This post is sponsored by Glade. Thank you for being supportive of our sponsors.
There are certain aromas that really take me back in time, especially this time of year. A blend of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves reminds me of when my mom used to boil the spices on the stove to make the house smell delicious. I can see her working in the kitchen, in her red sweater, managing way too many things at once. The aroma of hot chocolate usually reminds me of my sister’s birthday the year it dumped like three feet of snow. It was November 1st. We played outside all morning because school was cancelled and when we came in, wet from our snow play, we enjoyed hot chocolate in the dining room. During Christmas, we decorated with more candles than usual. It was tradition, a few times a season, to light them all, plug in the tree, turn off all the other lights and listen to soft Christmas music and just be. It was magical.
I even have aromatic memories of setting our large holiday meal tables. Before the guests would arrived, we would put on Christmas tunes, light a few candles and prepare as the meal aroma filled the house. Mom was the director, choosing which plates to use, along with which place mats, napkins and cutlery. We tried lots of different centerpiece ideas and some years we even made place cards for every guest. Setting a table for the holidays continues to be an enjoyable task for me. Our daily table is not fancy so I enjoy spending extra time fixing it up for a special meal.
To inspire you, I put together six easy table settings using things I found around the house. Craft supplies, holiday decorations, plus a few ‘real’ items – everything is possible. Now I have a little bit of a lot of stuff, mostly due to this blogging thing. So even if your wares don’t match (like mine), you can still set a beautiful table.
Table setting idea 1:
Rustic, woodsy decor always tugs at my heart during Christmastime. It’s warm and comfy and feels like home. For all the love I feel for the look, I don’t own much of it. Thankfully, it’s easy to fake. Use a few sprigs of evergreen with a pop of red (I made cranberry napkin rings! More on that below.) I added a small wooden gift tag for a little extra jazz.
Table setting idea 2:
This look is crisp and clean. White plates with a soft white napkin. Drag out your ribbon collection and layer them to create a striking wrap for the napkin. Use a hot glue to keep everything in place (and so you can use them again!).
Speaking of those cranberry napkin rings…
Cranberries are one of my favorite seasonal foods. I like to eat them and I like to decorate with them. To get a little more use, I strung a few on a length of wire. Once it was long enough, I used needle-nose pliers to curl one end, making a small loop. Then I threaded the other end through the small loop and curled it to hold it in place. Quick. Easy. And edible!!
Table setting idea 3:
Use inexpensive wrapping paper to add extra color to the table. Chartreuse is not a color I own but I loved the color palette on this roll of paper. I cut a narrow strip of paper to act as a runner. To coordinate with the paper-ness, I used a cut paper band around the napkin. It’s a table perfect for children!
Table setting idea 4:
Instead of just a strip of paper, use it to cover the whole table! Easier clean up for sure. :) A charger really pops the place setting off the paper. I thought the setting needed a some green so I tucked a few evergreen sprigs in with the raffia wrap and a small red bulb for extra fun (and because I love red).
Table setting idea 5:
A simple charger, mismatched plates and a cranberry napkin ring for color.
Table setting idea 6:
I paired the subtle mint plate with a red napkin, a play on the red and green holiday color combo. Then, to keep it very simple, I used a wooden gift tag to hold the napkin in place.
Mix and match, use lots of textures and think outside the box. Dig through your craft drawer and holiday decorations. Just look. I know you’ll find something perfect to use.
How do you set your table for the holidays? What do you do to make them special?
The Glade scents I used are Apple Cinnamon and Pure Vanilla Joy. The Apple Cinnamon is a mix of apples and berries with the spice of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, with a little vanilla. Pure Vanilla Joy is vanilla all the way. Sweet vanilla and sugared vanilla beans with hints of apple and toasted marshmallow. Delicious!
Glade has a new Pinterest page! Check it out for lots of inspiration.
Love them all! Lovely photos