Heather Bien is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer whose work has appeared on MyDomaine, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, HelloGiggles, and more. You’ll often find her making pitstops for roadside antique shops, drooling over original hardwood floors, or perfecting her latte recipe.
published about 4 hours ago
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I know, I know: The food you serve at any upcoming seasonal gathering is far more important that the way your holiday table looks — and really, quality time with your nearest and dearest matters the most. If you’re not the world’s greatest home chef though (*raises hand sheepishly*), creating a memorable holiday tablescape can be a meditative activity and a conversation starter for your party guests once they sit down for your meal. The latter of these two scenarios is exactly what happened at Apartment Therapy’s own Dine by Design event at the House of Showfields in Brooklyn, New York, where, in collaboration with Pinterest, we hosted a series of meals at designer-decorated tables that got everyone who came through the doors talking.
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Apartment Therapy tapped ten creatives to riff on 2022’s hottest holiday trends at Dine by Design, with each design expert setting a unique table for two (and I even got in on the decorating fun furnishing the lounge area with Kaiyo, which you can see above). The results were so striking that we wanted to share those trends and some tablescaping ideas with you here. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired by these looks and splurge-worthy home decor products for your own holiday table (and even well beyond the holidays). And if you want to know more about all of the items in these exact looks, visit our Dine by Design board on Pinterest for all the details.
Disco balls also reigned supreme in our lounge area (pictured at the top of this page), which showcased furniture and a cozy rug sourced from Kaiyo, a full-service marketplace for secondhand furniture. Anchored by a trendy green tufted sofa, purple zig zag chairs, and side tables that feature a neoclassical column-inspired silhouette, the lounge stands as its own version of a post-modern, New Wave ’80s-inspired space that’s as comfortable for hosting as it is easy on the eyes.
Buy: Disco Ball Ornaments, $42.00 $33.60 for a Set of 3 from West Elm
Designer Miles Willis McDermott’s drippy, trippy black-and-white tabletop proves that you shouldn’t be wary of leaning into this classic color scheme for your holiday gatherings. McDermott calls his signature aesthetic Supergraphic Regency, and the trick to making it feel right for the season lies in the festive brass accents. I also love the no fuss approach to a centerpiece — fresh and dried herbs and spices — which is easy to copy. All you have to do is place a few bundles in clear glass vases and decant things like salt and peppercorns into brass vessels. Bonus points if your spices and herbs are grindable tableside as was the case here, thanks to small mortars and pestles sitting at each place setting.
Buy: Manufacture Rock Rice Bowl, $36.00 $27.99 from Villeroy & Boch
Have you ever looked at a painting by Rembrandt, Vermeer, of any of the other Dutch Masters and been in awe of its atmospheric colors and skilled representation of highlights and shadows? Content creator and blogger Tommy Lei translated that interplay of light and dark into tabletop form with the Moody Masterpiece trend, and it’s about as simple but impactful as it gets, thanks to the organic shaped JARS dinnerware that juxtaposes high gloss finishes with matte details, which, in turn, contrasts beautifully with the warm wood table and the Graf Lantz Noir Merino Wool Felt Tabletop Set. I especially loved the Misette Line Drawing Hand-Painted Twist Candles, which also speak to the unique taper trend you’ve probably been seeing everywhere. They’re almost too pretty to burn!
Buy: Line Drawing Hand-Painted Twist Candles, $65.00 from Misette
You can get a unique, retro-inspired look with all new items and just a few key pieces. Just take this earthy meets technicolor tablescape created by secondhand shopping extraordinaire Virginia Chamlee, author of “Big Thrift Energy,” as your proof. Using East Fork’s The Coupes and Cake Plates in their Amaro colorway and Annie Selke’s Palm Evergreen Placemats, Chamlee put her own spin on a classic red and green holiday color scheme. Matisse-like blobby clay polymer napkin rings and cut paper place cards, both DIYed by Chamlee, bring an extra touch of quirk to the table. And about those #vintagevibes? Annie Selke’s set of Sita Marble Bowls full of retro ball ornaments, citrus fruits, and pomegranates, make for the easiest-ever centerpieces.
Buy: Cake Plate, $18.00 from East Fork
Speaking of nature-inspired trends, you can double down on greenery, straw, and seasonal gourds used as table decor by following in the footsteps of plant expert Kamili Bell Hill of Plant Blerd, who took on the Boho Flair trend. Think warm mixed metals, matte black dinnerware, and simple linens that let the rest of the tabletop elements shine. Grab a can or two of spray paint and give those gourds some extra shimmer with a coat of metallic copper. A final finishing touch? Little potted herb plants used like place cards, which become take-home favors post-meal.
Buy: Straw Loop Placemat in Natural, $28.00 from Juliska
If you feeling less than confident about your mixing and matching tablescaping skills, why not try a Monochrome Mix? Here entertaining expert Amber Mayfield of To Be Hosted and While Entertaining chose an unconventional fall color — blue — and leaned into that hue with everything from linens and dishes to Estelle Colored Glass goblets and decorative accessories, including spray painted pumpkins, all in various shades of blue. You could recreate a look like this with any color of your choosing though. Pink would be another fun, unexpected shade for the holidays.
