Holiday Hosting - Tabletop Swag Edition
Set.The.Table.
Hospitality. If there is one month that is focused around a meal, it is November and the Thanksgiving feast! It also signals the start of the holiday season. So what better time to tune up on some of your hospitality moves. You have a couple weeks before you'll need your fat pants, so here's a cheat sheet of November Hospitality Preparedness.
Are you hosting the holiday meal at your house this month? Now, and I mean right now, is the time to get your game on. Even if you don't completely have your menu finalized I encourage you to get your table’s vibe down pat. Nothing says “welcome” and sets the mood for a holiday celebration like a carefully thought out table. As an added bonus, if the mashed potatoes are lumpy and the turkey is dry, at least your beautiful table will be a great distraction for any unfortunate culinary mishap.
For the first task, make sure you have a estimate of how many people are coming over. Now you know how many to plan for. Check.
Next, determine your style. Are you going for a rustic, casual, glam, traditional or eclectic feel? If you don’t know, I often start thinking of what I already own that I could decorate with to enhance the feeling.
I like to start with my table covering. Partly because my hand-me-down table has different colored leaves than the rest of the table and partly because I like to use a full table cloth as my foundation. For Thanksgiving, I generally use a darker colored table cloth because it adds a richness to the table. I also like it because I have ivory colored china and the contrast is lovely. I found this great tablecloth in my favorite color for this season at Wayfair.
find the tablecloth at WayFair here
If you are going with a casual and all-ages feel for the table, one of my all time faves is the roll of craft paper down the center of the table. Add some markers, crayons or colored pencils for guests to create their own table decor (as shown in the first photo in this post). As an added bonus, it makes for easy clean-up and for good conversation. Its not too late, here is a roll available from Amazon for less than 14 dollars and delivered to your door
find the craft paper at Amazon here
Get creative. Thanksgiving tables often use neutral palettes and fibers. You can start with burlap and pair it with just about anything. You might not be outside like in this photo, but the burlap gives the rustic feel whether indoors or out. Additionally, it adds texture and depth to a tabletop.
Serving buffet style? Even without plates, you can still set the table with silverware and glassware. It shows guests that you care and have been planning for them. In this table display the host has used simple candles and glassware to evoke a formal feel.
Want to know a secret? Group like things together! One of the easiest design principles to use on your tabletop is to group like things together. Here you can see greenery, candles and glassware being grouped together and repeated for a lovely impact.
Another simple example of grouping like things together is shown here with varying candles. Also this host has used natural elements to add depth and texture. For Thanksgiving you could add mini pumpkins, leaves or ornamental twigs. Just wait until these lucky guests gather around the candlelit table. . .and as always, EVERYONE looks better by candlelight.
One last hosting note before you change your focus to all things food preparation . . . Grab any paper products you might need (like cocktail/ dinner/ dessert napkins) now. If you want “Thanksgiving Themed” napkins you should still be able to grab some. If you have missed it . . . just go to the local party store and pick up some complimentary colored paper napkins. Feeling fancy? You may already own the napkins you need. Now is the time you could pull out the cloth napkins that you never use. Just throw them in the wash and iron prior to use. No time for either of these options? Hit the grocery store and grab a plain white dinner napkin. You can always make them festive for the table with a ribbon or have the kids put some stickers on them just for fun. Or . . . just set the table and just use the darn white napkins. Not everything has to be a statement.
As a final last word fearless host, remember that although the table might be pretty (and a fun diversion) the main attraction is always the people sitting around the table with you. So go into your holiday hosting season with fervor and let the spirit of gratitude and kindness guide you.
Images in this post were used from Unsplash and credit to the photographers have been given. Links to products were strictly the author’s suggestion.