Let muted tones — with a touch of color — add elegance to your holiday table

How to build a tablescape that breaks tradition but keeps a festive mood.

By Styling by Barbara Schmidt

November 21, 2021 at 7:00AM
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Set an elegant yet festive holiday table. (Photo by Ryan Dyer, styling by Barbara Schmidt, studiobstyle.com/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Don't feel bound by tradition this holiday season. Forgo Thanksgiving's typical palette and the red and green of Christmas and instead let muted tones — with a touch of color — add elegance to the table.

Each place setting: Faux Shagreen oatmeal place mat, $10.95, cb2.com; Pedra artisan dinner plate, $14.95, crateandbarrel.com. Top left: Handmade plate by Maggie Jaszczak, $65, handmade dish by Robyn Peterson, $25, both northernclaycenter.org. Top right: Handmade plate by Doug Casebeer, $65, northernclaycenter.org; Danish Bungalow cereal bowl, $42, michelevarian.com; clear orbs, similar ones $29 for set of 24, amazon.com. Centerpiece: Handmade dish from artist Re Jin Lee's BDB NY, $104, michelevarian.com; faux snow-dipped leaves, frosted ornaments, golden branches, poinsettia all available through local florists, koehlerdramm.com has resources. Lower right: Handmade plate by Maggie Jaszczak, $65, northernclaycenter.org; Danish Bungalow poke bowl, $52, michelevarian.com; vintage dish, $25, similar available at anthropologie.com. Lower left: Handmade plate by Doug Casebeer, $65, northernclaycenter.org; Aurora linen napkin, $4, crateandbarrel.com; Michiko Shimada-designed bowl, $28, michelevarian.com; gold-encrusted ornament, $20, similar set of four at westelm.com.

Barbara Schmidt of studiobstyle in Minneapolis is a nationally known creative director and stylist.

about the writer

about the writer

Styling by Barbara Schmidt