Setting the Table

Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve: between these holidays many of us will be setting quite a few tables over the next month or so. Why not try something unexpected and whimsical? With the approaching holidays in mind, I've gathered some of my favourite images of tablescapes from Pinterest, with a focus on seasonality and festivity. Each table provides a different dining experience - some formal, some more casual; some very grand and some very intimate. Have a look at the images below and tell me if you like anything you see! How will you be setting your holiday table this year? What colours will you use? What will your inspiration be?

A galvanized tray holds a grouping of pumpkins and gourds of various sizes, leafy vegetables and garden vines to make a striking centerpiece on this autumnal, Thanksgiving table. The palette is kept neutral in shades of grey with votives casually placed down the table for a pretty, light effect, adding some warmth to the cooler tones. (Image via: thedailybasics.com)

This Thanksgiving table capitalizes on a crafter's talent to great effect. Glass hurricanes are painted using the Martha Stewart Crafts line of specialty paints for glass with a pretty floral effect in gold. Gold, creams and browns are punctuated by hits of colour in the cut-out leaves that have been secured to a collection of beautifully gnarled branches that stand tall at the center of the table, creating a ''tree canopy'' over the diners. Each place setting is embellished with a gold-pumpkin place card and a printed menu. (Image via: Martha Stewart Living)

I love Ralph Lauren's dinnerware. It is so elegant and, like his apparel, can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Here, Ralph has set the table for maximum dramatic impact with lustrous blacks and golds, luminous glassware and silver serveware. The punctuation point is that hit of festive plaid in bold red and green, catching the flare of the bouquet of red roses on the table. It warms the composition and provides some casual cheer to an otherwise formal setting. (Image via: RalphLauren.com) 

A slightly more intimate gathering is kept elegant yet whimsical with gilded and silvered toy animals guarding each place setting. Clusters of small bouquets in mercury-glass vases are interspersed amongst taper candles in glass candle holders to create a linear centerpiece that visually lengthens the table. With its freshness and cheerfulness, this would be a beautiful setting for a New Year's Day brunch. (Image via: Stylemepretty.com)

Play around with napkin placement and placemat ideas. The linen napkin on the left is casually folded and cinched with a ribbon embellished with acorn tie-ons. The plate is sitting directly on the tablecloth, a decidedly modern style. On the right, the napkin is folded squarely and placed under an appetizer dish. The placemat is a piece of wood cut thinly into a square, adding rustic flare to a modern table. (Left image via: Martha Stewart Living; Right image via: Paloma81.blogspot.com)

This is a very grand table, indeed! It's also festive without shouting "Christmas!" from each and every angle. The plaette is stictly white with plenty of transparency in the glassware and glass candle sticks, bringing lightness to the woodsy room. Bowls of fruit and candlelight warm the setting. And how about those faux-fur chair liners! The modernity of the tablescape is the perfect complement to the rustic surroundings. (Image via: aesthetically-thinking.blogspot.com)

This modern, Scandinavian look is so beautiful in its bright simplicity and is actually one of the easiest effects to achieve. Keep the palette neutral and monochromatic, keep the shapes bold but clean and keep ornamentation to a minimum. The mostly grey and silver colour scheme is warmed by gold candlesticks and holiday greenery. Napkins are tied with Christmas-tree shaped gingerbread cookies. (Images via: blog.stylizimo.com)

Here is another example of a Scandinavian-inspired table setting that uses the same principles of monochromatic coordination. The light, neutral tones are extended to the single-stem Chrysanthemum arrangements that dot the tabletop. (Image via: Martha Stewart Living)

Sometimes during the holiday season it's nice to sit down with one or two good friends (or just your husband, wife and kids) to a casual kitchen dinner. I love the casual warmth of these two intimate table settings that are still elegant and beautiful without being ostentatious. (Left image via: breadandolives.tumblr.com. Right image via localmilkblog.com) 

Those of you in more temperate climates have the luxurious option of hosting your holiday gatherings outdoors! I love the drama this table evokes with its stunning 'runner' of collected mosses, antlers and flower arrangement of roses, ranunculus and proteas. The square glass dishes sit directly atop the bare wood table and the amber pedestal tumblers keep it casual. (Image via: ruffledblog.com)