Deck the halls and get ready for the holiday season with easy tips to style a whimsical gingerbread Christmas tablescape.
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This post was originally published on November 17, 2022. Last updated on July 24, 2024.
Bring Whimsy to Your Holiday Decor: A Gingerbread House Tablescape
Have you ever wondered how gingerbread houses became associated with the holidays?
Believe it or not, the tradition of building gingerbread houses can be traced back to early German settlers who brought it to America centuries ago!
Building gingerbread houses has become a cherished tradition for many families, and for me, it brings back those same warm memories of Christmases past.
So, why not bring a touch of that magic to your table for the holiday season?
Even if your house isn’t built with real gingerbread (wink, wink!), it still captures the essence of Christmas.
Table of Contents
- Bring Whimsy to Your Holiday Decor: A Gingerbread House Tablescape
- How To Style A Whimsical Gingerbread Holiday Tablescape
- Choosing a Color Palette for Your Gingerbread Tablescape
- Creating a Gingerbread Centerpiece for a Whimsical Table Setting
- Gingerbread Table Decorations: Adding a Touch of Holiday Greenery
- Using Layers To Create a Cozy Christmas Placesetting
- Adding the Finishing Touches to Your Gingerbread Tablescape
- Shop This Post
- Shop The Post
- Did You Enjoy this Post? PIN It for Later!
Welcome to Supper Club
The holidays are almost here, and I’m excited to join my friends from supper club to share ideas and inspiration with you for hosting a Christmas breakfast.
If you’re new to our supper club or this is your first time visiting here at MWLS, welcome!
I always look forward to these virtual dinner parties and I know they’ve become a reader favorite too!
If you like to entertain too, I would love to have you subscribe and join the MWLS family to get all the latest tablescapes, seasonal DIYS, party menus, FREE printables, and more sent right to your inbox.
And, If you’ve missed out on any of our past supper club parties, don’t worry!
You can catch up on all the inspiration here.
And, as always, each tablescape is linked at the bottom of the page, so be sure to take time to enjoy all the Christmas tablescapes.
How To Style A Whimsical Gingerbread Holiday Tablescape
I’ve been dreaming about styling a whimsical gingerbread tablescape for some time now.
So I’m thrilled to share easy tips and tricks to help you create your own this holiday season!
We’re talking about my best tips for decorating a Christmas table, including incorporating holiday greenery, layering a place setting, and an idea for creating a festive DIY snowglobe centerpiece.
So get cozy, and let’s style a beautiful gingerbread Christmas tablescape together!
Choosing a Color Palette for Your Gingerbread Tablescape
Choosing a color scheme for your holiday gingerbread tablescape is all about creating a cohesive and festive look.
For each tablescape, I always start with a single source of inspiration.
It helps narrow my focus and inspires the entire color palette, making it easy to style the rest of the table around it.
Most times, I get inspiration from photos I see in magazines or on Pinterest, but this time inspiration struck in the aisles of the craft store.
I love a traditional red and white color scheme for Christmas, so I settled on red and white for my gingerbread tablescape, inspired by some beautiful ticking stripe ribbon.
Of course, you can choose whatever color scheme you love most!
If you’re drawn to a more classic holiday look, you might opt to decorate with green and gold for Christmas.
Or, if you prefer a rustic Christmas theme, you can use more neutral colors to create a cozy look.
Creating a Gingerbread Centerpiece for a Whimsical Table Setting
What do you do when your gingerbread house baking skills aren’t up to par?
You make your own DIY gingerbread village with the help of some upcycled ceramic Christmas houses!
The center of my Christmas table is this festive DIY gingerbread snow globe!
I found some cute little ceramic houses at my local Goodwill and with a little paint, turned them into a sweet gingerbread village collection.
After painting the houses, I filled a gallon-sized glass jar with fake snow.
Then, I carefully tucked in a gingerbread house and some bottle brush trees for a winter wonderland centerpiece.
And finally, to finish my snow globe, I tied a bow on the jar using red and white ticking stripe ribbon.
Gingerbread Table Decorations: Adding a Touch of 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!
Here’s a favorite holiday decorating trick of mine: Drape some faux garland down the center of your table for an easy and elegant touch.
Isn’t it beautiful?
I love the wintry feel it brings to the tablescape.
The beauty of using greenery is its versatility!
You can easily transition your gingerbread theme into winter tablescape by keeping the faux garland styled even after the holiday season has passed.
