Five Easy Steps to Set A Flawless Diwali (Or Any Other Holiday) Table

Diwali, or the festival of lights, marks the beginning of the holiday season for me each and every year. It is a time to reflect and celebrate the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. So this year, in true "This Is Simplicite" style, I'm welcoming the season with a tablescape filled with rich colors and dazzling lights. I have several tablescapes up on the blog (you can catch the latest ones for fall here and here) but I have never shown you how I put them together. In this post, I want to give you a step by step look at how my tablescape visions come to life. Without further ado, let me take you through five easy steps to set a flawless Diwali (or any other holiday) table.

Step 1: It's All About Contrast

For most of the year, I believe simple home decor with subtle touches are always best, but when the holidays roll around, I believe more is more! It's a time to amp up the color and a great way to make your tablescape pop is to really use contrasting colors to your advantage. For this tablescape, I chose to use ornate red plates against white table runners. Almost immediately, you can see the tableware come alive.

Your tablesettings don't have to be the same throughout. Feel free to mix and match bowls and plates of varying sizes. Using both dark and light backgrounds to your advantage will instantly highlight your place settings.

Step 2: Create In Layers

The best way to add visual interest to any table is to create in layers. Combining dinner plates with salad or appetizer plates and bowls adds height to your table and also allows you to bring more contrast to your place setting.

Believe it or not, a key component of your tablesetting is your choice of napkin. To add both dimension and texture to the tablescape, I often select a napkin in a contrasting color. Again, this is a great way to make your tableware pop and to create more visual interest.

Step 3: Elevate Your Table With Things That Add Height

A key component of any tablescape is the centerpiece and an easy way to give it an instant "lift" is to use things of varying height. Here I mixed candlesticks and votives to really elevate the table. A random, scattered candle centerpiece is one of the easiest to pull off and creates a gorgeous ambiance.

Another way to also add height to your table is by selecting the appropriate glassware. Tumblers and wine glasses can add great color and character to your table. They are always my go-to when finishing off a tablesetting.

Step 4: Don't Be Afraid To Mix Your Metals

A celebratory table is an excuse to bring out all of your shiny metals, and Diwali or the holiday season is no exception. You can easily add shine to your table by using candlesticks, votives and even picks and stems that sparkle. I like to use both a mixture of various metals and glass to allow a ton of light to pass through the tablesetting - this is a sure way to add extra oomph!

An excellent way to also add shine to your table is with cutlery. You can think of cutlery as jewelry for your table. For this table, I played off the silver mercury glass and copper/pink votives and the red plates, and thought rose gold cutlery would complement the table beautifully.

Step 5: Let There Be Light

The thing I most look forward to during Diwali and beyond is the magic and whimsy of twinkling lights. There is nothing more special than illuminating your home with flickering candlelight! And the table is the perfect place to start!

And there you have it folks! I've shared 5 easy steps to set a flawless Diwali (or any other holiday) table. With this, I wish you all the very best for the upcoming holiday season to you and yours - let's spread some light and love this year.

If you loved what I shared, pin the image below, leave me a comment or tag me in your Instagram photo using #thisissimplicite. Better yet, subscribe to my site to receive the latest straight to your inbox or email me - I would love to hear from you!