It’s that home entertaining time of year again and it’s time to bust out all the linens. I love building tablescapes for meals with friends and family (way more than the actual cooking) so I wanted to share a few tips on how I quickly create a layered tabletop fit for the holidays and full of style. I’ll also be sharing some quick pointers on how to care for the linens after the party and how Electrolux makes it easy.

1. Build a non-traditional color palette.

I always find I am way more drawn to tablescapes that veer off the obvious color choices for the holidays. Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be all browns and oranges, however I am loving ochre and rust, so by pairing a traditional color with a not so traditional color like pink, suddenly the table feels fresh.

2. Bring in a little vintage.

Just like how I love to incorporate vintage furniture into the spaces I design for a more storied and interesting result, a little vintage on your tabletop can go a long way as well. Whether it is a small set of some amazing vintage glassware or a set of brass vintage flatware (like I used above) these make a holiday table feel unique, aka extra special.

3. Layer on the linens.

During the holidays I like to make my home extra cozy with extra layers of blankets and pillows which translates to the tabletop as well. Tablecloths and cloth napkins are perfect to bring that coziness to a meal for holiday entertaining. I also added some extra muslin as a table runner which is the same color as the table cloth but adds one more subtle layer of texture. Some people my shy away from using table cloths and/or cloth napkins because of the maintenance but I’ve teamed up with Electrolux to share how easy they make caring for your entertaining linens can be.

WASHING:
When the party is over (or the next day if I am going to be realistic) I throw my linens in the washer and use the gentle cycle. With Electrolux SmartBoost™ technology the washer pretty much takes care of the rest. It automatically premixes water and detergent before the wash cycle begins which means a deep all around clean that effectively removes stains.

DRYING:
When it comes to drying, you want to make sure to take extra care of linens so they last over time. I like to pull them from the dryer right when they are dried through, or just before. You don’t want to over dry them. Another handy setting from Electrolux that makes sure you don’t even have to think about it is that they have a moisture sensor so as soon as the fabric is dry it will automatically switch off.

STORING:
I think it was Martha Stewart that recommended hanging table cloths and napkins over a cardboard roll that comes with a rug or carpet, to prevent creases, but who has easy access to that or the space to store it? Unfortunately not me, well I am sure I could find one since I do like to collect me some rugs, but my linen closet is smaller than a phone booth and my house has ZERO extra space so still a no go. Inevitably my linens get folded up and when I want to use them they are creased but by tossing them in the Electrolux dryer using the Perfect Steam™ setting, it gently removes the wrinkles and creases and is ready for the next shindig.

Happy Holidays!

Shop the Post: Wall hanging from Urban Outfitters // Linen/Cotton Table cloth from Ikea // Vase & Flowers by Moon Canyon // Base Plates from Anthropologie // Blush Pink Plate from CB2 // Napkins // Brass Flatware is Vintage // Brass Coupes also Vintage // Pink Chairs from Ikea Washer by Electrolux // Dryer by Electrolux

This post was sponsored by Electrolux, as always all thoughts ideas and tablescapes are my own :). Thank you for supporting our sponsors!