Next up: Friends and family, feasts and fun. With a few simple tricks and color changes, you can create a holiday table to take you from Hanukkah to Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year’s Eve.
Be a square
Simple yet sophisticated, white dinnerware is timeless. It works for everyday meals or holiday get-togethers. For a contemporary look, try the white square version from CB2. Each 10.5-inch dinner plate is $4.95. A 6.5-inch dessert plate is $1.95. Mix your square plates with the flared soup/salad bowls ($2.95 each). Buy as much – or as little – as you need of the durable dinnerware. Just change out the color scheme of linens, centerpiece and decorations, and you’re ready for the next special occasion. Available at CB2, 1080 Peachtree St., in Midtown Atlanta, or cb2.com
Party perch
Let your guests pluck tasty treats and party favors off this three-tiered pastry stand. It’s ideal for cooling cupcakes in the kitchen or displaying yummy appetizers or sweets at your party. The white, vintage-looking stand measures 17 inches high by 11.5 inches deep. Available for $14.99 at area Cost Plus World Market stores or worldmarket.com.
In the cards
Place cards take the guesswork out of where to sit. But they are also a good way to label buffet dishes or identify wines and cheeses at a tasting. While you can find holiday-specific place card holders, these gleaming cubes are simple and elegant for any occasion year-round. Made of aluminum, with a shiny chrome finish, the cubes have a slot holder for a place card. Also use them for postcards or pictures. A set of four cubes is $7.95 at area Crate & Barrel stores or crateandbarrel.com. Make your own place cards with hefty card stock or buy a set of 24 embossed place cards from Crate & Barrel for $5.95.
Glass & glow
Add some sparkle to your holiday home with mercury glass votives, hurricanes or candle holders. A favored accent in the mid-19th century, the shiny and silvery mercury glass is popular again in homes, especially on mantels and tables. Look for mercury glass hurricanes ($20 and $30), candle holders ($22 and $28) and votives ($8.95) at area Pier 1 Imports or pier1.com.
Tray chic
Use trays for serving drinks, hors d’oeuvres or desserts. Or, get creative and use them instead of a place mat on a large table. When the party's over, put the trays to work in another room. Fill them with stacks of books or candles -- or use them to corral your remotes on the coffee table. Choose fun colors like poinsettia (red), silver or metallic fig, or one of many others. Available in three sizes: 12-inch square, small rectangle (18 inches wide by 14 inches deep) and large rectangle (28 inches wide by 18 inches deep). Trays range from $22 for a yellow square tray to $69 for a large silver tray. Available at West Elm, 260 18th St. in Atlantic Station, or westelm.com
Just a taste
Guests often like parties where they get to try a little of everything. This season, bring some bite-size creativity to your holiday table with the mini tasting party collection from Pier1 Imports. The glass and porcelain collection includes individual mini bowls, shots, ramekins, parfaits and oh-so-cute martini glasses. Use them for a Thai buffet, bridal luncheon and a dessert or cocktail party. Mix and match sets of 24 ($24.95 to $29.95). Each set includes 12 mini tasting spoons. Or, purchase red spoons (75 cents each) at area Pier1 Imports or pier1.com.
Just for kids
Make the kids’ table just as special as the grownups’. Plan some activities to keep them busy and entertained. But add some kid-friendly decorations, such as some holiday place mats. Choose from Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas themes. No need to worry about spills and stains. The playful, wipe-clean vinyl mats are $10 for a set of two at area Pottery Barn Kids stores or potterybarnkids.com. Pair the place mats with matching tumblers and plates (sold separately).
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