Christmas in southern California is beautiful, but unless we drive to the mountains for some snow, we don’t ever get a true white Christmas here. So, this year I went with a Winter Wonderland Christmas theme for the table and mantel to give us a little more of that snowy feel for the holiday.
Anchor The Table
Once my winter wonderland theme was set, I started the table design with a simple white tablecloth, then added a white faux fur table runner for a snowy look, and a plain Norfolk pine garland.
Then I started creating the centerpiece using the pine garland as the base. This one I purchased at Darby Creek Trading, but you can also find realistic florals and garlands at Afloral.com. I recommend investing in a plain pine and / or a eucalyptus garland that you can reimagine over the years by adding different layers to make it your own versus buying a pre-decorated one. It’s more economical and gives you creative flexibility!
Adding Layers to Create A Winter Wonderland
Layers add dimension and texture to your design, as a well as visual interest, a little like an outfit actually. As you can see, the plain pine garland came together beautifully for this table after some layering. I started by adding icy greenery and cool green lambs ear stems from Michael’s to add more color and texture to the pine. Then I added white pearl picks, ice crystal picks, a few small gold ball ornaments, a few larger white and gold ornaments and finally iced pomegranates for a little color.
I wanted the table to look as if it had been sprinkled with ice crystals, so most of the items I used had a high shine or wintery affect to them like these faceted trees.
Once the centerpiece was done, I added various trees and candles for added shine and varying height levels. I used gold glitter tapers I found at Michael’s, crystal faceted trees I’ve had for years from Pottery Barn, votives, and a series of mini trees at each place setting.
A quick note about seasonal decorations. Target, Michael’s, World Market and Home Goods all have great holiday decor well ahead of any holiday, so start thinking about what accents will really make your table work and shop early to get the best finds. I also look for deals as the holiday approaches as well as after a holiday to pick up some items that I’ve had my eye on that are now on sale – it’s a great way to add some new décor for next year and stay on budget!
Building this lovely table was so much fun, but enjoying our delicious holiday meal together at it was even better! I made a butternut squash risotto with poached scallops (you can find my recipe here) and green beans, but the star of the show was the dessert. I have mashed-up in my “test kitchen” at home several different recipes for cheesecakes and have come up with one for individual cheesecakes that are easy, elegant and scrumptious!
I hope this Winter Wonderland Christmas table design gave you a few new ideas to incoporate into your next holiday design. Until next time, Cheers!
