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There’s something special about setting the table. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it signals that time together at the dinner table is important.
Henry must agree, because when I set up the table for Christmas, he asked who was coming over for dinner. When I told him that this was just for us, he grinned from ear to ear.
It’s good to feel special. And a beautiful table helps make your family feel special.
Even if you are four and shirtless.
Even if you are just eating frozen dino nuggets for supper. (Especially if you are eating frozen dino nuggets for supper.)
I don’t revamp all of our decor every year – I like to find pieces that will last for years.
Many of the large pieces, ornaments and dishes have been in our holiday home every year. Maybe that’s a little unconventional. But I do change things up every year to make it new and fresh, without spending a fortune.
These Fiesta Christmas lights dishes were a gift almost 10 years ago. I love them so much that we use them daily during the month of December.
But the plates are luncheon size, which means they need a little something bigger to add size for a table setting.
I have been loving checks and wanted to integrate them into our home this year. So I created these customized melamine plates at Shutterfly. When I personalized them, I found the black and white check background and added the block initial to the center in red. (The best part? These work all year.)
Once I added our Christmas lights plates and bowls, it created a festive little table setting.
I added this simple red customized table runner (with more check napkins underneath in place of another table runner).
The great part of having a table runner with your last name – it works all year. Less stuff to store away and more time to enjoy it. I customized this one with our last name in our signature red color.
Wouldn’t this make a great gift for a newly married couple’s first Christmas?
For place settings that pull double duty, I ordered these metal ornaments (which are customizable on two sides).
On one side, I chose a red and white polka dot print as the background. This is the perfect backdrop for names in chalk marker. (The chalk marker easily comes off with a paper towel.) I also think these would make wonderful gift tags – so I got a few for that, too.
The best part? There’s a photo on the flip side. You can never have enough photo ornaments on the tree.
Because there is so much going on here, I didn’t add a traditional “centerpiece.” It would have covered the middle of the table runner and been in the way for conversation about cheetahs and dinosaurs.
Instead, I just filled each side of the table with candlesticks. I picked these up years ago after Christmas and put them in my mom’s crystal holders.
Do you want to blow your 4-year-old’s mind? Light the candles for dinner.
And then let him realize that his photo is on one of the candles. BAM! HEAD. EXPLODED.
But he was also a little confused and thought he got to make wishes while he blew them all out.
Is it my birthday?
Are these wishes for Santa?
Or maybe for Jesus?
Did you know that Jesus knows Santa?
Never a dull moment around these parts.
In our hutch, I had a chance to display some of my other favorite things.
The pinecone wreaths were DIYed for our December wedding – and they are still holding up 9 years later. I hang them with command velcro strips.
I added mounted art into the center of each wreath. Instead of using my own photos, I chose photos from the Shutterfly art gallery. There are dozens of options just in the holiday section and they all look great.
I think the barn door is my favorite.
When customizing the artwork, you can just choose the Shutterfly Art Library when you “add photos” to your project.
Finally, I added hanging ornaments and stars to the chandelier.
I think it makes a beautiful, vertical statement in the room.
Why only end with the table … when you can add things to the ceiling and the chandelier. (I use Command hooks for the ceiling-mounted stars.)
Why wait for fancy company to set your table?
Surprise your family with a fun and fancy table for your holiday dinner.
I think it will become a new tradition at our house.
Do you like it? Put a pin on it.
Sources (affiliate links):
- Customizable melamine plates at Shutterfly
- Customizable table runner at Shutterfly
- Photo metal ornaments at Shutterfly
- Customizable photo candles at Shutterfly
- 4×4 mounted wall art at Shutterfly
- Fiesta holiday lights plate and bowls
- Black and white check napkins at Amazon
- Santa hat chair covers at Amazon
- Mistletoe bin (part of a set of three) – I purchased these last year at Magnolia Homes after Christmas, but I’ve seen them locally and on Amazon, too.
- Red and white paper stars at Target
- Merry marquis letters at Target
(All other ornaments, candles, and accessories are at least 20 years old. We DIYed the pinecone wreaths for our wedding 9 years ago. Those puppies last.)
Thanks to Shutterfly for sponsoring this post and helping us create a personal holiday home. As always, we don’t post about anything we don’t love. Thank you for supporting NewlyWoodwards sponsors to help make posts like this possible.
Love your table and all the decor! I love red all year round too!
this is so much fun! sometimes when i set pretty table just for the blog we eat at them as a family and act fancy. 🙂 i mean, why not, right?
Such a beautiful space, Kim! The ornaments hanging from the light are a perfect touch.
Merry Christmas!
Courtney