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How to Set a Holiday Table

The holiday season is a time to gather with loved ones, share meals, and create lasting memories.

One of the most delightful aspects of this festive time is setting a holiday table that not only showcases delicious food but also captures the warmth and elegance of the season. Whether you're hosting an intimate family dinner or a large festive gathering, a well-arranged buffet table can make all the difference.

With Hammacher Schlemmer’s unique range of holiday products, you can effortlessly combine style, convenience, and charm to create a table that will leave a lasting impression. From luxurious table linens to elegant centerpieces and gourmet delicacies, every detail comes together to transform your home into a festive haven.

Here’s how to set up a stunning holiday buffet table that blends practical elements with magical touches, ensuring your celebration is both beautiful and easy to enjoy.

Creating the Foundation

The foundation of any holiday table begins with a stunning tablecloth, and nothing sets a more festive tone than the Tuscan Christmas Tablecloth. Woven in Tuscany, a region renowned for producing some of the world’s finest textiles for over two hundred years, this tablecloth brings an authentic touch of Italian craftsmanship to your holiday gathering. It is also available as a table runner.

Depicting a whimsical medley of holiday scenes—including Santa flying through the sky, children playing in the snow, and animals nestled among evergreen trees—it beautifully captures the spirit of the season. Made by Tessitura Toscana Telerie, a prestigious Italian linen-maker that blends old-world techniques with modern innovations, this 100% linen tablecloth boasts a 170gsm thread count for superior durability and texture.

Not only is this cloth elegant, but it's also practical, being machine washable for easy care after the festivities. The intricate designs and rich textures create a visually engaging backdrop for your holiday spread, inviting guests to enjoy both the beauty of the table and the delicious food displayed upon it.

Whether you're hosting a casual buffet or a formal dinner, the Tuscan Christmas Tablecloth provides the perfect blend of tradition, craftsmanship, and festive cheer to create an unforgettable holiday table.

Ambiance with Lighting

Creating the perfect ambiance is essential for a memorable holiday table, and nothing sets the mood quite like the soft glow of candlelight. Hammacher Schlemmer’s flameless candle options offer a safe and stylish way to enhance the atmosphere while avoiding the hazards of traditional candles.

Start by adding the Flameless Tapered Christmas Candle Set to your table. Exclusively available from Hammacher Schlemmer, this pair of battery-operated candles brings all the warmth and charm of real flame without soot, smoke, or the mess of dripping wax. 

Whether placed in the center of your holiday buffet, nestled among festive decorations, or even used to adorn your windows, these candles provide a cozy, elegant glow.

The base of each candle is adorned with faux poinsettia flowers, making them an ideal choice for adding holiday flair to your setup. Available in both red and white, you can select the color that best matches your decor.

For a more dynamic and captivating display, consider adding the Flameless Firework Candles. 

This set of three candles—available in red, silver, and blue—features built-in LEDs that create a mesmerizing firework effect. The candles offer multiple lighting modes, including solid colors or gradual fades, allowing you to tailor the ambiance to your liking.

Their faux flames flicker like real candlelight, adding movement and life to the table. With the convenience of a remote control, you can easily adjust the colors and patterns from across the room, making these candles both beautiful and practical for any holiday gathering.

By combining the classic elegance of the tapered candles with the playful charm of the firework candles, you can create a layered lighting effect that transforms your holiday table into a glowing centerpiece.

Centering the Table with Elegance

The centerpiece is the heart of any holiday table, drawing the eye and anchoring the entire arrangement. Hammacher Schlemmer offers two stunning options that combine beauty with practicality, ensuring your table radiates elegance throughout the holiday season.

Start by considering the Cordless Illuminated Shimmering Centerpiece. 

With its 50 warm white LEDs and a thoughtful combination of frosted pinecones, evergreen banyan leaves, red berry clusters, and poinsettia blooms, this centerpiece adds a soft, welcoming glow to any tabletop.

It’s completely cordless, allowing you to place it anywhere without worrying about unsightly wires, and it illuminates for up to 112 hours

 Whether you’re hosting a formal holiday dinner or a casual buffet, the integrated timer ensures the lights turn on at the same time every day, staying on for six hours to create a warm and festive ambiance.

For a more sophisticated and metallic palette, opt for the Prelit Champagne And Silver Centerpiece.

This cordless piece offers cheerful illumination with warm white LEDs nestled among green PVC branches adorned with champagne, silver, and gold ornaments, leaves, and blooms.

It also features three metal candleholders, designed to hold flameless pillars up to 3" in diameter. Glass cylinders encase each candle, enhancing the elegance of the display.

