Choose basics that will take you from Fall through New Years. Then, add and remove accessories to fit the Holiday and the meal. It is not that difficult to turn the unused formal dining room into a dinner party waiting to happen.
"When the table is beautiful and the lights are low with flickering candles, there is always magic. If you add family and friends and share stories and good conversation - the food won't matter." You don't even have to cook, just bring it home, lay it out, and enjoy your guests.
I love the natural material animals that have been trendy the last few years. Recently I purchased two nice sized deer, a raccoon, fox, two owls, three smaller fox tree ornaments, two squirrel ornaments, and, a porcupine tree ornament. This year they are my Holiday table settings inspiration. No doubt, I will use them somewhere for many years to come. The challenge was to use them this year as basic dining decoration, allowing enough accessory changes to make the table different for each Holiday.
The animals set the style. I started with a Fall/Halloween setting, placing the animals where they would stay for the duration. The larger fox found a spot on a silver server.
The porcupine made an unexpected statement along side a silver tea service. The larger owl perched on a wine cooler. The two squirrels made their way onto the chandelier. The three smaller foxes, the smaller owl, and the two deer added whimsy to the table. The raccoon, sporting a red vest, would wait until Christmas for his debut.
Next I chose some plates, silverware, glassware, napkins and so forth that would work with four Holiday table settings: Fall/Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Table items, shown below, that serve all four Holidays are: basic black table cloth; three table runners that cross and work as placemats on the round table; natural color linen napkins; knife, dinner fork, salad fork, spoon, soup spoon, and butter spreader; individual salters and peppers; and, place plate/dinner plate.
Table items, shown above, that serve two or three Holidays are: amber forest etch goblets, small wood bowls, gold rimmed salad plates, brandy glasses, and butter pats.
Seasonal paper napkins are used as an accessory under the first course items for an easy change to fit the Holiday. Black paper napkins are used under the wood bowls. The same dinner napkins are used in various ways to help make the table look different for each Holiday.
White porcelain cats hold chalk board name tags, varnished sliced walnuts are scattered about, and the linen napkins are loosely displayed in the amber goblets. This Fall/Halloween setting brings a low key ambiance to a formal dining room.The Thanksgiving table gets a pine cone center piece and clear glass name tag holders.
The amber goblet etched with a forest scene will be used for a seafood appetizer and seafood forks are added to the table. Crystal bread plates are used however, mismatched water and wine goblets along with the wood bowls, now used for nuts, maintain the low key ambiance. Fall deer scene paper napkins are placed under an appetizer under plate and the linen napkins take a more formal position.
For the Christmas table, the salad plate changes and the place settings look a bit more formal with matching crystal goblets and small champagne glasses. Yet, with the raccoon perched on the pine cone center piece, tall pine cone candle holders, and individual gift bags - the ambiance remains somewhat low key for a formal dining space.
The whimsical animals and natural materials on the table along with the no fuss gift bags keep the formality of the dinner at a minimum. How could one be uptight with such adorable little foxes?
Delicate Christmas paper napkins add to the Christmas spirit under green crystal appetizer compotes. The wood bowls hold Christmas candy and colored bows appear here and there.
A large top hat is used as the main center piece for the New Year.
And, some of the animals get their own hat. New Year excitement is added with sparkle and shine. The raccoon moves to the server sporting a bow tie, an appropriate addition for a more formal look with the red vest.
New Year table accessory changes are: gold tassel napkin rings; gold under plate with crystal shot glass for a NewYear toast; gold trimmed paper napkin; a small "Cheers!" notation: place name tags; matching etched crystal goblets; gold and silver balls as part of center piece; votive candles in brandy glasses; crown votive candles; and, other candles on crystal plates. The wood bowls are not used. Crocheted coasters tone it all down just a tad.Get your dining wardrobe on! Find something that inspires you!
Create your own Holiday magic and move from fall through New Years with great dining ambiance.
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