- Hey guys.
As we're heading into Christmas and New Year's Eve,
I wanted to give you three ideas
for a festive table setting.
Whether you're a traditionalist, a modernist,
or if you love the natural world and appreciate things
that look like nature, I've got a table setting for you.
Let me show you how quick and easy these ideas
can come together.
First up, let's talk traditional.
I know that the holiday season can bring out
the traditionalist in all of us,
so I wanted to show you a classic table setting first.
For the plates, go for something that looks old world
and classic.
You can find a lot of these types of things at thrift stores
and yard sales.
I also find that they even don't have to match.
As long as they're in the same color scheme,
it can be a really charming look.
If you have four that do match and two that don't,
you might consider putting the two different ones
on the end.
For flatware, I like to do something classic and silver.
You can find some good deals on silver plated flatware,
usually at flea markets or antique stores.
For a more formal look, I like to also include
the dessert fork and spoon up at the top as well.
For napkins, I keep it classic white
but I do look for some nice old world detail
like embroidery or even eyelet is a great way to go.
If you can find glasses that have little etching to it,
that's also a really beautiful look
for something traditional.
In keeping with the traditional theme,
I think place cards are a nice touch.
I find it's really welcoming when guests
come to the table and they know exactly where to sit
and there isn't that awkward feeling
of not knowing where to sit.
For candles, I like to use a classic candlestick
with some off white candles and also a hurricane globe.
I think those are really great for a traditional table.
For my centerpiece, because I do serve soup
as a first course, I like to put the tureen
right in the center and make it the show piece.
Instead of cut flowers, I like to use fruit,
and this time of year, I think maybe because I grew up
in New England, which has a lot of colonial history,
I do like to use fresh pineapples.
I know that sounds like a strange thing,
but they were a decoration that was used a lot
in Colonial America around Christmastime,
and I like to nestle in little crab apples
and oranges as well.
It's just an unexpected centerpiece that's super simple
to put together and you can eat all the fruit afterwards.
Pineapples are also the symbol of hospitality,
so they are a good conversation piece as well.
For additional interest at the table, I like to add things
like silver salt cellars and little wine coasters as well.
These are things that just kind of complete the table.
It's almost like the jewelry of the table.
It's good to have a few accessories.
There you have it, table setting number one
for the traditionalist.
If contemporary design is more your style,
then I have a modern design that you might like.
For this look, we're going to use just plain white
square plates.
I think there's something fun about using a square plate
instead of a round plate because it's a little more
unexpected.
For silverware, go for a design that's really simple
but maybe has a great finish.
I love this gold flatware that I found.
It's not real gold, it's just the finish that's on it,
but I like it because it's really festive,
especially for the holidays.
For a more contemporary design, you might consider
a wine goblet that's stemless.
I love these tumblers that I found because they pick up
the gold in the flatware and they also have
a really beautiful soft gray dot to them.
To pick up on that, I'm going to use a soft gray napkin
that I'm gonna place right on top of the plate.
Then you can see it starting to bring this look together
a bit.
For water glasses, I'll also do a little tumbler
in a smaller size in a different shape.
For a centerpiece, you wanna go with something simple
yet dramatic.
I like to use a tall cylindrical vase
and just add one branch to it.
Even though this branch is fake, I do add water to the vase
just to keep people guessing.
I like the fake branches because you can manipulate them
almost like a sculpture because they have wire
in those branches.
To tie the centerpiece with the rest of the table,
I do like to add little evergreen sprigs on the napkins
of each place just to soften it.
Otherwise, it does start to look a bit severe,
and to make it a little bit more holiday themed.
To flank your centerpiece, you can use
two small votive candles.
I think it helps to have them lower because it'll make
that centerpiece more dramatic.
It also just creates more visual interest.
You don't want everything the same height.
It's good to have the variation.
For a little whimsy and table decoration,
I do like to add some metallic Christmas trees
just lined up and down the table, and these are fun
parting gifts for people.
Your guests can take them home and put them
on their own tree as a souvenir to your dinner.
Finally, I also like to include a contemporary style
decanter that you can fill with water or wine.
What's nice about it is it's functional,
but it also looks like a piece of sculpture as well.
There you have it, table setting number two
for the more contemporary entertainer.
So now for all you nature lovers.
This is a table setting that I really love to do
for Christmas morning breakfast.
There's something so charming about bringing in
Mother Nature and celebrating all of her creatures,
especially this time a year when we're focused
so much on pine trees and the forest.
We're going to begin by using some rustic wood chargers.
I like the shape of these because they look very whimsical,
like they were hand-carved in some little
mountainside studio.
On top of the chargers, we're gonna go with these
soft beige plates that almost look like
they could be hand thrown pottery.
This is a theme you'll start to see emerge
in this table setting, really concentrating on things
that are made out of wood and pottery that looks like
it could be hand thrown.
It'll just help complete that woodsy cottagey look.
Then we're gonna bring in a little holiday red
in the form of our napkins.
I like a nice clean stripe because I think
it's a really basic design that also pops.
Then you can concentrate on flatware that maybe
has a little bit of that wood detail as well.
I think that also helps tie the look together.
For your mugs, again, go for something that looks like
naive pottery that somebody may have made.
I like actually taking mugs that are all mismatched
because to me, they look like one-of-a-kind,
and it also helps your guests remember what mug is theirs
if they get up for the table and as the day progresses
and people start to open gifts,
they can keep track of what coffee cup is theirs.
For juice glasses, I love these little pieces
that I found at the dollar fifty store, believe it or not.
When it comes to glassware, I have the best luck
at the dollar fifty store.
You can really find some charming things in there
and it won't cost you a lot of money.
For a dramatic centerpiece, I really love these little
tabletop trees that I put in white wash tubs.
I think they're so charming and beautiful,
and their branches are made out of wire so you can
have fun kind of adjusting them and making them look
as lifelike as possible.
Try to find the ones that come with the pinecones on it
'cause I think that's even more charging.
Then I like to add two pitchers made out of pottery,
one for juice and one for steamed milk,
or you can put syrup in it as well.
What I think really ties this look together
is to bring in some woodland creatures to join you
at the table.
I found these really adorable Christmas ornaments
in the shape of different forest animals.
The fox is my favorite.
I just love his expression, and I find if you have
kids in your family, they love to see the animals.
I like to clip on a bird to one of the Christmas trees.
The finishing touch is just to add some pinecones
that have been topped with some bright red ribbon
to each place setting, and I think
that brings the whole thing together.
There you have it, table setting number three
for all of my nature lovers out there.
I hope you guys enjoyed these table settings
and have found one that fits your unique personality.
Be sure to leave me a comment.
I wanna know, which one are you,
the traditionalist, the modernist, or the nature lover?
Alright you guys, I hope you have enjoyed
my Holiday Helper series this year,
and special thanks to the whole team at Bissel
for sponsoring this series and collaborating with me
on these videos.
It has been great fun, and if I don't see you guys
before then, I wish you all a very happy holiday season,
and I hope to see you in the new year ahead.
Until then, bye.
(Christmas music)