Deck the halls and get ready for the holiday season with easy tips to style a whimsical gingerbread Christmas tablescape.
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Christmas Breakfast
The holidays are almost here, and today I’m excited to join my friends from supper club to kick off the season with a Christmas breakfast party.
This month we’re joined by our guest host, Pasha, from Pasha Is Home. Pasha has the most dreamy home in coastal California. I know you’ll love her light, airy, and classic style, so be sure to take some to visit her blog and say “hi.”
And, as always, each tablescape from this month’s party is linked at the bottom of the page, so be sure to take time to enjoy all of the holiday inspiration.
Before I share more about my holiday tablescape, I want to say welcome to each of you. I’m so glad you stopped by! And an extra special welcome to those who have joined me from my friend Michele’s blog, Vintage Home Designs.
I’m Jen. I’m a wife and mom of two who plans events by day and blogs by night. Here at MWLS, I like to write about all the things that make a house a home. From thrifty DIYs to recipes, styling tips, and more. I share a bit of everything.
If you’re not already a member of the MWLS family, I’d love to have you subscribe and join me! You’ll get exclusive emails and updates on all of the latest both here on the blog and on my other social channels.
How To Style A Whimsical Gingerbread Holiday Tablescape
As a blogger, it’s not uncommon to plan ahead…like way ahead. I’ve been dreaming of how to style this whimsical gingerbread tablescape since last Christmas, and I’m so excited to finally share it with you, just in time for the holiday season.
Tablescapes are one of the things that I love to share the most here on the blog. And in almost two years, our supper club has styled more than 20 different tables for nearly every theme and holiday you can imagine.
And, as you might have guessed, Christmas tablescapes are among my favorites to create. Today I’m going to share a few simple tips and ways you can recreate this whimsical look and style a gingerbread holiday tablescape in our own home.
Start With An Inspiration Piece
Each tablescape I create starts with one special piece that inspires me. It can be anything from a bolt of fabric to something I spot on the shelf in the thrift store. When I start with one item, it helps me to narrow my focus, and then I can easily style the rest of the table around it.
Most times, I get inspiration from photos I see in magazines, on other blogs, or Pinterest. For this tablescape, a photo of a gingerbread snow globe from Better Homes and Gardens that I spotted while scrolling the internet was the creative spark I needed.
That inspiration lead to this DIY gingerbread snow globe that serves as the centerpiece for my Christmas tablescape.
I picked up a few thrifted ceramic houses at my local Goodwill and used paint to transform them into a gingerbread village.
To make the snow globe, I sprinkled some fake snow into a gallon-sized glass jar and gently nestled one of the gingerbread houses and a few bottle brush trees inside.
To finish my snow globe, I accented the jar with a bow made from red and white ticking stripe ribbon to add classic Christmas colors to my tablescape.
Add Some Holiday Greenery
Did you know that Christmas garland isn’t just for your fireplace mantel or banisters? You can use it on your table too!
One of my favorite holiday hacks is to use a faux garland and drape it down the center of my dining room table like this.
Isn’t it beautiful?
I love the wintry feel it brings to the tablescape. And the greenery is so versatile. You can leave it styled on your table even after the Christmas season is over.
I like to mix and match greenery during the holidays, so to give my garland a custom look, I tucked in a few stems of frosted red berries.
And to finish I added a few of these frosted branches and wrapped in some fairy lights to give the table a bit of twinkle.
Use Layers To Create a Cozy Christmas Placesetting
One thing you’ll notice that all of my tablescapes have in common is that I like to use layers, and a lot of them!
Using a mix of materials like cotton placemats, woven chargers, and white stoneware dishes is the perfect way to create a cozy layered look.
To start, I chose red and white ticking stripe placemats as the base for each place setting. Then I layered on some woven chargers and solid red-fringed napkins. The color of the chargers complements the gingerbread houses and helps to tie the table together.
Some everyday white plates help brighten up each place setting and adds a classic touch. I love to use neutral dishes like these when I style a tablescape. They are perfect for any occasion and go with everything.
If you’re looking to buy dishes that are worth your investment, white is the way to go!
Some simple gold flatware adds a hint of elegance to the table setting.
