10 DIY Tips for the Perfect Holiday Table

Hosting friends and family is one of the most exciting parts of the holiday season. But planning your event doesn’t have to end with the food and drink… a beautiful, creative table setting will make your night that much more memorable (and Instagrammable!). And handcrafting your decorations is the perfect way to while away a snowy afternoon. Here are 10 of our favourite tips for trimming your table:

1. Pick a theme

Whether it’s a forest setting with lots of greenery and berries, a gingerbread house with fun cut-out shapes or a frosty winter wonderland, choosing a fun theme is a great way to start planning your big event. And, who knows…it might even help inspire some ideas for your menu, too.

2. Create a colour scheme

Next up…choose your colours. Will it be rich jewel tones, dreamy whites and golds, or the classic red and green? Whatever you choose, we recommend you stick with three colours maximum. It will create a beautiful ambiance your guests will notice right away.

3. Plan in advance

Let’s face it, this is great advice for all aspects of life. Take an afternoon or evening to dream up your party theme in advance, so you aren’t scrambling at the last minute. That way, if you do need to buy anything new, you’ll have enough time to find things you can actually reuse. Better for the environment…and for you wallet.

4. Go easy on the patterns

Falling snowflakes. Dancing reindeer. Twinkling lights. There are so many fun and festive patterns for napkins, tablecloths and place settings, but try to focus on just one theme. Less is more…

5. Personalize your place settings

There are so many gorgeous and creative ways to add some personalization to your place settings. We love this inexpensive idea with wooden clothes pins and fresh herbs (below) — plus, it’ll make the whole room smell absolutely amazing. Or, try something using some outdoorsy elements, like a small branch of greenery or cute little pinecones.

6. Make a festive table runner

Forget the centrepiece — this year, try a fragrant table runner of greens and branches. Layer in some votive candles and twinkling lights, and you’ll have a stunning and memorable table that is natural, compostable and waste-free. Oh, and it’ll smell incredible.

7. Stack your plates

Instead of creating layers through placemats or fabric, just stack your plates for a gorgeous place setting. Then, when you finish each course, you can just clear one layer of plates and the next one is ready to go. Simple, beautiful and practical. What more do you need?

8. Make an impact with festive cutlery

Instead of adding sparkle through decorations, why not invest in a set of festive cutlery for special occasions? It’s the perfect way to make your whole meal feel extra-special.

9. Chairs are part of the setting too

Don’t limit your creativity to the table — save a little something special for the chairs, too! Whether it’s a ribbon, some greenery or little signs with your guests’ names, a festive touch on your chair backs will get people smiling before they even sit down.

10. Don’t take on too much

There are a million and one amazing ideas out there for holiday table decor (we’ve only just scratched the surface!). But, try to keep it simple. Not only will your table look more elegant…it’s a lot less work for you, too! You can make a big impact with nothing but some sprigs of greens and a little twine.

Any holiday decor tips we missed? Give us a shout at blog@madradish.com. Happy hosting, everyone!