Whether you are preparing for a holiday dinner or just want to enjoy some beautiful decorations on one of the most central pieces of furniture in the home (the dining table), creating a holiday tablescape can change the whole vibe in the apartment. Design something festive and pleasing to the eye with these tips.

Be Creative with the Centerpiece

Gone are the days when centerpieces consisted of a bouquet of flowers or an arrangement of candles. Don’t be afraid to stretch this decorative arrangement down the length of the table – and think outside the box when it comes to what items to include. How about an arrangement of LED lanterns of various sizes (and even styles!) set among some faux greenery? Or consider a few large glass vases filled with pine cones along with a few white tapers arranged between them. You can also use several faux mini evergreen trees, perhaps with white or red ribbon twining through their bases, or small holiday village houses resting on cotton “snow.”

Create Depth by Layering

Pick out a pretty tablecloth, but don’t stop there. Put a contrasting or complementary runner in the center of the table before adding the centerpieces on top of it. Use non-traditional, thick placemats like natural fiber placemats, or a wood charger, which can double as a placemat. Then layer the plates with the dinner plate on the bottom and salad plate on top, and add a decorative element like a piece of holly tied with a bow or a pine cone. All these layers create depth and visual interest.

Play with Patterns

There’s never been a better time to play with patterns during the holiday season – these days, anything goes. Try mixing a variety of plaids and/or ginghams in whatever color scheme you choose (you can’t go wrong with reds or greens). Go with a monochromatic look, or dare to add deep contrast. Mix a soft holiday botanical print with geometric patterns like checks or stripes.

Add Texture

This element is often overlooked, even though it can create such an elegant look. Use a faux fur runner. Mix woods and metals, like pine cones and candlesticks. Tie rustic linen napkins with twine. Use a variety of greenery interspersed with ribbons or shiny ornaments.

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