Create a Holiday Tablescape With Everyday Dishes
You don’t need special china to set a festive table! Here’s how to dress up your dinnerware all season long.
Philip Friedman
The holiday season is here! Whether you host a cozy Thanksgiving feast or a New Year's Eve bash (or any celebration in between), the HGTV Magazine editors dreamed up bold tablescapes that will wow guests. The best part: You don't need new dinnerware. All these stunning settings use plain white dishes you already have in your cabinet.
Thanksgiving
Philip Friedman
The warm, earthy colors on this table are perfect for any fall gathering (Friendsgiving, anyone?) — especially the big feast. To make the centerpiece, spray-mount pressed leaves onto white pumpkins, then seal with decoupage glue. Write on leaves with a paint pen to make place cards.
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Hanukkah
Philip Friedman
Surrounded by vibrant blue fabrics, a white plate feels extra special. Make your table glow for the Festival of Lights by nestling star-shaped votives in a mix of eucalyptus and thistle. Plain matchboxes make perfect place cards — just personalize with a paint pen. (Get more Hanukkah table ideas here.)
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Christmas
Philip Friedman
Put a fun spin on the usual red-and-green palette by adding pink, purple and blue accents. Here we used a multicolored ornament garland as a centerpiece. The decorative charger is like jewelry for a plain white plate, and the Christmas cracker is a cute alternative to a place card. (See more festive Christmas table settings here.)
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New Year's Eve
Philip Friedman
Ring in 2024 with a glam, sparkly table setting. Octagonal place mats add a dramatic frame to your plates, and scattered silver and gold confetti tell everyone the party is on. Arrange disco balls down the center of the table along with noisemakers that guests can grab when the clock strikes midnight.