Like the shimmering centerpiece, it comes with an automatic timer, turning the lights on for six hours and off for 18, allowing your table to sparkle effortlessly throughout the evening.

By selecting one of these centerpieces, you’ll bring an elevated and refined focal point to your holiday table, complementing the rest of your décor while providing a glowing warmth that invites everyone to gather around.

Glassware and Tabletop Décor

No holiday table is complete without elegant glassware and festive décor, and Hammacher Schlemmer provides both in styles that blend durability and charm.

Start with the Unbreakable German Drinkware—a perfect choice for both casual and formal holiday gatherings. 

Crafted from a resilient high-tech material in Germany, this drinkware is virtually unbreakable, making it ideal for busy buffet tables where spills are inevitable. Despite its toughness, it mimics the look and feel of real glass, adding a touch of sophistication to the table.

Whether you're serving hot mulled wine or refreshing holiday cocktails, this drinkware ensures that beverages stay at the ideal temperature, as it offers four times the insulation of traditional glass.

Eco-friendly, scratch-resistant, and dishwasher safe, it’s a practical yet stylish choice for any holiday occasion.

To elevate your tabletop décor, the Thomas Kinkade Snow Globe Tabletop Tree brings an enchanting, musical touch to your holiday setup. 

Inspired by the beloved artwork of Thomas Kinkade, this 15-inch tree is adorned with hand-set ornaments and features a snow globe base with delicate resin figures celebrating a white Christmas.

At the flick of a switch, the tree comes to life with twinkling LED lights, a flurry of snowflakes in the globe, and a medley of eight classic holiday tunes, including Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls.

This exquisite decoration adds both visual and musical warmth to your table, making it an eye-catching conversation piece for your guests.

For a more subtle yet equally elegant accent, the Winter Elegance Champagne and Silver Tabletop Tree provides a refined option. 

Standing 20 inches tall, this prelit tree fits effortlessly into small spaces, adding a festive glow to any holiday spread without overwhelming the table. 

Decorated with champagne and silver ornaments and 35 warm LED lights, it complements the rest of your holiday décor with ease. The golden ribbon and lush branch tips further enhance its luxurious appeal. Battery-powered for convenience, this tree eliminates the need for cords, keeping your buffet table tidy and beautiful.

With these selections, you can strike the perfect balance between practicality and elegance, ensuring your holiday table is not only functional but also filled with festive charm.

Whimsical Holiday Decorations

For a truly magical and nostalgic touch, whimsical holiday decorations bring joy and wonder to your festive table. Hammacher Schlemmer offers a standout piece that merges beloved Disney characters with the timeless charm of a holiday classic.

The Disney Night Before Christmas Storyhouse is the perfect addition for those looking to infuse their table with holiday cheer and storytelling magic.

This meticulously handcrafted house showcases iconic Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Tinker Bell, as they act out scenes from Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem The Night Before Christmas.

Sculpted from artist’s resin, the details are intricate—Cinderella hangs stockings “by the chimney with care,” while reindeer “prance and paw” on the roof, preparing for Santa’s arrival. 

At the heart of this whimsical decoration is Mickey Mouse, who has fallen asleep with a plate of cookies as he narrates the classic poem.

Each scene in the house lights up in perfect sync with the corresponding line from the story, allowing both children and adults to follow along with the timeless tale.

The red Victorian house, adorned with twinkling lights and evergreen boughs, is a cozy vision of Christmas Eve, covered in snow and ready to welcome Santa down the chimney while Tinker Bell watches from above.

This delightful piece brings a sense of wonder and warmth to your holiday table, making it a captivating centerpiece for both young and old. With its Certificate of Authenticity, the Disney Night Before Christmas Storyhouse also makes a cherished keepsake that can be enjoyed year after year.

Specialty Meals and Delicacies

The holiday table isn’t complete without indulgent specialty meals and delectable treats that highlight the season's finest flavors.

Hammacher Schlemmer’s selection of gourmet foods offers a feast for the senses, from savory entrées to luxurious desserts, making your buffet spread truly unforgettable.

The centerpiece of your holiday feast can be the Award-Winning Peppered Smoked Ham—a bone-in ham that has earned top honors at the International Fancy Food Show in New York. 

This ham is prepared using traditional methods, rolled in brown sugar and cracked black peppercorns, and smoked over hickory for over 22 hours to deliver a savory, sweet, and smoky flavor.

Fully cooked and easy to prepare, this ham only needs to be warmed in the oven before slicing. Each order comes with a jar of Hogwash—a zesty condiment made with horseradish, brown sugar, and lemon juice—that perfectly complements the rich, smoky ham.

It’s the kind of centerpiece that will leave your guests craving more.

