The leaves are turning and the air outside is crisp - Thanksgiving is just around the corner! One of our favorite things about this time of year is all of the entertaining possibilities. The first step to getting ready for the holiday season is most definitely building the perfect tablescape. Whether you are having guests over for sips and nibbles or for an all out dinner party, having a focal point and bringing in some decor for the season is a must. Here are 5 simple steps to building the perfect tablescape that you can use all year round!

Pick a Color Palette

One of the first steps in the design process is to choose your color palette. Decide if you want your tablescape to be bold and rich or if you want to use more of a neutral palette with muted tones. Once you know the palette you want to work with you can start shopping for items or start pulling items from your home decor inventory to put into the centerpiece. I personally always like to buy one or two new pieces to freshen things up and then mix them with pieces that I already have.

Choose Your Base

Every tablescape needs some sort of base to it; this is what grounds the whole piece. There are many different options for the base of a tablescape. Some people will choose to build the tablescape directly onto a glass table top which can mean that will need to use more of the bold colors as neutral colors can get lost on this kind of base. Dependant on the size of your table, you may also wish to use a tablecloth to give yourself a neutral base to build on. You could also choose to use a table runner to bring some color into a more neutral piece or to tie together some of the other decor in your home.

Pick Focal Pieces

Sometimes the options available become overwhelming especially if you are at a home decor store trying to make decisions. The best way I find is to choose a few pieces that will stand out more and use them as the focal points throughout the table. Dependant on the size of the table you will generally want to use between one to five items. I always suggest to go with odd numbers as it has a better effect on the end result. Once you have chosen your focal points, place them on the table and then begin to build around them. This part of the process I find is always trial and error. I find myself standing back, walking away and coming back and changing things around a few times before I am completely happy with how it looks.

Mix and Match

I know the term mix and match may not sound that great but what makes a tablescape interesting is a mixture of heights and textures. You do not want the piece to be too high so that people cannot converse across the table but you also do not want it to be all one height as this can make the whole table look flat. Using a variation of heights, textures and fabrics will help to make your tablescape eye catching. I personally always like to add candles and a touch of sparkle, metallic or bling!

Less Is More

When all else fails, always go by the philosophy that less is more. You do not want to overload the table - you just want to visually enhance it. The tablescape should be a centerpiece to your table and not take over the entire thing.

The holiday season isn’t just about the décor, it is about coming together and spending time with those you love. I just happen to think that you can host in style!!

Five Steps To Building The Perfect Tablescape