A table for the festive season, from Diwali to New Year

4 min read

The festive season stacks celebrations close together: Diwali, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve can arrive within a couple of months of each other. The easiest way to host all of them is to set one gilded base and change only the details.

Build the base once

Choose placemats and, if you like, a matching runner, and leave them on the table for the season. Wipe them after each meal and they are ready for the next. A design with a little festivity built in, such as Kundan Blossom with its beaded center, does a lot of the work.

Diwali

Gold is at home here. Add marigold garlands down the center, brass bowls, and diyas on trays or holders along the runner. Keep every flame off the vinyl.

Thanksgiving

Lean on warmer, deeper golds. Gulnar Bloom or Chinar Leaf, with rust or ochre napkins and a low arrangement of seasonal branches and fruit, suits a long harvest dinner.

Christmas

Gold and deep green is a classic pairing. Emerald napkins, evergreen sprigs and white porcelain against a champagne placemat such as Zari Bloom looks rich without leaning on red.

New Year's Eve

Go paler and brighter. Mehtab Starburst, our moonlit champagne, with cut glass and plenty of candlelight feels right for midnight.

Between celebrations

Take the seasonal pieces off and the table still looks set. That is the point of a good base.