Buy: Glass Goblets, $100.00 for a Set of Two from Estelle Colored Glass
Candy is great, and costumes are fun, but what about the music? Whether you like jammin’ to Monster Mash or prefer to get down to Thriller, music plays a big part in this spookiest of holidays. But there’s more to listen to than just the Ghostbusters theme song (although that is a good one!). Here are 80 songs to get you in the spirit for spirits. From classic haunts to alternative rock, there’s a Halloween playlist here for everyone.
Looking to get immersed in all the classics? We’ve got you, boo. (#ghostjokes?) This list is family friendly!
Maybe you’re in the mood for goblins and ghouls, but want some different music to listen to. Treat your inner hipster with this playlist – it’s like Halloween, but not.
Throwing a Monster Mash of your own? Here’s a playlist of tunes sure to fill the dance floor. From thematic new hits to classics like Superstition and Somebody’s Watching Me, this Halloween playlist will put you in the mood to party. This list contains explicit language, so it’s not for kids’ parties!
So, what you do you think? Were there any songs you felt should’ve been on these playlists but were left out? What’s your favorite spooky song? Let us know in the comments!
I pride myself on being a memorable host. “Hostess with the mostest” feels personal when my loved ones have complimented my parties for their stylish decor, funky music playlist, and delectable vegan appetizers. The heartwarming reviews aside — throwing parties and hosting game nights are an excuse to have my loved ones in one space and build community with my different friend groups.
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But watch parties differ from hosting, say, dinner parties. Paying attention to whatever is streaming is the bare minimum that could be done, especially if you’re a talker (embarrassingly, like myself). To me, gathering around a television with your friends while surrounded by a variety of sweets and drinks delivers a similar nostalgic feeling to the infamous house party scene in the beloved 1996 slasher film “Scream,” minus the Ghostface villain.
Since zietgeist-y shows like HBO’s “House of the Dragon” or the now-concluded “Insecure” draw in a massive amount of weekly viewers, a watch party is a chance to bond with your other pop culture-enamored friends. Here are my tips for throwing a good watch party, where everybody has fun.
If your guests are excited to binge-watch the latest popular series on Netflix, give them a heads up if you plan on broadcasting the show at your watch party. If you’re not feeling the task of handing out physical invitations, either send a detailed text about the party’s whereabouts or use a Canva template to create a digital invite. Facebook has an event feature that is quite handy for planning parties, especially when your guests are actually active on the app. Whether your guests receive an invitation a week in advance or a month in advance, collecting even some casual RSVPs will help with preparing the options for comfortable seating and an adequate amount of food.
Hosting can be expensive. Sure, everyone’s coming over to socialize and enjoy the show, but they’re definitely going to be hungry, at least for finger foods. Just remember that there’s nothing wrong with asking for help and turning the watch party into a potluck. If the thought of planning the evening’s menu causes stress, opt-in for serving the entree and requesting sides to build a hearty meal. As a host, I love providing a special themed alcoholic drink and a vegan-friendly appetizer. Often, guests will be open to bringing their preferred drink and a beloved snack, like a bag of chips or store-bought dessert.
What’s the theme? If you’re watching the new “Game of Thrones” or “Lord of the Rings” spinoff shows, dressing up is half the fun. Perhaps, the theme of the evening will have less to do with outfits— maybe your menu is autumnal or everyone brings a school supply to donate because you’re watching “Abbott Elementary.”
Does everyone know which item they were delegated to bring for the potluck? It’s easy to end up with an abundance of drinks or desserts at a party, but it is an excuse to get a pizza delivered (something about ordering a pizza during a watch party feels like you’re stepping into an early 2000s movie). Either way, feel free to send a reminder text to your guests the day prior to your viewing party just to give them an extra heads up.
If your guests are dressing up, dress up your house, too! I know what you’re thinking, “Who has the time and money for that?” A little bit of arts and crafts has never failed me — and I’m talking about construction paper and reusable decorations from the dollar store. I’m a big fan of reusing decor from past Halloween and Christmas parties, so I’ve accumulated quite the collection over the years. But for a streaming party, the decor depends on the theme, so circle back to the previous step before creating an inspiration board on Pinterest.
Besides decorations, is your living room ready for the evening’s events? This fall cleaning checklist may give you an insight on the spots in your home that may need a little TLC before guests arrive. Once everything’s tidy, there’s no harm in double checking that your internet router, television, and streaming device are up-to-date and working properly to prevent any technical difficulties.
As a host, I’ve found myself running around preparing food, greeting guests, finishing a last minute costume detail, minimizing accidental spills, and anything else that prohibits me from actually enjoying the party. If you happen to be free all day prior to the party, create a simple checklist for yourself to use your preparation time wisely. Watch parties actually require attention, so don’t be shy and allow your guests to help if they offer and give yourself a second to relax.
Happy viewing!
Britt is a stargazer and sunrise-chaser with a collection of magic erasers, and a fascination with the fantastic. A storyteller at heart, she finds inspiration in all the small things, and can likely be found singing show tunes, catching up on K-dramas, or going on adventures to satiate her natural-born wanderlust. (Sometimes even all at the same time.)