Simple Holiday Table Arrangement (with lavender!)

'Tis the season!  'Tis the season of festive gatherings around the table with friends and family.  From intimate holiday dinners to large parties, there is much hosting happening.  Here's a quick and easy idea for an elegant tablescape for your next gathering, using simple natural materials from your yard or local woods and dried lavender bouquets.

How to Create a Lavender Holiday Table Arrangement

 

 Supplies and Materials:

• Clippings of evergreens, ivy, holly or any other interesting greenery collected from a “walk about” in the yard
• Mossy or lichen tinged branches 
• Dried lavender
• Candles of your choosing (here we've used tall cream candles in clear glass holders)
• Twine
• Natural linen table runner or tablecloth (or one that suits your decor best) - optional
• Garden clippers 

As you are gathering your natural materials, look for a variety of greenery shape, texture and size.
 

Instructions for Assembly:

• Lay a tarp or drop cloth next to your table (it can get messy and this will make clean up easier!).
• Organize your palette of evergreens, branches, pine cones, lavender, etc on the drop cloth for easy access as you build your arrangement.
• Begin with the foundation.  Lay your table runner long the center of the table, cover the display surface you are working on with a tablecloth to best suit your decor or leave the surface bare if that suits your aesthetic best.  
• Place a large architectural branch in the midpoint of your surface as a framework for the arrangement.  You'll work out from the midpoint to achieve a balanced presentation.

• Place candles evenly along the table runner.  Start at the center and space them evenly on either side extending towards the ends of the table.  Use as many as you like, just be sure to use an odd number.  Odd numbers tend to be more visually pleasing.
• With the foundation branches and candles in place we're ready to add the flora! 
• Using the denser greens (like fir, pine and holly) build a foundation of evergreens beneath and reaching out the ends of the branch towards either end of the table.
• As you go, add small groupings of 5-7 lavender stalks amongst the evergreens organically to look as though the lavender is growing naturally from the greens.

 

• Taper the volume and width of greens used at the ends of the distance you plan to span across the table.

• Using the foundation branch as a frame, loosely wrap the ivy along the branch, hooking it naturally within arms of branches to secure it. 
• You can create lovely volume by securing the ends of additional ivy or other vine-like greens under the branch and allowing them to spill out the length of the tablescape. 
• Trim a handful of lavender stalks to just below the height of your candle holder and tie it to your candle(s) with natural twine.  Be sure to keep the dried lavender well away from any open flame!

• To finish the look, tuck a few pine cones and other interesting greens sparingly throughout the display.
• And, add a bit more lavender if the look is feeling overly green.  
• Be sure to tuck all stems and stalks under the greens to create the impression that everything is naturally growing together right there on your table.
• You are ready to light your candles and finish setting the table for your exquisite feast! 

In need of some culinary inspiration for your holiday hosting to match your table arrangement?  Our Lavender Cookbook is full of delicious meals, sides, sauces, and desserts — each one incorporating the unique flavor of lavender.

From our table to yours – a very Happy Holidays!