Then to finish the look, I placed a ticking stripe napkin on top of each plate.
*Side note: Here’s where I need to give a quick shoutout to my amazing mom. Because sewing is not my forte, she made these napkins for me. Aren’t they cute?
I don’t trust myself with fabric and sewing shears, so I’m grateful that my mom is willing to jump in and come to my rescue at a moment’s notice. (Thanks, mom!)
Add The Finishing Touches
Although often small, it’s usually the special details and finishing touches that people remember the most.
Things like personalized place cards or holiday party favors are a simple and affordable way to make your guests feel welcomed.
To finish styling my gingerbread tablescape, I used twine to tie small gold bells around my napkins for a festive look. Or you can make your own holiday napkin rings in less than 10 minutes.
And there you have it! My quick and easy tips to style a whimsical gingerbread holiday tablescape.
How To Style A Whimsical Gingerbread Holiday Tablescape
Thank you for visiting today. I’m so glad you stopped by! I hope this post inspires you to style your own whimsical gingerbread tablescape this holiday season.
If you looking for even more tablescape styling ideas here are a few of my other favorites:
- Tartan Plaid Christmas Tablescape
- Simple and Cozy Winter Tablescape
- Red and White Christmas Brunch Tablescape
More Holiday Tablescape Inspiration
Next, visit my friends Anne and AnnMarie at Simply 2 Moms to see their tips and ideas for hosting a Christmas breakfast. And see all of this month’s Christmas tablescapes, linked below.
Oh, and don’t forget! Join us for our holiday breakfast menu including my breakfast sausage crescent rolls. We’ve taken the stress out of planning breakfast on Christmas morning. Be sure to stop by for all the recipes.
Xo,
Christmas Tablescape Inspiration
Michele at Vintage Home Designs | Jen at Midwest Life and Style | Anne & AnnMarie at Simply 2 Moms
Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse | Pasha at Pasha Is Home | Stacy at Bricks ‘n Blooms
Cindy@CountyRoad407 says
I so adore this table. Thank you for linking up at Farmhouse Friday. I’m featuring it tomorrow! Merry Christmas!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you so much, Cindy. I sincerely appreciate the share and I’m so glad you love it. I think it is my favorite tablescape to date. Merry Christmas to you too!
AnnMarie | Simply2Moms says
Ok, now I’m on the hunt for gingerbread houses to transform like this…love the neutral colors!! The red stripes are perfect for Christmas. Everything about your beautiful table is amazing! Pinned!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, AnnMarie. I’m on the hunt for more too so I can add to my collection. I love them so much! I hope you find some. I can’t wait to see how they turn out.
Rachel says
Stunning table as always, Jen!! I just love how you incorporate so many different layers. Brilliant to use ticking stripes..it’s such a fresh feel for Christmas! Your theme is adorable and it all came together in such a beautiful way. Amazing job, my friend!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you so much, Rachel! I think this may be one of my favorite tablescapes to date. It makes me so happy that you love it too.🥰
Cynde says
Your gingerbread houses are the cutest thing ever!!!! What a great idea!!!!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you so much! I just love how they turned out, and I’m so glad you enjoy them too. I really want to find some more houses now so I can add them to my collection!
Helen says
Sure would like to know the brand and color of paint you used on the houses. So smart!
midwestlifeandstyle says
Hi Helen,
I used DecoArt Americana paint. I found mine at Hobby Lobby, but it is available on Amazon as well. I shared the exact colors and more about how I mixed them in my original post with the DIY gingerbread tutorial. You can read it here: https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/how-to-make-a-gingerbread-snow-globe-centerpiece/
I hope that helps!
Helen says
Thanks so much.
midwestlifeandstyle says
You are so welcome!
stacy says
Jen I think this is my favorite tablescape of yours! It’s so creative and festive. LOVE IT
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Stacy. I think it may be one of my top favorites as well. I’m really happy with how it all came together.
Rachel Harper says
Jen,
Your gingerbread houses look so good. I love the red and white also. Great table.
midwestlifeandstyle says
Thank you, Rachel. Traditional red and white are my favorites for Christmas and I was happy to be able to incorporate those colors into my tablescape.