As much as I love beautiful design, I love simplicity and low-stress solutions even more, especially around the holidays.
Because let’s be real people, we’ve got enough going on without trying to compete with Martha Stewart. She’s got scissors just for cutting quesadillas! I can’t Martha, I just can’t.
So, for those of us who want a lovely holiday look when they serve that turkey they didn’t raise themselves (still looking at you, MS), let’s take a peak at my tablescape MVP's. They're fabulous and insanely fast.
via Camilla Styles
This is genius. It's a runner (table-length piece of fabric) with greenery laid in a series of S-shaped curves with a few small candles. You can trim greenery like this in your yard or grab it at the grocery store. No runner on hand? Put down a few matching placemats. Major plus? You can serve food right on top of it. I was amazed by the number of tablescapes I saw the left no room for the food...
via The Kitchn
So simple. It's a placemat with veggies and some leaves to make it artsy. How do you make this happen? Take your coolest placemat and layer a few seasonal vegetables. Grab whatever looks fun and cool at the grocery store--pumpkins, squash, eggplants, persimmons, etc. Stick with a few types of fruit or vegetables in colors that look fun together and repeat them like the designer did in the picture. Then add a little greenery between the vegetables to make it look layered and full. Most grocery stores will sell these kinds of leafy greens as bouquet stuffers.
via Design Fixation
Rounding out our MVPs? This little beauty. A rolled napkin with some evergreen clippings, a cinnamon stick, and twine. Place this napkin display in the center of each plate and you're good to go. No cinnamon sticks? Find cool twigs in the yard to substitute.
And, if you'd like a little more advice on how to get the house ready for the big day and manage holiday stress, here are a few posts from the Niche archive to help.
7 ways to beat the holiday blues
The secret to a great holiday party
Have a happy, beautiful, and peaceful Thanksgiving everyone!