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Home & Home Decor, Hosting, Videos, Winter

Cozy Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video!

Red and White Christmas Tablescape / A Hosting Home Blog

Red and White Christmas Tablescape

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, friends! I hope by now you are all soaking in all the family time and puppy snuggles. (Preferably with hot cocoa, a mountain of fuzzy blankets, and Christmas movies on the TV!) We’re hosting our families at our home this Christmas. We tend to keep it pretty casual when it comes to meals for the holidays, but on Christmas Day I always like to do a big fancy dinner to celebrate the reason for the season. That means, I love to go all out for my Christmas tablescape. 

You can’t deny that there’s something about the level of conversation that happens around the table. When it comes to hosting in your home this holiday season, your table is your guests’ first impression to the memories that will follow — and making a memorable impression on your guests is a lot easier than you may think. All it takes is just a little more love when setting the table!

READ ALSO: A Peek at Our Cozy Red and White Dining Room for Christmas

Setting your table is probably one of the most simple steps you can take to leave a lasting impression on your guests. It sets the tone for the meal and it’s the first thing they’ll notice when they walk in your dining room. So whether this is your first year hosting the holidays or you’re sticking to dinner parties with your girls, I’m about to help you be the hostess with the mostest. ’Tis the season for all things hosting, so I want to invite you into my home today to show you how you can style your table like a professional this holiday hosting season.

Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog

Table Setting Tips Video

As you probably have seen on the blog already, my sweet friend Kait Swafford is a local realtor here in West Georgia who not only helps you find your dream house – but also wants to help you turn it into your dream home. A couple weeks ago, Kait came over and we filmed some videos talking about all things hosting this holiday season for her new video series she’s launching. We had so much fun and so many laughs (and of course puppy snuggles!)

Our second video is officially live on Youtube, and we’re chatting about all things tablescapes inspire you and help you set yours with intention for Christmas dinner this year. Today on the blog, I’m sharing the video as well as a written recap for you to refer to later. You can watch the video below or watch it on her Youtube channel, HERE. (Then, if you haven’t already, you can watch our first video HERE.)

READ ALSO: My Top 5 Holiday Hosting Tips (VIDEO)

Video Recap – Things to Know!

1 | TABLE RUNNERS

First things first, I like to work in layers and textures. I start off any tablescape with a table runner. Not only does it add color and texture to a table as well as break up the wood grain, but it also elongates the table as the eye moves across it.

2 | CENTERPIECE

When it comes to designing centerpieces, I always prefer low centerpieces that span the length of the table over centerpieces that are large and sit up higher. Higher centerpieces block the view of your guests. Hence, they ‘block’ conversation. Low centerpieces elongate the table and encourage conversation among all of the guests sitting at the table. Meanwhile, low centerpieces that span the length of the table bring everyone seated inwards – creating an intimate experience for every guest (and not just those sitting in the middle.)

I like making my centerpieces the focal point of the table – pulling textures and colors from it to each place setting to create a seamless and visually aesthetic table design. For this tablescape, I really wanted to channel a traditional and classic Christmas look that was very cozy and nostalgic in feel. I started with a long wooden dough bowl on top of my table runner and added in snow fluff to give it some texture. I then placed these mini trees from Target along the length of the bowl. In between to break it up, I added these super easy and inexpensive DIY snow globes to create a very cozy and nostalgic feel. They’re unique, cute, and a great conversation starter for anyone sitting at the table. For a finishing touch, I added these DIY hand lettered ornaments to bring the eyes up.

3 | SEATING

When it comes to seating your guests and setting your table, it’s important that you seat guests with ample space. We’ve all been there at a dinner where we were seated way too close to those next to us, fighting for elbow room, and you’re super uncomfortable. As an introvert, it’s honestly one of my worst nightmares.

A great rule of thumb to follow is that you want at least 2 feet of room for each guest at the table. So, if you have a 8 foot long table, you ideally only want to seat 4 people on each side with *possibly* 1 on each end cap if your table legs allow it. So if you have an 6 foot long table, you ideally only want to seat 3 on each side with *possibly* your end caps. This is approximately a 6 foot long table, so I have set it with 3 people sitting on each side.

4 | PLACE SETTINGS

When I design place settings, I like to pull textures and colors from my centerpiece to each place setting to create a tablescape that is seamless in design and flows well. For your place settings, there are a 3 different routes you can take. You can do a basic place setting, an informal place setting, or a formal place setting.

BASIC:

When it comes to a casual, basic place setting, it’s all about the basics. All you need is a dinner plate (center), a dinner fork (left), a dinner knife (right, with the blade facing the plate), a spoon (right), a beverage glass (top right), and a napkin. With this type of setting, don’t feel like you have to put out extra utensils if they aren’t needed.

