Using Blue and White China in a Beautiful Holiday Table Setting

In this post: Set a beautiful table with blue and white china and with just a few tweaks it can be used for the perfect Hanukkah or Christmas table setting.⇒ 

If there’s one thing I didn’t need more of, it was dishes.

But then again, when you have a passion and it makes you happy, why not? 

Why not make your tables lovely?  Creating a beautiful atmosphere to spend your time in makes life more joyous.  It makes celebrations all the more pleasant.  

And it’s one of those small things that can make a huge difference in the quality of your days.  At least for me.

I learned long ago that upgrading the rituals of daily life is a worthwhile endeavor.  This is all the more evident when you spend a great deal of time at home.

Blue and White China Table Setting

And so, as I contemplated my next holiday table, my thoughts turned to one of the loveliest color combinations of all.

Blue and white.

As it turns out, as a person who celebrates Hanukkah, blue and white is a natural choice for my holiday table.  

But it’s also a wonderful option for a Christmas table, as well. Read on to see how I tweaked just a few elements to adapt this tablescape to each of these holidays.

Today I’m participating in a blog hop that’s meant to bring you inspiration for your holiday get-togethers. Be sure to visit all the other posts linked at the bottom of this one for some major motivation!

But first, let’s explore what compelled me to go blue and white.

It all started with the plate stack.

That’s often where I begin.

While at times I’ve been driven by a particular centerpiece, most often the relationship between two disparate china patterns is where the magic lies.  

I typically select patterns that relate in some way, although not always, and the music is in the mingling of the prints.

In this case, I’d seen these two vintage blue and white china patterns on a magazine cover, that became lodged in my memory.

For whatever reason I got fixated on the image early this season and it seemed now was the time to finally search for them online.

I had to hunt a bit and piece together the purchases to have enough to mix and match throughout my table setting.  I alternated salad plates and dinner plates, and switched the order at the end seats.

The complexity of the chinoiserie toile is balanced by the simpler border print, creating a delicate harmony. Gilded edging ties them nicely together.

(See the resource list below.)

Lightweight cotton voile napkins sit gracefully next to the plate stack, their gentle printed frames blending with the blues on the table.

In the past I’ve accented blue and white most often with silver, but here the gilt-edged plates opened the door to trim in gold. As such, I used twisted wire napkin rings in a charming golden hue and topped it off with flatware in brushed gold, as well.

I also incorporated my favorite gold-trimmed stemware, including petite wine goblets and matching champagne flutes.

One of the curious aspects of decorating with blue and white is that it’s one of the few design concepts where more is better.

In that spirit I chose porcelain chinoiserie vases to line the center of the table, with fresh white hydrangeas spilling over the hexagonal centerpiece and faux lavender stalks in the flanking trumpet vases.

The silver candelabra illustrate my penchant for mixing metals, even though a broad view of the table reveals a surprisingly cohesive mélange.

All of this plays off the classic backdrop of a white linen tablecloth.

For Hanukkah one can add a silver menorah with its gentle candlelight, along with decorative dreidels in the form of salt and pepper shakers, below. 

Yet blue and white works equally well for Christmas with a scattering of chinoiserie ornaments dancing joyfully across the table. Try adding greenery, too, for even more seasonal flavor.

If you pull out the holiday elements, step back from the table and take a fresh look, this could easily be a table set for a charming spring or summer soirée.

And it’s precisely the classicism that blue and white imparts, that makes the investment of yet more dishes ever more palatable!

Please be sure to visit all the other wonderful tables below!

Shabbyfufu | Rooms for Rent | Maison de Cinq

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