Setting a Beautiful Holiday Table

The holidays are fast approaching and that means it’s time for a primer on setting a beautiful holiday table. If you’re hosting the holiday festivities this year, you’ve probably already started preparing for the event. While most of the work can’t be completed until just before the guests arrive some things need to be attended to sooner than later.

Setting a Beautiful Holiday Table

If you’re going to be setting a beautiful holiday table you’ll want to pull out your table linens, flatware and china long before the date circled on the calendar. Get them out now so they can be inspected, cleaned and polished.

Linens should be freshly laundered and pressed. There’s nothing worse than hosting an event and having the remnants of past dinner parties show up on your table cloth or runner. Because many linens can have busy patterns, stains can be missed. It’s best to have them professionally cleaned but you may be able to get away with spot cleaning for some pieces that are only slightly soiled. Don’t forget to clean and press the napkins too.

Using the Grandma’s good silver this year? Hooray! She’ll be thrilled as long as you make sure it’s polished to mirror shine. While you can use an easy DIY method of quickly polishing silver (fill an aluminum pan with hot water and add one tablespoon of baking soda bring to a boil, drop pieces into the pan for about 10 seconds and remove with tongs), you may want to go the old fashioned method as the DIY one can remove the tarnish that is deep in the grooves of your silverware. That deep grooved tarnish actually is a desired look so you may not want to remove it.

There are many ways to set a table, these videos provide lots of great ideas for setting a modern holiday table or a classic table.

Use craft paper, a string of lights and vibrant greenery to set a stunning table.