This article was originally written by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason in 2021. Photographs by Patrick Cline.
Setting the table for the holidays is a creative exercise that many look forward to. Finding just the right china, just the right furnishings, and just the right place for each guest to be seated can be a work of art. Deciding who sits next to whom at a formal dinner to celebrate the season is a skill that is built over time. And with that skill comes setting the very table itself. The one where aunties, uncles, moms, dads, cousins, daughters and sons will all gather. When setting the perfect holiday table we have some tips on making the formal setting a creative display of self-expression that all of your friends and family can enjoy.
Building a formal table is much like creating a work of art. You start with the raw canvas and then create rich layers to form your final piece. For a modern holiday table that still displays the formality of the celebration, it begins with the dishware. Fine china can be used to define your color palette for the tablescape. A black-and-white striped plate can be the base for this dinner-party display. A white dinner plate layered on top can create contrast. To finish off the display, a scalloped vintage salad plate can complete the color story with a hint of gold. And gold flatware with floral details can complete the look.
To make your tabletop pop, serving dishes and accent pieces like glassware are key. A mix of glassware adds to this tabletop display. Glass goblets with a black stem continue the color story. Highball gold-rimmed glasses become perfect water glasses for guests, and serving dishes like the black-and-white bowl featuring a brush-stroke detail adds a graphic element to the entire setting. Each piece alone is unique, and together, these pieces create a beautiful symphony for this formal setting. The final element to finish the table is a footed black vase filled to the brim with fresh florals.
Once the dinnerware has been chosen for the table setting, it’s time for the flatware to make an appearance. For formal table settings you’ll want guests to have a salad fork and dinner fork to their left. And on the right a knife and spoon. Beyond where each piece of dinnerware should be accurately placed, use elements like forks and knives to complete the feel you want for the table. Here, sparkling gold flatware creates a dazzling moment among a mix of Asian-inspired and blue willow china.
To complete the look of any formal table, skip on the paper elements. Go for woven napkins for all of your guests, even small ones create impact. You can layer napkins beneath a salad plate, or get even more creative and layer them beneath the dinner plates on the table. Let them hang just a bit for dramatic effect. The addition of natural textiles will make guests feel extra special as they sit at the table, a napkin placed in their lap.
For an intimate atmosphere for your holiday gathering add candlelight to your table display. Candles are the perfect way to bring in heirloom pieces to complete the formal tabletop. A set of crystal candlesticks that have been passed down, a vintage candelabra, candlesticks sourced from a local flea market or during travels can bring significant meaning to the tabletop display. Place them among other elements like a large floral display to brighten the table and reflect the beauty of the season.
Formal events may not seem like they’re right for playful elements but that’s what can make the formal table so much fun. That ability to pull together a number of elements, from newer dinnerware to family heirlooms, can be used to create a unique table each year that family and friends gather around for the holidays. For this dinner, blue willow china has been effortlessly mixed with mid-century modern pieces. The mix of rustic elements with soft blue florals creates a tabletop display that is rich and visually exciting.
To keep things interesting don’t forget to add a bit of the unexpected into your tabletop display. Of course, guests will expect plates, glasses and silverware, but surprise them with china that is outside the box. For the holiday season you can bring in china that speaks to the gathering, or layer in vintage and found pieces that have caught your fancy over the years. Here, a scalloped plate with a scarab detail becomes a unique bread plate for this formal dinner setting.
Beyond the unexpected, holiday tables should also be about whimsy. Bringing people together for the holidays is so much about nostalgia and celebrating those moments we remember most from our childhood. It’s the whimsical things about the holiday season that we hold onto even into adulthood, and the table should reflect that. Add colorful elements through bold florals. Bring in some of grandma’s favorite pieces like oyster plates and golden ashtrays to add depth and meaning to your holiday table. Make it reflective of your family and, even though it’s formal, make it memorable for all who gather.
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