Hello!

The inspiration from this post comes directly from a CNN.com story that I just read which warned readers that the costs of holding Thanksgiving has skyrocketed, mostly due to food.  First, I was thinking about how lucky we are that we have access to so much food!  My mind then wandered to how the food itself has so typically been used to decorate the Thanksgiving tables that I have sat at for years.

So, what will happen should we no longer have food-enough to decorate the table with? (I must say that this prospect is not at all attractive!)

With this said, here is my formula for an inexpensive holiday table decor which will keep your holiday table looking “plump” through the toughest of food shortages:

Start from the bottom: The table linen or tablecloth
If your holiday dinner table is the easel which will hold the painting that will be your holiday dinner, then let’s begin with the table linen which will be the painting’s canvas.  Here are some tips in finding the perfect festive linen:

  • Measure your table to know the minimum dimensions that you’ll be accommodating.  If you plan on shopping for a table linen / cloth be sure to note the shape of the table as well.

For reference, here are some pictures which show the difference between square and round table cloths.  As you can see, table cloths made specifically for square tables lay flat.

Square table cloth

Square table cloth

Round table cloth

Round table cloth

  • A busy table cloth pattern is well…busy.  Since there will be food and other decor on your table, set your sights on a solid color or barely-there table linen / tablecloth pattern
  • We are advocates of borrowing (because it’s FREE!). If you know if someone that has a stack of linens or tablecloths that they have collected over the years, and they will not mind if you have to work out a food stain before you return it, by all means borrow, borrow, borrow!
  • If you must purchase, consider purchasing at a thrift shop like Goodwill.  You might be absolutely shocked and amazed at how many fabulous choices they will have.

Move to the center: gather your decoration inspiration
When you picture your perfect holiday table what are you seeing? It is time to gather these items, which in all reality might be items which you already possess.

Using a table runner

  • Table runners are definitely available at Goodwill and are pretty inexpensive (find one for under $5!).  In fact, there are dozens just waiting to be taken home.  The benefits of a table runner include adding depth to the table while making the center of the table seem “full”.
  • Table runners act as a natural boundary for whatever decor you will place on the table (because you will want to leave room for plates and food!)

Using candlelight and candle holders

  • Gather candles from around your home. They do not need to be identical or matching. Using varying colors and styles of candles can add interesting contrast to the holiday table.
  • If you only have “short” candles (less than 6 inches tall), then consider placing them on objects that are tall.  Just make sure that whatever you are using to prop-up your candles is stable (candle wax is a pain to remove!).
  • Be mindful of leaving enough space for your guests to be able to see and communicate with each other (“Please pass the mashed potatoes!”)
  • If you are planning on lighting the candles (this sounds funny!) then make sure that you have something to catch the candle wax; preferably an item of which it is easy to peel away the candle wax once it has dripped
  • Check out our candle light and candler holders blogs for specifics on how to choose your perfect candle holders.

Dinner music is your best friend
One of the absolute easiest way to create holiday dinner memories is to play music. Now, we’ve all heard that a good dinner music aids and eases digestion.  You will want to put together 2-3 hours of music, so, here are some tips on what to play (and how to play it):

  • If you do not have a sound system but have an mp3 player and computer with speakers? Use them in tandem for great background music.  You may not be able to provide the best sound quality, but no doubt your conversation skills will be plenty.  :)
  • If there will be kids present, be sure that lyrics are appropriate.
  • Hard bass drum lines are likely not soothing, but if you are not enticed by soft music types (and to keep the energy up) consider playing big band, jazz or country music.
  • Classical music is universal and can be both stimulating and soothing.

Dinner is served (on serving dishes!)
I remember once being told that “presentation is everything”. Sprucing-up your dinner table is as easy as adding cool serving dishes to the formula.  Now, if you were to walk into…say…a Crate & Barrel you could find the coolest serving dishes that money could buy.  So, perhaps you can find your inspiration there, but if you have time, take your money elsewhere.

  • Now, I do not advocate lining the pockets of big businesses like Wal-Mart, but if you are unable or unwilling to find your perfect serving dishes at a second-hand shop, then your next best bet would likely be these superstores with superprices.
  • If you are lucky enough to find a good bargain on a large serving dish, think really BIG!  An oversized serving dish can accommodate more than one of the meal’s dishes.
  • No matching required.  Do not fret if you do not have a matching gravy boat and plate set.  Using dishes of varying sizes, colors and textures adds to the appeal of your table

The glasses are half-full
No one can deny the awe and appeal of a fabulous matching glass set, so this is one item that I will not be suggesting that you find in interesting, individual pieces.  But, at the same token, I am not going to tell you to spend over $30 either!

  • If you have the retail store, Ross, in your area – go there now!  They have an impressive and interesting housewares department that includes both exquisite and playful glassware options.
  • When shopping for glassware, consider what you will be offering to your guests to drink.  If you are going to be serving a holiday punch AND wine, you may need to purchase two different glassware types (i.e., you should always use wine glasses for serving wine)
  • The taller the glass = not necessarily the better.True story: I was once WOWED! upon entering a client’s home to find that their table setting for the dinner we were about to enjoy, included 12″ tall, very ornate glasses.  The very first spill was an accident. The second spill was a coincidence. But by the third spill (of 3 different guests), someone commented that perhaps those that had spilled were not used to reaching (unconsciously) for tall glasses. B-I-N-G-O
  • Glass is always better than plastic is always better than metal is better than wood
    If someone were to ask you, “Which would you rather drink a liquid from: metal, plastic, wood, or glass?” you would likely answer “glass”.  (If you answered “wood” then you would probably have loved the middle/dard ages.)
  • If you choose glasses with a wider base (bottom) then you will avoid cleaning up after a lot of spills

Cloth napkins = impressive
Today, I like telling true stories, so here is another: I was in Denver visiting a friend, and was pleasantly surprised that we were eating dinner alongside cloth napkins.  Now, these were not particularly beautiful napkins, but imagine my delight when I saw that she had cut fabric swatches and hemmed the edges to make her own cloth napkins!?!  I immediately asked her if what I was seeing was indeed handmade cloth napkins, to which she explained they had only taken her 30-minutes to make – beginning to end – 12 napkins.  Awesome!

If you have any questions about this post, feel free to contact studio@enterlaruche.com.

Best,
Alisha Forrester Scott, Owner
La Ruche. event design studio.
http://www.enterlaruche.com

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