Holiday Table Inspiration Ideas

Holiday table inspiration from The Café and around the web. Lots of simple, inexpensive and unique ways to create a beautiful tablescape.

It seems that life is always an adventure! We've been covered with a blanket of white ever since winter storm Diego swept through the southeast last weekend. The storm dumped between 10 and 18 inches on the hills and valleys surrounding us and left us "snow-bound" in our new (to us) North Carolina mountain home for the last 4 days.

We've had plenty of food though (important around here, haha) and a warm, cozy house so it's been a great time to prep for the upcoming holidays. The tree is trimmed, shopping is being done (online) and I've even had time to come up my Christmas dining table for entertaining family and friends.

If you're a regular Café follower you won't be surprised to learn that I'm quite smitten with an attractive presentation and the dining table is no exception. A pretty table sets a tone of welcome for brunch, lunch or dinner get-togethers. But a beautiful table doesn't have to be fancy or budget-breaking. There are many simple, inexpensive ways to create a charming tablescape. To give some inspiration, we're sharing details of our own 2018 holiday dining table along with some beautiful holiday table inspirations from around the web.

Scott and I drove to a Christmas tree farm about 40 minutes from here in early December where were able to pick and have our own tree cut. It was a delightfully unique experience since that was never an option during the 40 years we lived in Raleigh. We decided to keep our mountain tree simple with white lights, red and white ornaments and a position for all to enjoy, near the dining table. A watchful red cardinal tree topper keeps tabs on anyone who lingers under the mistletoe too long!

Our holiday table is set with my favorite placemats. They're wipe-to-clean and never need laundering or ironing. I've found that so many placemats lose their beauty and crisp appearance after one washing - and then there's that darn ironing...

I used navy placemats for this tablescape, but they come in a variety of colors and styles. The pretty red wavy edge chargers add a layer of contrast and festive cheer to our table. And don't be afraid to mix and match dishes for a fun layered look.

Decorating with candy?

Yes! Candy is fun to eat, but it can also be used as a festive decoration on the table. Candy canes are a wonderful way to add a little pizzazz to any holiday table. There are lots of ways to use them, but I like to take two candy canes, face them towards each other and form a pretty holiday heart. Then add a place card on top of each heart for a colorful, personal touch (Coming soon! Personalized place cards will be available here at The Café!).

Bulbs! An easy, elegant way to decorate the table!

Holiday centerpieces can be pretty and economical with the use of seasonal bulbs. Narcissus and amaryllis are both bulbs that grow quickly and result in a beautiful, low maintenance floral splash. They can both be successfully grown in either water or soil.

I used paperwhite narcissus in a planter filled with potting soil and topped with Spanish moss. I'm hoping my bulbs will be in full bloom by Christmas but I love the pretty green shoots too. To add color and a whimsical look to the centerpiece I added red carnations tucked into these waterfilled florist tubes. I simply poke the tubes into the soil between the narcissus bulbs. Voila! A cheerful holiday garden growing right in the center of my table!

If you've never grown seasonal bulbs here are great tutorials for both paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis.

Dress up your chandelier for the holidays too!

One last fun holiday decorating idea from The Café! If you have a chandelier hanging above your dining table, use it as one more opportunity to set a festive mood. I attached a simple garland and finished off the decoration with a group of red clip-on cardinal ornaments. Who knew a chandelier could make such a fun holiday statement?

So that's a little peek into our holiday decor here at The Café. We thought we'd also share some of our favorite pics from around the web for your holiday table inspiration!

 

Cherished Bliss used a blanket for a table runner. Such a smart idea!

 

I love the way Sugar and Charm uses fresh greenery in the center of the table. And how fun are the jars of jam at each place setting?

 

Decorating with seasonal produce like pomegranates makes everything look so festive! From Boxwood Avenue

 

One Lovely Life decorated her table on a budget and also used fresh produce. Love the way those mandarines look with the green and red!

 

I love this simple red and white Scandinavian inspired tablescape from Shades of Blue Interiors. The wooden chargers and napkin rings are so versatile!

 

For something different, but still festive, I love this navy and green plaid with the gold accents! From Citrineliving

 

Musings on Momentum created a simple yet beautiful tablescape. How pretty are those gold candlesticks? And you could use them all year long.

 

This snowflake tablescape by Kelley Nan at Gracious Living is gorgeous! The white and metallic accents would be beautiful all winter long.

 

From Norway, Vibeke Design created a classic Christmas table. I love the red and white striped napkins and the simple, fresh greenery.

Hope this helps give you some fresh holiday table inspiration! We'll be back on Saturday with a new recipe you're going to love having in your entertaining arsenal!

P.S. Wondering what to give a teacher, neighbor, delivery person, etc.? Check out our Delicious Gifts from the Kitchen post. You'll be sure to find something for everyone on your list!