How to Create a Beautiful Holiday Tablescape
An unforgettable table starts with a sense of occasion. Interior designer Leslie May shares how thoughtful details, layered textures and a welcoming atmosphere can make any meal feel special.
Story by Alea Wilkins
Photography by Anna Routh Barzin
Key Points
● Let the occasion, season or menu inspire the overall tablescape.
● Coordinate napkins with the colors of china, flowers or table linens.
● Use flowers, lighting and unexpected decorative details to add layers and personality.
● Keep centerpieces low enough for guests to see and converse with one another.
The holiday season combines two of life’s richest joys: good food and good company. It’s the time of year when busy schedules make way for visiting loved ones, and dinner isn’t just a meal but a feast. When celebrations center around the table, the table should be worthy of the occasion. In her new book, “Bespoke Homes for Families,” interior designer and author Leslie May shares how she curates the home to feel elegant, inviting and memorable. For dinner parties, she explains how she goes beyond simply setting the table; instead she styles a “tablescape,” a cohesive, highly decorative layout built to gather around.
“Setting a ‘tablescape’ is an opportunity to not only design the mood and personality of the party, but it invites guests to experience it,” she says.
This year, bring creativity to the table and build a setting worth celebrating.
Get Inspired: Choose a Theme for Your Tablescape
A beautiful tablescape begins with a reason to gather. As a starting point, May lets the occasion guide her designs.
“I typically take inspiration from either the season, like a cozy winter evening, or the menu, like an indoor tailgate,” she says.
Leslie May lets the occasion inspire the table, pulling together color, pattern, flowers, linens and china to create a setting with a personality all its own.
May calls napkins her favorite part of any tablescape. Here a bold monogram picks up the pink in the place mats while blue-and-white china, flowers and playful place cards complete the setting.
For candlelit wine dinners, warm tones and rich textures make a natural pairing. For Mother’s Day brunch, floral motifs and elegant fabrics make the table bloom. If you’re stuck on where to begin, consider how guests should feel when taking their seats, and let the atmosphere set the scene.
Start With the Essentials: Make Napkins a Design Feature
There’s no one way to create a perfect tablescape, but May has a staple she can’t live without.
“Napkins are my favorite part of any tablescape,” she says.
When selecting a set, she takes inspiration from the tableware or larger pieces to decide what will coordinate.
“I love to mimic a color from the china or flowers or tablecloth,” she says.
A custom monogram completes the design.
“It doesn’t need to look like your grandmother’s,” she assures, noting that modern fonts and color combinations can help create a look that’s chic for today and timeless for tomorrow.
Work in Layers: Add Flowers, Lighting and Personal Details
Before the meal is served, the tablescape lays a feast for the eyes. Each arrangement should feel artful and intricate, leaving room for small moments to shine.
A memorable table rewards a closer look. Monogrammed linens, patterned china, fresh flowers, glassware, silver, a handwritten menu and tortoiseshell lamps add layers of color, texture and height without overwhelming the setting.
The finishing touches are part of the fun. May brings the table together with coordinated china, flowers, linens and lighting, creating a polished setting that still feels welcoming.
To compose the arrangement, May suggests layering florals of different heights to build dimension and flow. Low lighting, such as candles or rechargeable lamps, helps set the mood, and unexpected pieces of decor, like Monopoly pieces for game night, can encourage discussion.
However, there’s one major mistake May urges hosts to avoid.
“Never have a centerpiece that interrupts the conversation,” she says. “You don’t want guests [who are] sitting across from each other to be bobbing their heads between hydrangea blooms to make eye contact.”
If you’re uncertain how a particular setup will affect the party, sit down and see for yourself. The best tablescapes deliver on beauty and function, creating a setting for seamless, effortless enjoyment.
Start the Party: Make Guests Feel Welcome
It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. The roast is in the oven. The glasses are ready to be filled. The guests are on their way. Whether hosting grand holiday gatherings or simply catching up with friends, a gorgeous tablescape completes the picture.
“A thoughtfully set table lets your guests know they are invited into something special,” May says. “Even if you’ve ordered takeout pizza, a curated setting lets your guests know that their being around your table is special to you.”
Watch & Learn
As the holiday season hits its stride, join Leslie May at Montage Palmetto Bluff for light bites and lessons in hosting. Over hors d’oeuvres and bubbly, attendees can expect a discussion of May’s book, Bespoke Homes for Families, and a Q&A with the interior designer about her top entertaining tips. Both resort guests and local community members are welcome to attend.
● When: 3-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28
● Where: Oak Ballroom, Montage Palmetto Bluff; 1 Village Park Square, Bluffton
● Details: montage.com
