Holiday Tablescapes Workshop Review

An elegant yet rustic table dressed in green and silver.

After a fun lesson on building your holiday table, we are all inspired…

Here’s what Brigitte discussed:

Invest in your basics.

Solid tablecloths in several colors that fits the length of your table. Go inexpensive on these. Try bedspreads, coverlets, raw material, burlap, etc. for great layers.
Several festive printed cloths in smaller sizes that can be layered on top of your solid colored cloths.
Purchase placemats and napkins to coordinate. Think about complementary textures and colors.

Start building.

Address the side of the table, an often overlooked aspect of table setting. Perhaps turn a placemat sideways and hang it over the side so that your guests can see the pattern as they approach the table. Maybe a fabric cutting is layered on top of the placemat. In our case, Brigitte used a smaller rectangle of burlap over a napkin she had turned on its side to tie together her tablecloths.
Brigitte used a curtain panel on top of the solid placemat to give the solid cloth more visual interest.
She then layered a table runner on top of the curtain panel. Her foundation was laid.

Dinnerware.

We use basic white dinnerware because it is so versatile. This Portuguese pattern can be dressed up or down quite easily to fit the occasion.

Brigitte teaching workshop guests how to work create beautiful tables.

Centerpieces.

Brigitte developed a woodland theme with this table. She used birch-like pillar candles to set the tone and then added preserved boxwood greens and unscented dried vegetables and fruit to bring out a forest feel. She then used several mercury glass votives and candlesticks to add sparkle and shine to the table. Her final touch? Tiny lights strung through the pine cones! A gorgeous juxtaposition of rustic and shiny.

The sky is the limit with table setting. Take the time to play with textures and colors until you get right. Layer textures, use things you already have and have fun with it!