Holiday Table Settings
Casbah Cool Table Setting
If your favorite plates are colorfully patterned, build your table around them as you would an outfit around a printed blouse.
The Designer
Gretta Monahan, Rach's fashion and beauty buddy and owner of Grettacole spas, recommends pulling out two or three main hues and use them in accessories to highlight your statement piece. "Then next year, pick out different colors for a whole new look!"
The Plate
Multicolored dinnerware, like Gretta's Denby Monsoon Cosmic plates, is the chameleon of the china cabinet.
The Napkin
Loosely wrap a thin metallic cord around jewel-tone cotton napkins.
The Place Card
Play off the main course: Trim the stems off decorative feathers, then glue them to folded cardstock with each guest's name.
The Centerpiece
The easiest table topper ever: Fill clear vases with water and varying amounts of food dye -- in one color -- to create an ombreé design.
The Runner
Choose rich-colored burlap and hot-glue a matching ribbon to cover the frayed edges for a showstopper you can use again and again.
Country Chic
That classic pattern you inherited from Grandma takes on a modern look against a chocolaty backdrop. The result: a homey look anyone can achieve.
The Designer
Evette Rios, Rach's design buddy and correspondent on ABC's The Chew, says, "Blue, white and brown are an unstoppable combo." Yellow, orange and red flowers play up the warm tones; arrange them casually in soup bowls or compote dishes to balance the fancy feel of the plates.
The Plate
Evette adds to her vintage transferware collection at flea markets. "Your table actually looks more interesting if your pieces don't match," she says.
Blue Willow plate, $10 and up, rubylane.com
The Tablecloth
A satiny brown fabric looks elegant yet earthy.
The Bread Plate
Use terra-cotta saucers as bread plates -- and place cards: Simply write guests' names in chalk.
The Stemware
Stick craft-store wheat stalks to the stems of blue wine glasses with floral glue.
Libbey Premiere cobalt blue wine glasses, $42 for 12, amazon.com
The Centerpiece
Before arranging flowers, make a scotch-tape grid across the top of the container to keep blooms in place.
Serious Shine
Metallic-trimmed dinnerware anchors a blinged-out table with shimmery accents and icy colors -- a scheme that works well with colid white plates, too.
The Designer
Erica Domesk, Rach's buddy and founder of the DIY brand P.S. -- I Made This, says "Gold or silver with pops of puple and blue feels glamorous and rich." With her DIY touches, this display only looks like a million bucks.
The Plate
Metallic white china, like Erica's Larabee Road Platinum plates, can feel formal on its own -- but you can offset any fussiness with repurposed household staples and punchy colors.
The Bottles
Label your drinks: Write beverage names on colorful glass bottles in dry-erase or metallic paint markers.
Giara bottles, $13, whisknyc.com
The Centerpiece
Fill large glass jars or bowls with anything shiny: foil-wrapped candy, costume jewelry or, for a Christmas table, ornaments.
The Napkin Rings
This dazzling cuff was once a paper-towel roll! To make: Cut 2-inch rings from the roll with a sharp blade and coat with glitter spray paint.
The Placemat
Sold on a perforated roll, bright cotton mats add a big kick of color behind white plates.
Natural Selection
Create a table based on the season's theme of harvest and bounty, without a pumpkin or gourd in sight! Bright leaf plates (or any dishes with a botanical feel) set the tone.
The Designer
Libby Langdon, Rach's interior designer buddy and founder of Libby Langdon Funiture, says "Most of what you need can be found at the grocery store or in your backyard."
The Plate
Plates that feature foliage or flowers -- like Libby's Foglia Fresca set -- can be used year-round by mixing in seasonal accessories.
The Candles
Tie green beans and asparagus around pillar candles with ribbon, or remove the core of an artichoke and pop a candle inside.
The Runner
A bamboo-inspired cloth unifies the table items without distracting from the display.
Chilewich "Bamboo" runner, $55, blooming dales.com
The Centerpiece
Write what you're thankful for in marker on small rocks, then place them in wooden bowls around the table.
Piccoli bowl set, $13, crateand barrel.com
The Candlesticks
Bring some sparkle to the outdoorsy elements with silver candlesticks.
More Decor, Please!
