The Art of Setting Your Holiday Table

As you make plans to gather with loved ones this holiday season, be sure to mark the special moment of being together by elevating your table settings and decor to feel extra indulgent. For many, this holiday season is a long-anticipated reunion with friends and family, so let the celebratory atmosphere spread all the way to your tablescape. Whether the look you’re going for is clean and classic, dark and moody, or light and airy, extend your aesthetic to the table with glassware, dishes, and serve ware that complement your holiday decor. No need to have separate dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas—instead, set your table with unique, holiday-ready pieces from The Met Store. An art-inspired table awaits!

Embrace the shorter days of winter with a captivating, dark, and moody holiday table-setting design. Welcome exquisite romantic florals to the table with Midnight Garden dinner plates featuring details from A Bouquet of Flowers (ca. 1612) by Clara Peeters (Flemish, ca. 1587–after 1636). Accent your entertaining space with a Peeters Bouquet of Flowers Tray to expand the still-life flowers theme throughout your holiday gathering. 

For your Christmas cocktails or to upgrade your home bar glassware, say cheers this year with Fy-shan Glass Studio Islamic Motifs Blown Glass Tumblers  Fy-shan. Available in amber, cobalt, and green, you’re sure to find a complementary blown glass choice to match your holiday table design. Fy-shan Glass Studio is led by esteemed Turkish glass artist Felek?an Onar and is renowned for its production of limited-edition decor that is both timeless and distinctive, and will surely offer a lovely accent on your holiday table. These exquisite tumblers are crafted by the virtuosic glass artist at Fy-shan and were created for the Heirloom Project, led by designer Madeline Weinrib. The Heirloom Project commemorates The Met’s Islamic art collection, supports the Museum, and endeavors to preserve traditional craftsmanship.

For an enchanting addition to your Christmas gatherings, browse our Asian Woodlands collection. Inspired by a variety of objects from the Department of Asian Art at The Met, our designs feature delicate foliage paired with exquisite depictions of deer. The deer often signifies longevity, good fortune, and prosperity in East Asian art, which is certainly a lovely sentiment to celebrate the holidays with and meet the new year with as well. Subtly festive, the Asian Woodlands mugs and salad plates add a sweet touch to your holiday table. The Asian Woodlands table runner evokes the nature-inspired motifs on a 19th-century Japanese lacquer box in The Met collection and provides your holiday table settings with an elegant foundation for your holiday feasting.  

For a timeless, monochromatic holiday table look, layer the stylish Italian Etched Leaves Side Plate Set with black and white dishes, cloth napkins, and serveware. Add the striking Global Silhouettes Greek Stemmed Bowl to serve bite-sized refreshments. This useful and beautiful bowl's timeless silhouette is borrowed from an ancient Greek vessel (late 5th century B.C.) in The Met collection. Pour your beverage of choice from a Global Silhouettes Etruscan Pitcher, modeled after the elegant silhouette of a bronze Etruscan jug (late 6th-earth 5th century B.C.) in The Met collection. The original is classified as an oinochoe vessel, which was used to serve wine. 

If your holiday style is classic white with gleaming crystal glassware, then consider adding  a holiday-themed layer to your tablescape with The Met Store’s Egyptian Gazelle line for some extra seasonal sparkle. The white porcelain salad plates and dinner plates, along with two sizes of bowls, feature golden details that recall an Egyptian diadem (ca. 1479–1425 B.C.) in The Met collection. On your holiday table, the golden gazelle design gives a sophisticated nod to Santa’s reindeer, while also maintaining an elevated style. Extend the golden glow of the Egyptian Gazelle detailing to your cocktail bar with luxurious embroidered cocktail napkins for another artful touch to your holiday table decor. 

However you choose to style or scale your holiday hosting this year, we wish you and yours the happiest of holidays. Thank you for making The Met Store part of your holiday season!