It's the most wonderful time of the year!

That's right: it's holiday party season, and you've got lots to plan. We know how it goes—you've got a house full of friends and family coming over, so you need to make sure that your place feels festive and welcoming.

There are so many ways to decorate your home for the holidays, but sometimes all that glittery garland seems overdone, or you just don't have time to put up all those lights. That's why we’ve put together this list of tips to help you dress up your dining table—without breaking a sweat or going into debt!

We know that the holidays are a time to celebrate with family, friends, and good food. When it comes to creating the perfect holiday tablescape, there's no better place to start than with colour.

Are you going for something traditional? Or do you have something more unique in mind? If you're going traditional, choose reds, greens, and whites as your colours. This will give off that classic vibe and make it easy to create an elegant table setting.

If you prefer something more modern or unique, try adding some pops of metallic gold or silver. This will instantly transform your traditional tablescape into something bolder and more eye-catching!

No matter what colours you choose, be sure that all elements of your table look cohesive. If you’re consistent in your choices, anything goes!

The right table setting can be the difference between a simple meal and a special occasion. Set the stage for amazing décor by choosing the perfect dining set.

Dining sets come in a variety of sizes and materials. There are wood, metal and plastic options to choose from, as well as rectangular or oval shapes. After choosing your material and shape, don't forget to think about if the table is the right height for you and your family. If it's too low, you'll end up having to hunch over while eating.

On the note of comfortable dining, choose a table that's large enough for your family and guests—you don't want them all crammed together while they eat. Also, make sure there’s enough space for everyone to comfortably move around dishes and glasses.

When choosing a dining set, the most important thing is to consider your home's current style and décor. You want to be able to use it for years, so choose something that you'll love looking at every day. If you're unsure of what style to go with, try taking inspiration from other tables in your home.

Decorating a table is like decorating a room: you need something to tie it all together. The base of your table is that something. A tablecloth, runner, garland, scarf or throw blanket provides the foundation for your decorating scheme.

The base doesn't have to be elaborate; it just needs to be functional and presentable. If there's one thing you can do to make sure that happens, it's making sure that the colour scheme of your base matches the rest of your décor.

You want the base to carry through with enough colour so that it doesn't look like an afterthought, but not so much colour that it competes with other decorations on top of the table itself. You can do this by creating contrast—for example, if you have red or green napkins or cups, use a blue tablecloth. If you have silver and gold plates, use red napkins.

One way to create an inviting atmosphere is by adding texture to your tablescape. A variety of materials can give it warmth and depth, while also making it feel more personal. Try using wood or stone elements in place of glass or plastic pieces, and use natural materials like leaves and pinecones instead of fake ones.

Another great way to add texture is by using layers. For example, you could use a wooden tray as a base and then place different types of glasses and bowls on top of it. You can also use different kinds of napkins or placemats to create a unique look.

A basket is the perfect accessory to stash napkins and cutlery and provides a hint of rustic texture. The key to using texture is to pick elements that complement each other, so it doesn’t look too busy or chaotic.

To complete your festive table, fill up blank spaces with holiday knickknacks. This is our favourite part because you get to use up all your leftover decorations!

Beads, fruit, light strands, and bells are all excellent options for this. You could even use ornaments after your tree gets too full.

If you don't mind a mess, you can also use decorator sugar, sprinkles, or even glitter for a little extra sparkle.

No matter what you choose, try not to use more than three of these space-fillers. You don’t want the table to look cluttered!

We hope you've enjoyed this guide to creating your own perfect holiday tablescape. We know how much time and effort goes into planning and executing the perfect holiday dinner, so we wanted to help make it easier.

Share your holiday tablescapes with us on social media by tagging us @ashleyofficialca and using #myashleyhomecanada and #celebratethemagicofhome.

Want more help getting your home holiday-ready? Our trusted home experts are available by appointment. Click the link below to book!