Tablescapes for Holiday Dinners

Tablescapes-for-Holiday-DinHow do you create tablescapes for holiday dinners? In fact, what is a tablescape? That’s what this page is about. How to make interesting tables for your holiday meals. Whether it’s a Thanksgiving dinner, an Easter brunch or a festive Christmas buffet, a tablescape will add interest and charm to your table.

What is a Tablescape?

A tablescape is just a new-fangled word to describe how you arrange your table. A variation of the word landscape, tablescape encompasses the look of your holiday dinner table. Just like other “scapes” there are variations in height and focal points.

Whether it’s your formal dinner table, an informal setting for friends or family, or a buffet table for your holiday meals, the variations in height make up most of your tablescape.

Creating Height Variations in a Table Setting

Height variations when you are talking about a sit-down meal for the holidays will likely be your Holiday Candlestickscenterpiece. You probably don’t want to put too much in the way of guests seeing each other across the table.

That means you tablescape will be mostly shorter pieces and more spread out, not congregated in within a large tall centerpiece. Candlesticks are an easy way to create more variations in your tablescape.

The use of individual candlesticks rather than a candelabra means that you can separate them around the table. Try separating them to either side of your centerpiece.

Tablescapes for Holiday Buffets

Buffets are easier to create height variations. My favorite way is through tiered serving dishes and stemmed cake plates. Cake plates don’t need to be just for cakes either. I use them for many types of foods including setting other serving dishes on, helping to create my buffet tablescape.

A Touch of Flair for Tablescapes

Don’t forget to make use of holiday decorations as part of your tablescape. Things like Christmas salt and pepper shakers tucked around your serving dishes will add to “landscape” of your table. A decorated Easter egg set a each place setting with add more charm for the holiday.

Your tablescapes for holiday dinners and other meals is all about how your present the food and the place settings. So make them delightful with lots of variation in height with little extras tucked around the table.

Originally posted 2014-11-14 16:23:29.

   

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About the Author

Ah, the holidays. A time when my whole large and extended family gather around my table for a big meal. For some odd reason, the tradition of gathering at my house for holidays is a long-standing one. So I've had more experience cooking for the holidays than I intend to admit. But, I've learned more than a few tricks to make things easier. Share along for some fun times for those holiday meals. ...... Read More from this Author

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  1. Cynthia says:

    Very interesting indeed! I have never heard the term “tablescapes” before. Using variations in height when setting the table or buffet does create a beautiful tablescape as well as allowing for more to be placed on the table, which can be really important when you have a large crowd with varying dietary needs or preferences.

  2. Mary Beth says:

    I love making pretty “tablescapes” for a buffet table but I have a bit more trouble when it is a formal dining situation. It is so easy to get too much on the table that I tend to fix a pretty centerpiece but then take it off when we are eating the meal. I’ll take some of your suggestions next time and see if I can come up with a “tablescape” to leave on the table while we are eating.

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