on selecting colors for your table, stick
with one main color and a maximum of two accent colors. Holiday
colors of green, red, and white look very festive, or accent
with silver or gold for a more elegant touch. Blue and white
work nicely together for a winter theme.
Table Coverings
You may have your great-great-grandmother's handmade lace
tablecloth stowed away, ready to use for your Christmas dinner.
There's nothing wrong with this, of course, but if spillage and
possible staining are a major worry for you, save the lace for
accenting your decorative holiday displays instead and pick up
some inexpensive cotton or other fabric to cover your table
with, or use clean sheets in various colors. You can even use
two contrasting colors of fabric, and use the second, smaller
piece to hang at an angle over the larger one. Christmas prints
are cute and charming, but try to steer clear of anything too
busy or bright, as the fabric will overshadow any other accents
you add.
For a children's table, cover the surface with butcher paper or
inverted wrapping paper and provide crayons at each setting.
Christmas crackers are also great fun for kids, and look cute
sitting on each dinner plate.
Centerpieces
Centerpieces can be as simple as a small grouping of different
sized candles. You needn't go overboard and spend hundreds of
dollars on fresh flowers and a beautiful decorator's vase to
hold them in. Potted Poinsettias make a pretty centerpiece, as
do small baskets filled with pine sprigs and pinecones, or clear
glass bowls full of bright Christmas tree balls.
Keeping your chosen theme in mind, choose a centerpiece that
will stand out among your dishes of food, and become a
conversation piece for guests. If you plan to use lit candles,
never leave them unattended, and choose unscented
candles
wherever possible.
Napkins
You don't have to limit yourself to simple linen napkins,
although these work perfectly well. Use facecloths, small hand
towels, or handkerchiefs instead if you prefer. Roll your
napkins and fold the roll in half, securing with a pretty bow,
or fold them origami style into an interesting shape.
Napkin rings can be made from pipe cleaners, mini wreaths,
licorice strings, ribbons, artificial flower stems, or anything
else you can think of that will look festive and do the job. Tie
bells, small ornaments, pinecones, silk flowers, or even small
toys onto each napkin ring for added decoration.
Serving Dishes and Platters
Your serving dishes don't need to match each other to look
pretty. A mixture of different styles and colors add whimsy and
a country feel to your presentation. If you don't have enough
trivets for all of your dishes, cover pre-cut pieces of thick
cardboard with aluminum foil and use these as shiny mats that
will protect your table and still look nice.
Place Cards
If you want to use place cards to prearrange the seating at your
table, use your theme to come up with imaginative ways to create
or display them. Gift tags are an easy idea, and they can be
attached to each napkin or wine glass with ribbon or pipe
cleaners. Miniature artificial poinsettia pots are available at
many dollar stores, and they make gorgeous place card holders.
Simply fashion your cards and attach them to straws or
toothpicks, then secure them into the pots.
Pinecones can hold name cards as well, if you maneuver the cards
so that the 'teeth' of the cones hold them in place. Create
shapes out of clay or dough, thread the cards through candy cane
sticks, or simply place your cards on the top of each dinner
plate. The possibilities here are endless.
Extras and Finishing Touches
Adding candles of varying heights and colors will add warmth to
your table setting. Scatter tea lights, votives, pillars, and
tapers around the center of the table, making sure that they are
secure and not interfering with anything that could be
flammable.
You can also decorate the stems on wine glasses with purchased
wine charms or pipe cleaners, or tie small bells to each one
with ribbon. Tie cutlery together in a similar fashion if you
wish, or tuck utensils securely inside rolled napkins.
For an added touch, decorate each chair with bows, bits of
garland, or pretty fabric. Anything goes as long as it doesn't
scratch or otherwise interfere with your guests' enjoyment of
your wonderful meal.
With a bit of extra effort, you can take a plain and boring
table and create a stunning masterpiece that will impress your
guests even before the first course is served.
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