If there’s one thing we won’t let the pandemic take away from us, it’s dinner parties. See the delicious food, the conversations outside of Zoom, and the opportunity to open the door to friends again. And while these dinner rolls are their own epitome of carbs, a holiday tablescape—and more specifically, a show-stopping centerpiece—sets the tone for any gathering. Do you want to make your guests feel at home? Benefit from mood lighting in the style of Boxwood Avenue’s Chloe Mackintosh tableau. Want a more glam feel? A sprinkling of glitter might be all you need (Le Cultivateurs Emily Traxler will tell you all about it). Whatever your mood and whoever you’re hosting, these 35 table presentations are sure to be just the inspo you need for the most fabulous soiree of the season. Disclaimer: Food not included.
Few know how to set a table fit for royalty like designer and Prince’s Trust Patron India Hicks, whose latest tableware is proof that more is always more when done right. “There’s no opportunity for less, in my opinion,” she says with a laugh. For Hicks, it’s all about stock galore, from traditional Christmas cookies (which she lugs all the way to her Caribbean home) to candles, glasses and napkins. Her favorite source of greenery? “OKA’s foliage is very compelling, which is hard to find,” she says. “Mixing in some pheasant feathers from the garden makes it feel a bit wild, and certainly not predictable – I hate predictable.”
A round table is a great dinner win, as no one is left unable to participate in the conversation. For her circular table, IDCO Studio founder Anastasia Casey created just the centerpiece—a billowing basket of warm flowers—that offers all the drama without sacrificing precious table space. “I started with a waterproof bowl inside the basket and put a ball of chicken wire in the bowl to keep the center piece’s shape,” says Casey. “I started with half a dozen faux chocolate cosmos, then added the largest branches and thick-stemmed dahlias. This adds structure to the arrangement and distributes the weight.” Pro tip: Don’t forget to remove the leaves from the flower stems for a more curated look.
What is more charming than eating over a small Christmas village? Dine over a mini Christmas village with glitter accents. This table set by Le Cultivateur’s Emily Traxler is a forest scene made glam in all the right ways. “I like to create spaces that feel magical and festive, yet warm and welcoming,” says Traxler. “This Christmas table was loved by my family and my guests.”
Set the stage for a seasonal spread by basically bringing the pumpkin patch right to your table. Here, Veronica Olson went for a warm-toned floral arrangement with matching candles and SFERRA linen. “We wanted to set the stage for those moments when time slows down and we really engage with the people we value the most,” says Olson.
Ellie Cullman and her partners at Cullman & Kravis know how to make a room as inviting as it is dazzling. They felt no need to hold back in a large space like this dining room in New Jersey’s horse country. An oversized arrangement of alliums, placed under an opulent Louis XVI chandelier, is aptly proportioned to the room and style.