SETTING the HOLIDAY TABLE

H O L I D A Y   H O S T I N G  

When hosting (and as a general life mantra) I believe in keeping things simple. Understatement is a statement, and I always lean toward a quiet, elegant table. I want to lavish my guests with warmth, welcome, and just a touch of grandeur to reach the ideal balance of easy sophistication. I want these occasions to feel special, even a touch indulgent, without going over the top into showboating.

Below, I’m sharing the essential things that I think about when putting together my holiday tables. Truly, not much is needed to make an impact. There are so many other things on the to-do list when hosting, the table shouldn’t feel like a huge undertaking.

This might be a hot take, but I'm not a fan of filling the table with meaningless piles of 'decorative' fruits and vegetables. (Is anyone going to eat those? Or after their brief performance are they destined for the bin?) Instead, I strongly prefer to fill that space with beautiful platters and serve the meal on the table. Passing and sharing is so convivial and part of the experience of connection. I also love to see the food all displayed at the table- we eat with all of our senses, vision included, let's take in the feast.

-Kira

Dress Your Table As Well As You Dress Yourself

My biggest tip is this: You should approach filling your china cabinet the same way you fill your closet. Your home, and the objects and décor in it, are extensions of your style. Invest in great pieces. Shop with the same care and intention, the same philosophical and aesthetic values, when shopping for dishes and table linens. A great outfit makes you feel confident and your table, all set and ready for guests, should make you feel the same. When you're hosting you want to be the best version of YOU.

Like with your wardrobe, you can go high low on the table. Mix vintage with your favorite independent designers. (Hiii.) And for holidays, do dress up a bit— I always set holiday tables with a tablecloth.

Simple Florals

This might sound like an unexpected tip from a stylist but the flowers don’t need to be fancy. Where I live there are no flowers in season during the holidays. I may poke around the yard and see if there are any interesting branches, herbs, or evergreens to clip, but often I end up simply buying flowers from the grocery store. I stay away from the premixed holiday themed bouquets and pick bunches of a single type of flower (or branchy green) in a color and texture that I like, no need for it to be 'holiday red.' If those premixed bouquets are the only thing available I'll buy a couple and then take them apart to edit down to just a few shapes in a more limited color palette.

Candles Set The Mood

Nothing is more flattering or welcoming than the warm glow and flicker of candles. Line a few tall tapers or arrange bountiful clusters of pillars. You can get creative with the configuration and it’s always going to be great. Candles are such an easy win.

As an extension of this tip: Overhead lights really kill the mood. Turn them off completely for dinner parties and any other electrified light should be dimmed considerably. Pro level points if your bulbs are all a warm color temperature and match each other.

A Small Touch

It may be printing the evening’s menu to set down at each place setting, writing out beautiful name cards, or simply tying a sprig of something delightful around the napkin. Whatever is it, small, special gestures that elevate today above a normal day make guests (and you) feel fully present and enjoy this experience as it is: Singular.

(Btw when I print menus, I just do it at home. Matte photo paper and my inkjet printer. Very easy.)