For the last few years, New Year's Eve has become a romantic evening savored by just the two of us. After a quiet dinner, we spend the evening at home, watching a movie and cuddling with the furry ones who are looking forward to special treats. Then we celebrate at midnight with good champagne!
Since moving to Georgia I've come to look forward to welcoming the New Year on January 1st in Southern style! It always involves an over-flowing table for the mid-day meal to be shared with family and friends. There's a number of specific foods to eat on New Year's Day to bring good luck, prosperity and fortune. While I haven't taken to all the traditional new year's day foods served here, I do enjoy this way of starting the year with optimism and camaraderie.
A New Year's Day gathering is a relaxed occasion, and setting a table
for it should be effortless. The easiest way to do so is to make small
changes to the table that you set for Christmas or Hanukkah. Let me show
you what I've done!
Red and white are the primary colors I used, with a generous dose of greenery. The tablecloth and napkins are embroidered with red flowers, leaves and swirls. The plate stack is simply a gold charger topped by a dinner plate featuring black rims edged with gold and bold red poinsettias. The bread plate, although not the same pattern, has a similar black rim with a plainer gold edging. The bread plates were also used in Plaid Patterns for a Warm and Cozy Christmas Table.
Poinsettias often grace our home throughout the winter. I love their cheery red on cold wintry days!
In a similar way, reindeer represent winter as much as they do Christmas. These are beautiful napkin rings that I received as a gift.
I reused our Christmas table centerpiece, which consists of a variety of evergreens, table, then added two kinds of pine cones and several types of reddish berries.
The table's sparkle comes from classic stemware, beautifully cut crystal trimmed with gold — a lovely repeat of the trim on the plates.
To match the shine of the silver flatware, I've used silverplate knife rests in a striking Art Deco style. They're a fun addition to table settings, conversation starters as well as practical pieces.
The pretty linens are unlike anything else I have. They have a stylized botanical pattern, almost folkloric in feeling.
Two festive reindeer frolic in the greenery at either end of the centerpiece. I love using them each year — you may remember them from a Casually Festive Holiday Table.
The Christmas decor was cleared from the buffet and a simple bouquet of red amaryllis and frosted pine boughs was laid on the coffee and tea tray.
Bracketing the tray are two larger deer decked in their finery. They usually appear each year but have been absent for a couple of years since I like to rotate holiday decor for a different look. The stately candle holders have been stored away for a longer period. I'm not quite sure why, but because I was enjoying them so much I kept them out for this tablescape.
I've included a photo of the entire table, with the sunlight wanly entering through the windows. (As a side note you may realize that I finally convinced Greg to take down the drapery panels, which I hope will allow more light into the dining room.)
All the beautifully detailed reindeer impart a festive mood! With only a few minor changes, you can effortlessly style a New Year's Day table.
Table details
Dinner plates | Mikasa 'Christmas Eve'
Bread plates | Mikasa 'Onyx'
Crystal stemware | Waterford 'Hanover Gold'
Reindeer | Fitz & Floyd
Napkin Rings | Kim Seybert | 'Dasher'
* Table details are provided for
identification/information only. Dinner at Eight is not affiliated with
nor compensated by any other entity.
Shared at these parties
This is beautiful Sandra and what a wonderful table for New Year's Day! I love that you kept some of the elements from your Christmas table - such a bonus. The linens are truly gorgeous and reindeer are my favorite icon (in whatever form) for Christmas and winter. Love love the dinner plates and the napkin rings are beautiful. I hope you had a wonderful Southern style New Year's Day celebration. Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kim! It's fun to style a table for a holiday that doesn't come with identifiable trappings so you can use just about anything or re-use the elements you love and aren't ready to put away. Happy New Year!
DeleteLove your table and the easy of switching it. I often leave my snowmen and bottle trees out for the winter table. Next, year, 's going toI use my deer. We have deer in our area year round.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda! We have deer year-round as well (to my chagrin when they eat all my flowers).
DeleteReally enjoyed your table setting, Sandra. the tablecloth is lovely and deer are great year round. Wishing you a wonderful 2025.
ReplyDeleteLynne