Decorating your holiday buffet table can make it seem like you spent a lot of money for your party. Yet these simple, easy tips are anything but expensive.
Gathering Supplies
Before the day of your party, pick out the tablecloth you will use to cover the table. If you are having a large party, using a floor-length table skirt will allow for storage space underneath the table for quick food replenishing.
Visit a fabric store to buy fabric in the same color as the tablecloth.
If you are short on platters, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, visit a party store for inexpensive platters to use.
Pick up a bouquet of fresh cut flowers, pine branches, a box of holiday ornaments, and lights or tinsel.
Gather together bowls, plastic storage containers, and boxes to use as risers for your table. To save time, complete your table display one day ahead to free up your time for tray placement on the day of your party.
Setting the Table
Place the tablecloth on the table and push your table against one wall. Place the bowls, containers, and boxes near the back of the table, bottom side up, and drape with pieces of cut fabric. Fold any frayed fabric edges under while allowing the fabric to sit loosely around the riser. Three risers are usually sufficient for a standard dining room table. However, shorter risers may be added in the middle of the table if more space is needed to set platters on.
Vary the cut of the flower stems to two inches on some and take the stems off of others. Place the flowers and the pine branches loosely around the table to help hide the edges of the cut fabric flowing onto the tablecloth. The flower stems may also be hidden inside the branches.
Hang the Christmas lights or garlands around the edge of the table.
Add Christmas ornaments or small wrapped packages around the table for added embellishment. If your party is small and there is space on the table, as an added surprise, wrap one small gift for each guest and after dinner, have them visit the table to hunt for the package with their name on the bottom.
Alternate dinner party touches are taping a lottery ticket, gift card, or a number for your white elephant gift exchange to the bottom of each dinner plate.
When placing food on the table, set the smaller platters on the risers and slightly overlap the platters if space is minimal.
When your guests arrive, relax and enjoy.
