Dressing the table can turn any meal into an occasion. But the merriest holidays, those of the bountiful autumn and glittering winter seasons, inspire extraordinary adornment.
Whether made of cloth, leather, metal, woven straw or other materials, a backdrop changes the personality of dinnerware. Tablecloths, place mats, runners or combinations of these elements can go a long way to set the holiday mood.
Even the simplest, most minimal treatment can be enhanced with a balance of color and a mix of materials -- dinnerware and flatware, candle holders, flowers, serving pieces and baubles.
Basic white, for example. It's a classic -- the equivalent of the black cocktail dress or suit. It's available in the finest pure linen and less expensive blends, in tone-on-tone patterns such as damasks, or with applique and embroidery.
White tablecloths can be embellished for dramatic effect. Use ribbon or fabric about an inch wide, allowing enough to fold in so the edges are finished. Choose a holiday color such as emerald or purple, or a shimmery metallic such as a sheer bronze, copper, gold or silver.
A basic sewing manual will describe how to miter corners for a neat finish. Machine- stitch in matching thread to the edges.
The color can be served as a piping on top of the metallic. Piping can be bought ready to stitch in, or you can make it yourself. Narrow ribbon is also an effective trim. Gather the napkin into a ring that captures the hues you've brought together. Repeating the colors in the dinnerware, flowers and even the wine goblets will make an arresting presentation.
Clustered candles
Instead of a centerpiece, cluster some white candles in crystal holders of different heights. Decorate the tapers with gold cording, spiraling around. Small votives placed in a crystal egg cup can be filled with water and a single floating blossom to match the linens for a striking setting.
The most subtly patterned tablecloth design is that of a damask. It might be tone-on-tone or two tones, such as white on buttery yellow. Such a cloth grabs attention when teamed with plates banded in a matching hue.
Place mats
White scalloped place mats layered over the cloth further set off a lapis-banded service plate. Gold ribbons can serve as napkin ties and can be threaded through a fruits-and-greens centerpiece.