INFORMAL:

Now, as you make your place setting more formal, you’re basically just going to expand outwards. So to take your basic tablesetting to a slightly more elegant level while keeping it light and informal will just take the addition of just a few utensils.

    • Salad Fork –  far left
    • Soup Spoon – far right
    • Wine Glass – top right, next to water / beverage glass

FORMAL:

Okay, so taking your tablesetting to the most elegant level is actually a lot more simple than you’d think. If you think it’s intimidating to set a formal table, remember that it just takes the addition of utensils and a few more dishes.

    • Salad Plate – on top of the dinner plate
    • White Wine Glass – top right, next to each beverage/water glass
    • Red Wine Glass – top right, next to the white wine glass
    • Bread Plate + Bread Knife – top left
    • Dessert Fork – top center, facing right
    • Dessert Spoon – top center, facing left
    • Charger Plate – beneath dinner plate
    • Place Card – top center
    • Cup and Saucer – far right

READ ALSO: How-To Set Your Table Like A Professional This Holiday Season

Before you get stressed out on the technicality of setting the perfect table, it’s important to remember that there are literally more ways to set a table than you can count. Because, while everyone may try to follow the basic guidelines, everyone does it a tad differently. You don’t have to stick strictly to basic, informal, or formal settings. Like you can see with my table, I often set mine as some version in between the three! Ultimately, set your table to meet the needs of the meal you’re sharing.

But one thing I love to include in any tablesetting, regardless of how formal or informal, is a charger plate beneath the dinner plate. While charger plates are typically reserved for more elegant and formal settings, I love how they bring each setting to life and gives them a simple yet beautiful touch that completes the table. Another thing I love to do is to play with the napkin fold. Whether you lay it elegantly off the table, dress it up with a napkin ring, or experiment with a fancy fold, it’s up to you to get creative!

Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog Red and White Christmas Tablescape + Table Setting Tips Video / A Hosting Home Blog

 

Well, there you have it, friends! I hope this helps give you some inspiration and guidance on how you can wow your guests and set your table like a professional for the holidays this year. Whether you’re setting your table casual or formal or maybe even somewhere in between this holiday season, what’s important are the people you’re sitting around it with. 

December 23, 2019

« A Peek at Our Cozy Red and White Dining Room for Christmas
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Atlanta based Award Winning Interior and Event Designer and Home Blogger Cathy Nugent

Hi, friends! I'm Cathy, a nationally published award winning designer of spaces to gather and southern belle writer based out of a small(ish) town outside of Atlanta, Georgia. However, most people know me as the Monica Geller of my friend group – a coffee connoisseur and dog mom with a huge heart for hosting and an eye for design. The heart behind what I do is simple. I want to help you be intentional on creating spaces to gather and celebrating life's precious moments - whether that be weddings, parties, or something as simple as having loved ones in your home. Living Simply, Loving Generously, and Hosting with Heart.

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Today on Insta Stories I shared a couple of simple Today on Insta Stories I shared a couple of simple tips for decorating with faux floral stems in wall planters. 🪴 In case you missed it ➡️ 1. Stuff your planters with those extra plastic grocery bags. I showed y’all how great they held up the stems in place! Not to mention, it keeps you from having to completely fill each planter. 2. Make sure to bend the ends of your stems to the desired height rather than cut them so you can reuse them each year in a different way, whether that be in a wall planter this year and a large jug vase next year! They then become an investment and can actually save you money by you not having to purchase new stems each year. ✨ So what do y’all think — was that helpful? #ahostinghome 

Linked my floral stems as well as some of my dining room via @liketoknow.it ➡️ http://liketk.it/36wVm #liketkit @liketoknow.it.home #LTKSeasonal #LTKhome #StayHomeWithLTK
Introducing: baby jail! 👶🏼🍼 (well, a sliv Introducing: baby jail! 👶🏼🍼 (well, a sliver view of it.) Chaos ensued today from putting that thing together. I obviously didn’t read the dimensions because it’s large, in charge, and takes up a lot of room in our living room — which in turn caused me to rearrange all our furniture. 🤷🏼‍♀️😅 Not only did I get a great workout 🤪 but Willie also found a new perch to bark at the neighbors out the front door. But you know what? This is real life — and I LOVE this season of life that God has blessed me with. With two babies in heaven, I’ve prayed for this season for so long. ❤️ And while it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing thing on Instagram, I hope to inspire you with the real life of living where you love, in the season of life that you’re in. ✨❤️ #ahostinghome

