Are you looking for fresh ideas for living with art or creative design solutions for your home? Each month at "Trade Secrets," we select one of your questions and reach out to art and design experts for the answers. This month, the Artful Home staff share their ideas for ornamenting your holiday table with original works of art.
I’m hosting several dinner parties over the holidays. What are some ways I can use art to decorate my holiday table?
Use artist-made tableware
One of the easiest ways to incorporate original works of art into your holiday table is to use artist-made
dinnerware and
drinkware. From porcelain dinnerware sets to dazzling glass goblets, functional artist-made tableware adds imagination and texture to your table, and sets a convivial tone for your guests.
If you’re setting a more formal or understated table, consider incorporating a few artist-made functional accents, such as these hand-fabricated stainless steel kitchen utensils. They can be added to any holiday table for just a hint of artful delight, without overwhelming. Likewise, a unique set of
salt and pepper shakers, or an eye-catching
serving tray can lend a modest splash of design or color.
Repurpose a favorite small sculpture as a centerpiece for the evening. Just make sure it’s not too high, so guests can see one another without craning their necks. Surround it with candles or holiday garlands to lend texture and softness.
Warm up your winter table with a work of artist-made lighting. Lilach Lotan’s porcelain
"Flowers Mini Light" combines the look of a floral arrangement with the warm glow of soft lighting for a dramatic evening centerpiece.
Put those artist-made bangles or cuffs to unexpected use as napkin rings. Choose brightly colored linens to set off silver and gold jewelry; white napkins contrast beautifully with more colorful pieces.
Take the stopper off of your artist-made perfume bottles and use as miniature vases. Just add mistletoe or a sprig of pine!
Blown glass ornaments are too lovely to limit to the Christmas tree. Surround a grouping of colorful ornaments with white Christmas lights and long-needle greens or beautiful ribbon. Showcase on a white linen tablecloth for beautiful, sparkling effect. Or create a magical focal point in your dining room by using colorful ribbons to hang ornaments at varying heights from your chandelier. The light from the chandelier will make the ornaments glow.
Arrange a variety of ceramic bowls next to one another in the center of the table for a casual look. (They don’t have to match.) Float candles in each and surround with holiday foliage to tie them all together.