For a festive touch and a bit of added volume, I tucked a few sprigs of frosted red berries into my garland, creating a custom look that perfectly complements the white and red tablescape color scheme.
To finish I tucked in a few of these frosted branches and wrapped some fairy lights around the garland to give the table a bit of magical holiday twinkle.
Using Layers To Create a Cozy Christmas Placesetting
One thing you’ll notice about my tablescapes is my love for layers – the more, the merrier!
Using a mix of materials like cozy fabric placemats, rustic twig chargers, and white stoneware plates is the perfect way to create a beautiful layered look.
To create an anchor layer for each place setting, I chose red and white ticking stripe placemats.
They add a sense of charm to the tablescape and perfectly complement the gingerbread house theme.
Then I layered on my favorite round twig chargers that play off the colors of the gingerbread houses, tying the entire tablescape together.
And, for an extra pop of color, I finished each place setting with a solid red napkin featuring a fringed edge.
Classic white plates add a touch of brightness and elegance.
Neutral dishes like these are perfect for showcasing the gingerbread centerpiece and complement the overall whimsical theme of the tablescape.
If you’re looking to buy dishes that are worth your investment, white is the way to go!
Simple gold flatware adds a festive touch to the table setting, adding to the nostalgic holiday theme.
And the final touch?
These beautiful ticking stripe napkins on each plate!
I used twine to tie small gold bells around each napkin for an extra festive look.
Or you can make your own holiday napkin rings in less than 10 minutes.
Adding the Finishing Touches to Your Gingerbread Tablescape
Although often small, it’s usually the special details and finishing touches that your friends and family remember the most.
Things like personalized place cards or holiday party favors are a simple and affordable way to make your guests feel welcome.
Want your guests to take a piece of the cozy Christmas feeling home?
Send them off with easy holiday simmer pot kits!
These fun and festive favors are a great way to spread the holiday cheer.
And no Christmas celebration is complete without a little something sweet to take home!
Send your guests off with edible party favors like special holiday treats – chocolate covered peanut butter balls, sugar cookies, or maybe even almond shortbread cookies.
DIY hot cocoa bombs are another fantastic option!
They’re surprisingly easy to make and there are endless flavor combinations.
Pro Tip: Package your edible treats in festive cellophane bags or small boxes tied with colorful ribbons for an extra special touch! And don’t forget to attach a FREE Christmas gift tag from my printables library.
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Want to recreate this look at home? I’ve linked all the finds I used in this post below! Please note, that sometimes things sell out quickly, so if something isn’t available anymore, I’ve linked a similar item that you might love just as much. Happy shopping!
Dining Room Sources: Gray and White Area Rug⎟Chandelier⎟Wood Dough Bowl⎟Set of 3 Mercury Glass Christmas Trees⎟Silver Mercury Glass Christmas Tree⎟Red Berry Wreath⎟White Wood Candle Holders⎟Brass Table Candle Holders
Tablescape Sources: Red and White Ticking Stripe Napkins⎟Red Fringed Napkins⎟Round Twig Charger Plate⎟White Ceramic Dishes⎟Gold Flatware⎟Champagne Glasses⎟Gold Bells⎟Garland⎟Red Berry Stems⎟Twinkle Lights
Gingerbread Snow Globe Centerpiece Sources: Gallon Glass Storage Jar⎟Bottle Brush Christmas Trees⎟Red and White Ticking Stripe Ribbon⎟Faux Snow
More Christmas Tablescapes from Midwest Life and Style
If you’re looking for even more holiday tablescape styling ideas here are a few of my other favorites:
- Tartan Plaid Christmas Tablescape
- Simple and Cozy Winter Dinner Tablescape
- Red and White Christmas Brunch Tablescape
More Holiday Tablescape Inspiration
And there you have it!
My quick and easy tips to style a whimsical gingerbread holiday tablescape.
Thank you for visiting today.
I’m so glad you stopped by, and I hope this post inspires you to style your own whimsical gingerbread tablescape this holiday season.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!
Xo,
Christmas Tablescape Inspiration
I’ve teamed up with my friends from our virtual supper club to share inspiration with you for planning and styling a Christmas breakfast tablescape.
Simply click the links below for even more tips on setting a beautiful and festive table and creating DIY holiday decorations.
And, if you need some menu ideas, don’t ‘miss our holiday breakfast menu filled with mouthwatering breakfast recipes including my breakfast sausage crescent rolls.
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.