If you’re hosting this holiday season, the holiday table is your chance to add a bit of seasonal flair and personality to your festivities. With a little planning and creativity, you can create festive place settings that truly wow your guests. Here are a handful of ways to elevate your tablescape with place settings:

Opt for festive dishware to set the tone.

Since plates, bowls, and utensils are already part of your dinner table, why not shop for festive dishware to enhance your tablescape? You can try decorating with red or green plates and napkins for a festive touch. Or, incorporate holiday-inspired dishes such as snowflake cocktail glasses or poinsettia-patterned bowls to create a whimsical winter dining experience.

Incorporate seasonal elements.

Pinecones, holly branches, or poinsettias are seasonal elements that you can use to create a seasonal centerpiece for your dining table. Or to incorporate more color, try tying cinnamon sticks or a string of frosted cranberries to napkins for added personality.

Add a table runner.

Adding a table runner to your holiday dinner table is another way to bring festive charm to your place settings. Not only is it a quick and easy way to decorate your table, but table runners can be used as a reference point for arranging your dishes and silverware, creating a polished and organized place setting your guests are sure to love. Plus, you can shop for a wide variety of colors and patterns to match your holiday motif.

For a rustic holiday place setting, try decorating with a runner made from burlap or plaid fabric. Or if you prefer a more swanky, modern vibe, try a table runner decorated with gold or silver sequins to match a dazzling plate setting complete with elegant silverware and crystal glasses.

Show your appreciation.

To show your family and friends that you care, consider crafting personalized place settings to make your loved ones feel special. For example, placing a handwritten note or name tag on each plate can create the warmest welcome for your guests when they arrive for dinner. Or, consider displaying fun and festive trinkets such as mini ornaments or candy canes to each setting as a festive surprise. This is a fantastic way to show the ones you love just how much you appreciate them for coming.

6 Festive Holiday Place Setting Ideas To Try

If you’re hosting for the holidays, you can create a homey and welcoming ambiance with festive place settings. Beautiful place settings set the tone for the dinner. This is why it’s worth putting in a little extra effort to make them stand out. To spread a bit of holiday cheer this season, here are six festive holiday place-setting ideas to kick off the seasonal festivities.

1. Pick a color and run with it.

If you have trouble deciding how you want your place setting to look, pick a festive color like green, red, or gold, and base your setting around that. For example, if you picked green like the example above, you can shop for decor in varying shades of green for an easy monochromatic look.

2. Mix and match colors and patterns.

This holiday place setting uses multiple variations of a similar pattern to spice up the tablescape. Try mixing and matching gingham, buffalo, and houndstooth check patterns in varying colors to add a dynamic flair to your dinner table.

3. Incorporate nature.

Incorporate a natural element into your place setting by decorating with colorful leaves or seasonal flowers. Add a rustic, wooden charger plate underneath for a tranquil, inviting effect.

4. Make it personal.

Personalize your holiday place settings by adding a personal touch to them. You can use stencils to print guest names onto napkins, or stitch them onto festive felt ornament for a place setting your guests can take home with them.

5. Start with dessert.

Use sweet treats like frosted gingerbread cookies or festive cakes to decorate your place setting. Then after dinner, your guests can enjoy a delicious dessert right at their seats.

6. Turn it into a gift.

Instead of leaving your silverware on the table, place your utensils inside a woven satchel for a rustic vibe. You can turn it into a goody bag by adding a few treats like candies, chocolates, or even mini candles for a sweet surprise.