Turkey and mashed potatoes, cookies and eggnog, latkes and challah—the holidays often center around food, and in the rush of list making and grocery shopping, it’s easy to forget about the final destination: the table.
Tablescaping, by definition, is “the activity of arranging items on a table in an attractive and decorative way, often with matching plates, bowls, etc. and items such as napkins, flowers, and candles.” But, as any professional tablescaper will tell you, it’s not just about making things look good. It’s about creating an inviting place where guests feel welcome and comfortable.
We asked experts around the state for their best tips, along with recommendations for shops near and far that can help you pull everything together. Here’s what they had to say.
Plan ahead.
Houston’s Ariel Vargas is used to working under pressure. Her event company, Aryce Designs, specializes in tablescapes, and sometimes she has less than thirty minutes to set up. Luckily, her “freestyle” approach lends itself to spontaneity. She gathers supplies ahead of time, but she doesn’t do mock-ups and prefers to make decisions as she works. For those who have less experience, Vargas recommends setting the table at least a day before company arrives.
“That way you won’t be overwhelmed with trying to decorate while also focusing on the food,” she says. “Plus, it gives you time to snap some photos.”
Planning ahead also allows you to collect more high-quality, eye-catching pieces, says Julie Dodson, owner of Houston-based Dodson Interiors. She recently participated in Round Top’s first designer tablescape showcase and created a vintage-inspired scene with pops of pastel blue, silver serving ware, and secondhand items.
“I went back to one estate sale multiple times because I just kept marinating on it,” says Dodson, who often scours the shelves at Houston consignment store the Guild Shop. Her thrifted scores included crystal candelabras, a giant silver punch bowl (which she repurposed into a vase for flowers), and vintage Reed & Barton wine goblets. There were only seven goblets at the sale, but Dodson found another online via Replacements, Ltd., a source she recommends if you also need extra china or silverware.
Not having enough matching forks and spoons is one of the mistakes Brooke and Jonathan Greer see most often as founders of Table Manners, an Austin-based rental company focused on tablescapes. Another avoidable faux pas? Putting silverware in the wrong place.
“In simple terms, forks are on the left, knives are on the right, and you put the silverware in the order they’re going to be used, from the outside in,” Jonathan says. “So, if you’ve got your salad as a first course, you should have the salad fork and the salad knife on the outside.” For more formal affairs, the couple references the guides created by the etiquette experts at Emily Post.
Seek inspiration on- and offline.
Dodson recommends flipping through magazines and holiday catalogs, as well as shopping your home for objects that can be used in new ways. She and the Greers also suggest researching in person. “Stores like CB2 are at the forefront of a lot of trends,” Jonathan says. “Wander around the tablescape section and you can come up with really fun ideas without buying anything.”
Don’t be afraid to break from traditional color schemes, either. For the Greers’ annual Friendsgiving feast, Brooke designed a bright, daisy-inspired tablescape with mustard yellow as the primary hue. She says earth tones, such as brown, mauve, plum, and amber, are also proving popular this year. “Search for the colors you want on Pinterest; or you can even ask ChatGPT for advice on what goes well together,” Brooke says.
Work from the tablecloth up.
The white tablecloth is classic for a reason, but one way to take it to the next level is with texture. Brooke’s favorite option is a popular loose basket weave referred to as the panama. Wood, wicker, and stoneware chargers also contrast nicely with softer elements such as organic-linen napkins, which the Greers recommend over polyester because they’re more absorbent.
If you want to experiment with patterns and color but are hesitant to invest in something you might use only once, the couple suggests ordering from an online linen-rental service, such as Reverie Social, BBJ La Tavola, or Nüage Designs. “They ship to your door, and after you’re done using the tablecloth, you just put it back in the bag and send it back,” Brooke says. “Usually, you don’t even have to wash it.”
Incorporate a personal touch or two.
Once you have your foundation, it’s time to add the details. The Greers like to place a copy of the menu (designed using a template in Canva) at each seat to build anticipation. It also doubles as a keepsake. Another idea is to make recipe cards that guests can take home and use to re-create favorite dishes.
Place cards may feel formal, but the pros are big proponents of orchestrating the seating arrangement. Putting like-minded people next to each other can help facilitate conversations and new connections. Plus, it’s a clear indicator that you’ve thought about each of your guests. In case of any last-minute changes, Vargas recommends having extra cards on hand or partnering with a local maker that can send replacements fast. She favors the wooden, cursive designs by Houston-based Etsy shop G+G Custom Wedding Goods.
Dodson recommends incorporating family heirlooms when possible. “It could be a butter dish that your great-aunt had, or a gravy boat, but it just brings a little bit of nostalgia to your table,” she says. “It’s a nice way to remember past holidays with our relatives that are no longer here.”
Make your centerpiece the center of attention.
You can’t go wrong with flowers, but don’t sleep on the possibilities of other types of flora. One of the Greers’ favorite hacks is to head to wherever Christmas trees are sold for the fresh (and free) excess cuttings. The couple also forages for branches in their backyard and once designed a centerpiece with just a few twigs, ornaments, and a little ingenuity. Another sustainable choice is making seasonal produce the star with colorful arrangements of squash, plums, or Texas citrus.
If you prefer faux, Vargas suggests a simple green garland, such as this eucalyptus–and–willow leaf option. Then tailor it to the season by adding floral picks—think maple leaves for Thanksgiving or cranberries for Christmas. She also prefers realistic-looking, battery-operated taper candles for safety and easy cleanup.
Don’t forget about the kids’ table.
Vargas’s fourteen-year-old son, Bryce, often weighs in on her designs and encourages adults to think beyond “basic color patterns” when it comes to the kids’ table. “As a teenager, I would like to see tablescapes that are creative with a theme, like a certain artist or something trending,” he says. For younger kids, his mom suggests making it interactive with butcher paper (Ikea sells large rolls) and craft supplies.
“I pick up some clear glass plates at the dollar store for $1.25, turn them upside down, and trace the shape onto the paper. Label each space with their names, and then add pails with markers and crayons,” Vargas says. “It keeps them busy, and it’s a fun way to personalize their space.”
The Greers, who just welcomed their first child, recommend Meri Meri for festive, disposable plates and cups and Tossware for more durable options made from recycled plastic bottles. “They have cool shapes, including a stemless wine glass,” Brooke says. “So, be sure to have a bottle of sparkling apple juice on hand, too.”
