Natural Table Setting for Christmas

Lifestyle

Dec 22

By Shelagh Bolger

As Christmas quickly approaches, I started thinking about decor for the dinner table. With 19 people in my family and a busy schedule, place settings can’t be too spur of the moment or I end up throwing together tinsel remnants and the ornaments that I made in kindergarten that didn’t quite make the Christmas tree cut. I decided to plan ahead this year and map out a quick and easy place setting to replicate on Christmas.

I always like to bring a little of the outside in, so I went off into the woods to forage for this year’s table decor. I found some holly and leyland cypress and went to work. My talented friend Meaghan photographed the adventure and was a doll to shoot on such a blustery, cold afternoon. I love the finished product and feel prepared to set my table on Christmas. Hope you enjoy setting yours!

What you will need:

Shears
Pencil & Pen
Paper
Matches/Lighter
Twine
Holly
Leyland Cypress or other greenery
Silverware
Plate
Napkin

Step 1

Gather your natural materials. Look for pine, spruce, cypress, and holly in your yard, woods, or purchase at your local florist. I snipped mine off trees in my woods.

Step 2

Trim the holly and greens to reveal a bare stem and just enough foliage to peek out from the top of the silverware.

Step 3

Arrange holly and greens behind silverware and wrap twine around all items. I wrapped the twine around mine 10 times to give a dramatic effect.

Step 4

With a match or lighter burn the edges of your paper just enough to create a vintage look. Blow out the flame once you have the desired effect on each edge.

Step 5

Write your holiday greeting or guest’s name on the paper tag in pencil. Trace over with pen or marker. Punch a hole in the tag and string twine through the hole. Tie tag on to silverware bundle.