How to Create a Tablescape That Looks Like You Tried (Even If You Didn’t)

A holiday hosting guide for the stylishly unhinged.

Christmas is creeping up: the most wonderful time of the year and, depending on who you ask, also the season of joy, gratitude… and mild emotional collapse. Presents everywhere, family everywhere, feelings everywhere. It all depends on the kind of person you are, aspire to be, or carefully pretend to be in front of your in-laws.

Christmas means gatherings. Gatherings mean full tables. Full tables mean full hearts and full stomachs because, let’s be real, gormandising is a December sport. Dieting is a January problem. Or never. I’m not judging...

And full tables mean hosting season, which means you’re expected to host with style, or you risk to be reminded, once again, that your very ancient, many-rotations-around-the-sun aunt not only spices her gravy better than you, but also manages to plate her food better than you. And yes, turkey is technically a Thanksgiving thing, but I’d happily eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a 2 a.m. emotional support snack. Apologies to the vegans, but I happen to be a carnivore with zero seasonal boundaries...

So, Tablescaping… What Even Is It?

Tablescaping is basically interior design for your table, but with way less commitment and much more snacks. It’s the art of layering textures, colors, objects, and stories (yes, stories) to create a moment people want to sit down at, photograph, and maybe even remember fondly one day.

But here’s the secret the pros won’t tell you:
You don’t need new things. You don’t need matching things. You don’t need things that scream I am curated. You just need things that work well together, and by “work,” I mean:

• They don’t actively fight each other,

• They tell some kind of story,

• They make you look like the stylish host you absolutely are.

A Quick Chat With Nancy: Our Resident Tablescaping Whisperer

I asked Nancy ofcourse, to tell me her favorite thing about tablescaping, and for those of you who don't know Nancy by now, seriously where have you been and what've you been doing this past year? She didn’t even pause.

Me: “What’s your favorite part about creating a tablescape?”

Nancy: “That I can tell an entirely different story using the exact same items. Truly. Move a napkin ring here, add a sprig of greenery there, change the plate order, and suddenly the vibe is: ‘I collect ceramics in Tuscany.’ Add a candle? ‘I journal about my feelings.’ Remove the candle? 'I’m minimalist but approachable.’ It’s like mood alchemy.”

She sipped her coffee, looked at the table we were working on, and added:

Nancy: “And also… timelessness does the heavy lifting. If your base pieces are classic, you can layer endlessly. You can build richness without buying a single new thing. A splash of daring is always welcome though- just not the kind that sets your centerpiece on fire.”

How to Create a Pretty Tablescape (Without Losing Your Mind)

1. Start With a Story (Not the Plates)

This is where everyone goes wrong. They start with the cutlery. No.
Ask yourself: What story am I telling?

• Cozy cabin Christmas?

• Festive glam with questionable amounts of gold?

• Rustic but make it chic?

• Scandinavian calm because you emotionally need it?

Once you have your story, the items behave. They know what they’re supposed to do.

2. Layer Like You Mean It

Layering is the difference between “cute table” and “wow, she really has her life together.” Even if you don’t.

Think:

• Base textiles,

• Chargers,

• Plates on plates,

• Napkins with a twist or knot or personality moment,

• A sprig of something (anything really- rosemary, pine, a leaf you found outside but pretend is intentional),

•  Height variations so people know you have depth, literally and metaphorically.

Nancy says layering is the easiest way to fake richness:

“If the table feels flat, add a second textile. If it feels heavy, remove something." 

So basically to put it in simpler terms for people who don't speak Nancy.... I'd think of it as contouring, but for tables.

3. Mix the Old With the New 

A timeless table doesn’t care where you bought the items. You can absolutely pair hand-me-down crystal with modern plates and a thrifted vase. No one will notice except the people who will compliment you for being effortlessly chic. This is what we call a win-win.

4. Add a Splash of Daring

A bold candle color. An unexpected textile. A weird but beautiful centerpiece object. A napkin fold that looks like origami but isn’t. Just one touch is enough to make the table sing without turning it into a carnival.

5. Never Underestimate the Power of Candles

Honestly, lighting fixes everything. Messy table? Burn a candle. Overcooked turkey? Burn two. Awkward family dynamics? Burn five and dim the lights until you can barely see each other. Candlelight is the social equalizer of hosting.

6. Keep It Personal

Slip a handwritten card. Add a tiny ornament. Place a chocolate on each plate. People love the feeling of being considered, and nothing says “I’m a thoughtful host” like something small but intentional.

7. And Finally: Don’t Aim for Perfect- Aim for Gorgeous Imperfection

Nancy calls it the “art of hosting with heart.”

Nancy:  “Gorgeous is not standardized. A beautiful table reflects the people sitting around it, not a Pinterest board. If everything matches too much, it loses personality. Let it breathe. Let it feel lived in.”

And she’s right. The point isn’t perfection. It’s presence. It’s warmth. It’s the story you create around that table, one layering trick at a time.

Feeling inspired? Make this tablescape yours and host in style this season.