How to decorate your holiday table
Bring out the bling
Serve up some drama with embroidered placemats and metallic accents, but keep the colours down to three to avoid visual overload. Black, white and gold make a sophisticated statement for a New Year’s Eve party.
A collection of glass ornaments in a clear vase creates a quick centrepiece with a big impact. Set out a chic mini champagne bottle for each guest. A pretty ribbon takes it from fridge to tabletop.
Brighten up
Set a vibrant tone for a lively party with candy-coloured glass and sequins. Bring in bold hues against a backdrop of white furniture and balance it all out with symmetrical settings. We placed votive holders filled with candy along the table and anchored the centre with a tinsel tree for a modern look.
Protect your linens with DIY paper placemats. On a computer, create a template for your greeting or quote, print it out in landscape format and take it to a copy centre and enlarge to an 11 × 14? sheet, which will become your placemat. If someone spills, you can toss the stain away. Gift-wrapped place settings couldn’t be cuter: Use a ribbon or twine to tie a napkin, cutlery and plates together.
Let it snow
Create your own winter wonderland for an intimate dinner. Cozy up the table with layers of texture like sheepskin chair pads and a linen tablecloth. Group candles of various heights together for a glowing centrepiece.
A few simple touches will add sparkle and shine. Bundle carnations in short vases to create floral snowballs. Underneath, frost a white tablecloth with a handful of clear and silver crystals from a bead store. Served in mini spice dishes, white chocolate truffles become edible decor — and offer a sweet finish to the evening.
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