Hosting Holiday Decor Must-Haves

Holiday decorations can vary depending on which holidays you celebrate, and whether you are hosting a large or small gathering. Here is my list of hosting holiday decor must-haves, first with a selection of table setting basics and then supplemental decor listed by theme.

Hosting during the holidays allows your creativity to shine when it comes to decorations, meal planning and more. I add items to my arsenal of holiday decorations a little each year. By adding only one or two things, this process helps refresh the festive feel in our home in a budget friendly way.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Hosting Holiday Decor Must-Haves (Table Setting Basics)

Here are the table setting basics I like to have at the ready for any gathering. Your holiday decor starting place can be as simple or as lush as you desire. These base recommendations lean more simple, but feel free to veer from these suggestions to find your own starting point.

Table Setting Basics
– White Dinner Plates – link
– Simple Glassware – link
– White Linen Napkins – link
– White Table Linen – link
– Flameless Pillar Candles – link
– Flameless Taper Candles – link
– Tealights for Votive Candle Holders (set of 100) – link
– Luxe Item: Costa Nova Pearl Dinner Plates – link

Styling Your Table Settings
Table settings will generally follow a standard styling format: dinner plate centered in front of the guest seat, salad/accent plate on top of the dinner plate, glassware at 1 or 2 o’clock above the knife and spoon at 3 o’clock, and finally fork(s) at 9 o’clock.

Napkins can vary in their placement. There might be an opportunity for a fun napkin fold or a pretty napkin ring to display which will alter the napkin’s location depending on the need. If you have a detailed salad/accent plate to “show off”, place the napkin corner under salad plate, between salad and dinner plate, draping the majority of the napkin off the table towards the guest seat. This keeps the napkin from hiding the pretty plate details!

Hosting Holiday Decor Must-Haves (by Theme)

As I get photos of each theme, I will break these out into individual blog posts. In the meantime, please click through to see the decor pieces selected in each theme.

Winter Woodland Wonderland

Start with the Basics (above – except for Pillar Candles) and add in:
– Snowflake Salad Plates (set of 4) – link
– Silver Flatware – link
– Snowflake Placemats (set of 6) – link
– Silver Antler Napkin Rings (set of 4) – link
– Frosted Forest Pine Garland (in place of a table runner) – link
– Glass Taper Candle Holders (set of 4) – link
– White Deer Resin Figurines (set of 2) – link
– Snowflake Clear Glass Votive Candle Holders (set of 12) option 1 – link
– Snowflake Frosted Glass Votive Candle Holders (set of 3) option 2 – link
– Reindeer Clear Glass Votive Candle Holder (single) option 3 – link
– Luxe Item: Waterford Goblets (set of 2) – link
– Luxe Item: Crystal Palace White Deer Figurine – link

Styling Tip: Center napkin on salad plate in napkin ring.

Gnome For The Holidays

Start with the Basics (above – except for the White Napkin & Taper Candles) and add in:
– Christmas Gnome Salad Plates (set of 4) – link
– Gold Flatware – link
– Green Wine Glasses (set of 6) – link
– Red Cloth Napkins (set of 8) – link
– Faux Pine Garland with Berries & Pinecones – link
– Christmas Gnomes Figurines (set of 2) – link
– Red Cardinal Figurine – link
– Wood Pillar Candle Holders (set of 3) – link
– Wood Centerpiece with Berries & Sprigs – link
– Gold Star Votive Candle Holders (set of 12) – link

Styling Tip: Place napkin corner under salad plate to drape, as mentioned above.

Happy Grinch-mas

Start with the Basics (above – except for the White Napkin, Taper & Pillar Candles) and add in:
– Grinch Dinner Plates (set of 4) – link
or
– Grinch Accent Plates (set of 4) w/ White Dinner Plate from Basics – link
and add in:
– Gold Flatware – link
– Lime Green Wine Glasses (set of 6) – link
– Lime Green Stripe Cloth Napkins (set of 4) – link
– Lilac Table Runner – link
– White Feathered Trees (set of 3) – link
– Assorted Bottle Brush Trees – link
– Mini Lime Green Ornaments (scattered on table runner) – link
– Mini Pink/Lilac Ornaments (scattered on table runner) – link
– Grinch Salt & Pepper Shakers – link
– Grinch Figurine, Christmas Tree Decorating Scene – link
– Grinch Figurine, WhoVille Post Office – link
– Grinch Figurine, WhoVille Toy Store – link
– Grinch Figurine, WhoVille House – link

Styling Tip: Place napkin under knife and spoon to the right of plate(s).

Moody Merriment

Start with the Basics (above – Glassware & Tealights only) and add in:
– Green Dinner Plates – link
– Black Salad Plates – link
– Black & Gold Flatware – link
– Black Cloth Napkins – link
– Forest Green Velvet Bow Napkin Ring – link
– Black Table Linen – link
– Burgundy Velvet Table Runner – link
– Burgundy Taper Candles – link
– Dark Green Taper Candles – link
– Black Taper Candle Holders (set of 3) – link
– Gold Taper Candle Holders (set of 3) – link
– Clear Gold Votive Candle Holders (set of 36) – link
– Pre-lit Green Garland – link
– Gold Tree Figurines (set of 3) – link
– Luxe Item: Waterford Goblets (set of 2) – link

Styling Tip: Center napkin on salad plate in napkin ring,
and alternate burgundy & dark green taper candles.

Green & Red Plaid Party

Start with the Basics (above – Glassware, Pillars & Tealights only) and add in:
– Black Dinner Plates – link
– Black Salad Plates – link
– Gold Flatware – link
– Plaid Cloth Napkins (set of 8) – link
– Wood Napkin Ring (set of 12) – link
– Plaid Table Runner – link
– Forest Green Table Linen – link
– Wood Pillar Candle Holders (set of 3) – link
– Highland Nutcracker in Tartan – link
– Clear Gold Votive Candle Holders (set of 36) – link

Styling Tip: Center napkin on salad plate in napkin ring.

Blue & Gold Gathering

Start with the Basics (above – Glassware & Tealights only) and add in:
– Gold Rimmed White Dinner Plates (set of 6) – link
– Assorted Blue Motif Salad Plates (set of 4) – link
– Gold Flatware – link
– Blue Cloth Napkins (set of 4) – link
– Gold Spiral Napkin Ring (set of 12) – link
– Blue Table Linen – link
– Gold Rimmed Wine Glasses (set of 4) – link
– Gold Taper Candle Holders (set of 3) – link
– Blue Taper Candles – link
– Light Blue Taper Candles – link
– Clear Gold Votive Candle Holders (set of 36) – link

Styling Tip: Center napkin on salad plate in napkin ring.

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Conclusion

I hope you were able to take something away from this guide on “Hosting Holiday Decor Must-Haves”! Feel free to switch out the decor for your own and make adjustments as needed.  These guidelines are not written in stone and variations are welcome.

Like a photo from this post?  Feel free to Pin your favorites to your Pinterest board!

I am looking for planners ready to share their special events story. Please nominate someone in the comment section below, or email me at jenni@anexcitingday.com, to be featured in my next REAL EVENTS post!