// Shop my home via the @liketoknow.it app ➡️ http://liketk.it/36rIS #liketkit @liketoknow.it.home @liketoknow.it.family #LTKfamily #LTKbaby #LTKhome
I was going to wait for it to be completely done, I was going to wait for it to be completely done, but I can’t help myself! ✨ Tackled this china cabinet yesterday, and all I can say is WOW WHAT A TRANSFORMATION. (Swipe to see the before! ➡️) 😍👏🏼 This china cabinet belonged to my grandmother, and It’s been so fun getting to make it my own and make it apart of my home. I painted it with @behrpaint chalk paint in the color ‘Classic Noir’ and accented it with the most darling @wallpops wallpaper in the back. Now I just need to do the finishing touches by rub n’ buffing the hardware, and it’ll be done. 😍 I originally wanted to paint it white because I was nervous to paint it black— but now I’m SO glad I did! My motto for 2021: don’t be afraid to be bold with design! (It’s just paint! 😉) So tell me, what do y’all think?! #ahostinghome
Don’t mind me, just chilling in my comfy clothes Don’t mind me, just chilling in my comfy clothes and slippers admiring the work that I did today. Master bathroom paint is (pretty much) finished, and I’m already in love with how my vision for it is coming together. Rob keeps laughing because this all started with needing to fix our shower... yet I have to remind him that he knew what he got into when he married me. 😘 I can’t believe how much painting this little wall made our marble tile pop! Now I want to put this color everywhere in my house. 😍 P.S. Did you catch some paint project tips in my stories today? ✨#ahostinghome

// Paint Colors: @sherwinwilliams Pure White & Peppercorn mixed in @behrpaint from @homedepot
I feel like it’s officially that weird transitio I feel like it’s officially that weird transition time of year with my home decor, y’all! Too early for Spring, yet when I put Christmas decor away, I like to put it all away so I can have a fresh and clean slate for the new year. That means lots of greenery and fresh additions mixed with cozy textures to give it a clean and fresh feeling while I focus on projects and things around the house for the new year. How do y’all like to transition and decorate after Christmas? #ahostinghome

// You can shop this photo and the rest of my home via the @liketoknow.it app ➡️ http://liketk.it/35nCf #liketkit @liketoknow.it.home #StayHomeWithLTK #LTKhome
Hello, progress photo! My name is Cathy, and I lov Hello, progress photo! My name is Cathy, and I loveee to paint! ✨❤️ While I only get small slivers of time right now because I’m a mama to a sweet newborn, I’m making the most of it — and our master bathroom is slowly getting its much needed facelift. Our new shower door won’t get delivered until later this month, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from getting my hands on the rest of the walls! I absolutely love this Pure White by @sherwinwilliams — it’s the same white I used when I redid our guest bathroom. It’s the perfect neutral white that is going to make this space look so much bigger and brighter! 😍 #ahostinghome
This entryway makeover was another one of my favor This entryway makeover was another one of my favorite DIY projects in 2020, inspired by @mindfullygray’s entry and @thejadebennett’s color vibes. It’s crazy how much of a difference paint and a wood board with hooks can make! ✨ It completely transformed this space and gave it so much functionality. (SWIPE ➡️ to see the before!) I see a lot more paint and DIYs in 2021 — and I CAN’T WAIT! 👏🏼 

// http://liketk.it/357Fi @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.home
Happy New Year, friends! ✨ As I mentioned on Ins Happy New Year, friends! ✨ As I mentioned on Insta Stories the other day, we ended 2020 with a leak in our master bathroom that is making us take out our builder grade shower insert and redo it (so 2020, right? 🤦🏼‍♀️) — so we’re starting out 2021 with a master bathroom makeover! ✨ Since we have to redo the shower, we decided to go ahead and makeover the rest of the bathroom too because it’s a space we really haven’t touched yet. I’ve been dying to get my hands on it, but I have always been too hesitant and unsure of what I wanted to do. Channeling my goal for 2021 of being bold and fearless in my DIY projects this year, we’re going for it! Here’s a peek at the design board I have working so far, and you can see the progress and behind the scenes on Instagram stories as we go. (I’ve started saving it all to a highlight on my profile too!) To say I can’t wait is a bit of an understatement. So tell me, what do you think of my vision so far?! #ahostinghome
Looking back through 2020, our guest bathroom make Looking back through 2020, our guest bathroom makeover was definitely one of my favorite projects we did this year! It was funky and bold and totally out of my comfort zone when it came to my decorating style, and I think that’s why I’m so obsessed with it! Is it weird to say that my guest bathroom inspires me everyday? ✨ This next year my goal is to be bold with my design choices and projects while being fearless in picking up a tool and trying something new — and I can’t wait to kick it off with our master bathroom makeover! ✨ What are your goals for the new year? #ahostinghome

// Paint Colors: Pure White by @sherwinwilliams ; Cascades by #sherwinwilliams ; Carbon by @behrpaint 

// http://liketk.it/34S89 #liketkit @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.home #LTKhome

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