Holiday Entertaining: How to Set the Table

 

 

A re you the hostess with the mostess?  You know the one:  calm, cool and collected, with a perfectly decorated home, a magazine worthy tablescape, and a menu that would rival a 5 star restaurant.  

Well, I’m not her, but I do love entertaining and have managed to learn a little along the way.  And with the holidays approaching, I thought this would be a good time to show you how to set the table.  

This first diagram is for a casual buffet, which is always what my family does.

 

 

But I also love what I call “family style” serving where the food is on the table and people are saying things like, “will you please pass the butter?”   If you are going to do that, protect your table with a table cloth and lay a table runner to on top of it. Set out trivets and serving utensils along the table runner for hot dishes.

For the rest of the table setting, follow these great diagrams from Huffington Post.

 

 

 

  

I love Live Creatively Inspired team member, Jennifer’s approach.  She chose to keep the table setting simple, letting the centerpiece be the star of the table.  

 

 

And Robin from All Things Heart and Home set a rustic tablescape using natural elements.  

 

 

 

Or you can take your cue from Jane, Live Creatively Inspired contributor, who used her tablecloth as the inspiration for her fall tablescape.  

 

 

 

It’s always a good idea to count your dishes to make sure you have enough settings for each guest.   Also, setting the table the night before you host will give you one less thing to do on the day of the event.  Remember, you can set a beautiful table  just by using what you already have.

 

I hope you will consider entertaining this year.  It really is good for the soul.  

 

 For more entertaining tips and inspiration, please visit my Entertaining board on Pinterest.    There you’ll find everything from how much food to serve, to napkin folds, to wine pairings.

 

Sharon