The Holiday Tablescape - What Will Yours Look Like?

Here comes the holidays! And with them the planning, prepping and decorating! One of the most important pieces of the holiday decor will be the family table. It’s not always an obvious piece of the puzzle, but a well done tablescape can really bring the family together in more ways than one. 

Three questions to start:

1. What exactly is a tablescape? A tablescape is the artistic and decorative arrangement of items on a table, encompassing the overall design, theme, and setup for a meal or event. 

2. What is the difference between a tablescape and a table setting? A tablescape has key components to it beyond the place settings and silverware.

3. Why create a tablescape, what are the benefits? To elevate a dining experience, to express creativity and create a specific mood.  

Now that you know more about the Why and the What, let’s talk about the How. As mentioned, there are key components to creating one and they include:

• Theme: Since we’re talking about the holidays, use seasonal colors and decor to reflect the time of year. For example, autumn gatherings can feature warm hues like oranges and browns.

• Place Settings: The arrangement of plates, bowls, cutlery, and glassware

• Linens: Tablecloths, runners, and napkins that help set the color palette and theme.

• Centerpieces: This can include flowers, candles, seasonal decor, or other artistic arrangements.

• Personal Touches: Incorporating items like family heirlooms, handwritten place cards, or other personalized objects to add meaning and spark conversation.

One of the key components, the centerpieces, will ultimately become a topic of conversation (and hopefully one that deters some of the other topics we tried to avoid with family at the holidays 😉). To really add to the Personal Touches key component, creating your own will elevate the holiday meal and everyone’s experience around the table. Making your own is accessible and fun! And we’re happy to provide some helpful hints!

Designing Your Own Centerpiece:

1. Sizing - Make sure the centerpiece is low enough to not obstruct conversation. A good rule of thumb is that it should be below eye level when guests are seated.

2. Select what kind of base you will use - it can be anything from a large vase or bowl to a simple platter or wreath. For a more structured arrangement, a block of soaked floral foam works well.

3. Begin with greenery - start by layering in a seasonal greenery such as eucalyptus, pine, evergreen and magnolia. These can be mixed with berries, acorns, or wheat stalks for a classic look.

4. Bring in your focal element - this could be a central bouquet of flowers in a vase, fall foliage or filling the arrangement with natural items.

5. Add in the decorative accents - incorporate candles (pillar, taper, or floating), battery-operated LED lights, or metallic / glass to add ambiance. Ornaments, bows, or even edible treats like candy for a personal touch. And be sure to use items of different heights to create depth and dimension.

Preparing your own pieces for your tablescape can be a fun and creative experience. BHI has partnered with Wagonhouse Winery of Swedesboro, NJ to provide an exciting workshop to learn how to make your own greenery centerpiece. What a great way to get out and enjoy a night of wine, friends and learning a new craft! Visit Wagonhouse Winery’s Event Page to register for our November 5th workshop!