Whether you’re planning a festive get-together for family or an extravagant affair for friends, a beautiful holiday table sets the mood for a truly special occasion. But if the thought of setting the perfect table causes you more stress than cooking the actual dinner, fear not. With the following tips, you can set a table like an interior design expert – or Mrs. Claus herself.

Go with a monochromatic color scheme. Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you have to decorate with red and green. The two colors actually clash. Take a tip from interior design and fashion school students and choose one color for your linens, napkins and décor, and you won’t have to worry about which colors match with which. The singular color is also more elegant. And try a color that’s a bit unexpected, like royal purple, robin’s egg blue or stark white.

Think outside the box for centerpieces. Centerpieces don’t just have to be flowers, or pine boughs with candles in the middle. The most memorable centerpieces have some kind of sentimental significance. Think of unconventional items that you could display, like weathered books that your family loves, snow globes you’ve collected from around the world, vintage hourglasses that represent the passing of another year, or framed photographs of the people who are at the table.

Create candlelight at different levels. The secret to a glimmering table is to arrange candlelight at different heights. Tall taper candles not only add a glow to the room, but add a sparkle to everyone’s eyes. Pillar candles or tall container candles cast a glow on the food and centerpieces. And light from low votives accent the tabletop and silverware. Just be careful not to place open flames too close to guests, and avoid scented candles that might overpower the aroma of your dishes. Read the rest of this entry »