For seafood lovers, the Genuine Copper River Smoked Salmon offers a rich, moist, and flavorful addition to the table. 

This wild Sockeye salmon is sustainably fished from Alaska’s famous Copper River and prepared in small batches using a 15-step process handed down by the region’s native peoples.

The salmon is hand-filleted and smoked to perfection, preserving its distinctive red-orange color and retaining its natural oils and succulent taste.

Fully cooked and vacuum-sealed for freshness, this smoked salmon is an elegant choice for a seafood platter, pairing beautifully with crackers, cream cheese, or even as a topping for salads and bagels.

For dessert, treat your guests to the rich flavors of Italy with Pannardini Liqueur Cake Bites. 

These bite-sized indulgences combine nougat, dark chocolate, and sponge cake infused with Italian dessert liqueur.

Handcrafted by a fourth-generation family business in Italy’s Campania region, the pannardini offer a delightful mix of textures and flavors, with a soft nougat surrounding the tender, liqueur-soaked cake, all encased in a dark chocolate shell.

Individually wrapped and containing 5% alcohol, these confections make a delightful and elegant treat for adults to enjoy.

Another sweet delight to include on your holiday table is The Classic Belgian Mini Pates de Fruits—a traditional holiday candy that dates back to the 10th century.

Made with 70% real fruit, these miniature candied versions of fresh fruits are bursting with intense flavor. Unlike sugary gummies, these pate de fruits are a healthier alternative, made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and are gluten and gelatin-free.

The assortment of flavors includes pear, apricot, black currant, black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, pineapple, orange, and mango—offering something for everyone’s taste buds.

With these specialty meals and delicacies, your holiday table becomes more than just a feast—it transforms into a culinary celebration that your guests will remember long after the plates are cleared.

Final Touches

As you prepare to unveil your holiday buffet, the final touches are what truly elevate your table from ordinary to extraordinary. Thoughtful details and personal touches not only enhance the visual appeal but also create a warm and inviting atmosphere that makes guests feel special. Begin with place settings that reflect the festive spirit of the season. 

Even without traditional tableware, the elegance of your chosen glassware can set the tone for your gathering. The Unbreakable German Drinkware is perfect for this occasion, offering a luxurious feel while remaining practical and virtually unbreakable. Arrange them neatly at each setting, ready to hold the drinks that will accompany your culinary delights.

Consider adding seasonal napkins or festive placeholders that coordinate with your Tuscan Christmas Tablecloth. These small accents can tie the theme together and make each place feel personalized. You might also want to use decorative elements like small sprigs of evergreen, cinnamon sticks, or holly berries to further enhance each setting. These touches evoke the scents and sights of the holidays, making the experience even more memorable.

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood. Utilize the soft glow from the Flameless Tapered Christmas Candle Set and Flameless Firework Candles to create a cozy and inviting ambiance. 

Position them strategically around the table to cast a gentle light that highlights your beautiful decorations and food. The warm flicker of candlelight will encourage conversation and create a relaxed atmosphere as your guests gather.

Lastly, consider a music playlist to complement your holiday meal. A selection of soft instrumental holiday music or classic carols can enhance the festive mood without overpowering the conversation. You could even set up the Thomas Kinkade Snow Globe Tabletop Tree to provide a delightful visual and auditory experience, as it illuminates and plays beloved holiday tunes.

As your guests arrive, greet them warmly, allowing the thoughtful details of your setup to speak for themselves. With the help of Hammerach Schlemmerand everything in place—from the beautifully arranged buffet to the enchanting decorations—you’ve created a memorable holiday table that will leave a lasting impression on everyone who gathers around it.

Conclusion

Setting a holiday table is more than just arranging food and decorations; it’s about creating an atmosphere of joy, warmth, and togetherness.

With the right elements—from a stunning Tuscan Christmas Tablecloth to enchanting Flameless Candles—you can craft a festive display that captures the essence of the season.

Each detail, from the elegant German Unbreakable Glassware to the whimsical Disney Night Before Christmas Storyhouse, adds to the magic, making your gathering unforgettable.

As you embrace the spirit of the holidays, remember that it’s the love and care you put into your preparations that will resonate most with your guests. The combination of delicious specialty meals, delightful decor, and thoughtful ambiance will surely create cherished memories for years to come.

Ready to elevate your holiday celebrations? Explore Hammacher Schlemmer’s unique selection of products to find everything you need to set a spectacular holiday table. From beautiful tablecloths and centerpieces to exquisite delicacies, we have all the essentials to make your festive gatherings extraordinary. Visit our website today and discover how to create a holiday table that reflects your style and spirit!