Let’s talk holiday table setting.

Here’s what I do for my Thanksgiving and Christmas tables.

1.) A tablecloth in a fun pattern. (I don’t own any holiday-specific linens; I prefer that my tablecloths and napkins can be used year round.)

2.) Cloth napkins in a fun pattern; maybe they’ll all be the same, or maybe they’ll be mixed and matched. I’ve got 3 table cloths I really like (which is 2 more than you really need), and a few different options for napkins, and sometimes I rotate through them and mix them up, and other times I do the same thing multiple years in a row because as the football coach at my high school said, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

3.) 3 sets of flowers from the $10-for-a-small-bouquet display at Whole Foods. I like to use julep cups as vases, though you could certainly use something as simple as jam jars and empty cans from canned goods.

4.) Fresh clementines or satsumas scattered between the flowers, ideally still with their green leaves in tact. Whole Foods usually has them with leaves around the holidays so I get them at the same time I get the flowers.

5.) Taper candles in a variety of holders and candle sticks collected over time. (Taper candle holders are great to find cheap at estate sales.) I’m especially fond of a neon pink or striped taper candle. Doing close to a dozen of these will create a nicely dramatic effect after dark, especially when paired with pretty flowers and fun table linens. An important note about using candles in or around the dining table: this is one place you do not want scented candles because you don’t want the scent of the candles to conflict with the naturally delicious scents of the food, so be sure you buy unscented candles for your table.

6.) I usually use the china my grandmother handed down to me, though sometimes I just use our everyday dishes, which are what I used in the picture above from last Christmas. Same for the flatware; sometimes I’ll break out the silver she left me but I typically just use our everyday silverware.

7.) We have some really pretty Astier de Villatte ceramics that we received when we got married, and I love using them for serving pieces.