The Interior Impressions team is full of entertainers. We love to host friends and family for the holidays, and any occasion we can think of, really. We all have unique styles and secret tips to make hosting as enjoyable and stress-free as possible, so we have compiled inspiration for four unique themes for your holiday tablescape this year. Mixing holiday decor and your year-round dining staples will create a magical dining experience for all your friends and family.
NORTHWOODS TRADITIONAL
I am a big sucker for all things with an old school Santa Claus on it, so these Pottery Barn salad plates hit a soft spot. This classic Minnesotan style is modernized with gold features and a strappy leather napkin ring. We stuck with classic red and green colorways and a plaid pattern dinner plate to remind of your childhood Christmases. This tablescape is perfect for a formal Christmas dinner of prime rib and scalloped potatoes with all of your family surrounded around the dining table. Decorate the center of the table using faux mini trees and woodland figurines, but be sure not to obstruct conversational views.
Hosting Tip: Delegate! You do not have to do it all. Ask for your family or roommates’ help to clean, ask your guests to bring a dish to share.
SCANDI MINIMALIST
What’s black and white and cozy all over? This unique theme is for the minimalist host whose focus is to enjoy time being present with those gathered around and not the fuss of hosting. From the linen napkins to the sherpa table runner and everything in between can be used year-round. A subtle winter touch in the salad plates nods to the holiday. Decorate the table with as many candles as your smoke detector will allow to create all the hygge vibes. We imagine this holiday dinner being a bit more fun and informal, serving a variety of small plates instead of the traditional formal dinner.
Hosting Tip: Practice Mise en Place: wash, chop, portion, etc. ingredients ahead of time to make cooking easier and quicker. Place all ingredients together in the refrigerator to assure you have all the ingredients needed and avoid rushing to the market last minute.
WHIMSICAL WONDERLAND
This one is FUN! If you are bored of decorating in red and green year after year – go for a more colorful palette! We especially love this unique theme for families with young children that can help make decorations. These winter collage salad plates feature whimsical seasonal scenes and themes. In this holiday theme, we chose many serveware options that can be used year-round, like the watercolor linen napkins and rose gold silverware. If you inherited gorgeous colorful drinking glasses, now is the perfect time to use them; otherwise your local antique store is bound to have many colorful sets to bring home. Bring in the Christmas cheer with this modern tree statues and musical jingle bell napkin rings. Serve Chinese or Mexican food to switch up the formal dinner and bring some flavor flair.
Hosting Tip: Set the right mood. If you are having fun, your guests will suit. If you’re giving off anxious vibes, your guests will feel the tension. Relax and remember your guests are there to be with you, not just a free meal.
MODERN NANTUCKET
This is another holiday theme that will play with your year-round dinnerware. If you’re celebrating the holidays at your lake home, this red, white and blue color scheme with natural textures will play well with your summer hosting dinnerware. Here we added adorable nutcracker salad plates with a festive red gingham pattern. Old fashioned glassware featuring key holiday figures brings Christmas cheer to every toast and clink. These Partridge in a Pair salt and pepper shakers are a subtle holiday touch to keep theme. Add a rustic dough bowl with ornaments for a table centerpiece. Bring back a remembrance of summer with this tablescape by serving seasonal recipes using fresh winter ingredients.
Hosting Tip: Create a fun signature cocktail to serve and impress guests. Our recipe for a craft cocktail is: selected spirit + fresh herbs + fresh citrus + something to mix it all together. Don’t forget to give it a fun name!
There you have it – our 4 unique themes for your holiday tablescape. Whether you are a big decorator or not, make your home a representative of you to welcome friends and family this holiday season. You don’t need to have every inch of your home looking like Santa’s workshop, but have fun with it too!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Interior Impressions Team
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