December 12, 2020

Holiday Table Setting with Stokes

Although the holidays may seem a little different this year, we feel as though it’s important to capture the magic of the season and bring it to your table! We have 3 different table setting styles for the Holiday season to share with you, presented by Taylor, our very own Visual Merchandiser.
We’ve included a conversation we had with her as she presented her stylings for you to enjoy and get inspired from!

If you’d like to watch her present every setting in full detail, check out our IGTV on Instagram. For a full list of all the products featured, please refer to the end of the Blog post.

  1. Can you explain what you do at Stokes and how long you’ve been doing it?  

I work as a visual merchandiser at Stokes. I have been working in this position for 2 and a half years, however, I have worked for Stokes since November of 2015. I am part of a team of 3 people responsible for sending visual directives across our stores. We do visual set-ups in one of our stores and send picture directives to the rest of the chain. We are responsible for simple section directives, monthly promotional set-ups, window displays, and many other visual set-ups in the stores each month… I was always interested in the visual aspect of merchandising. As a child, I would always go see the Ogilvy window displays with my grandparents. Little did I know I would end up creating something similar in the future…

One of my favorite aspects of my job is how I am able to express my creativity. Brainstorming with our team before the execution of a visual set-up allows for many creative ideas to be expressed and possibly executed. When we brainstorm we look through our products and we get inspired with themes such as; brunch, pasta dinner, summer BBQ, etc. Once we have our theme we begin choosing colors and creating our displays. This I would have to say is my favorite aspect of my job.

2. What are some common trends you’re seeing in table settings for the holiday season? 

One of the biggest trends we are noticing for the holiday table is simplicity. When thinking of a table setting we are seeing simple, clean lines and minimal table décor. In our place settings we are inspired by our products and want to show as much as we can with different color and texture combinations, however, in your home you can choose simplicity. 

Another trend we notice is the incorporation of nature in the home. Adding natural elements to your table is a simple way to bring nature inside. We do this by adding wood, marble, stone or any other natural element; even feel free to add some tree branches for décor.

3. What are some challenges you would anticipate for executing a table setting?

I feel as though 2 challenges can be identified with setting up a holiday table and these challenges are based on personal style. 

To begin the holidays are normally a time filled with food and a lot of serving platters, so much so that you may run out of space on your table. In order to avoid this issue I would suggest the trend of simplicity when it comes to your table settings. You can achieve a beautiful table full of everything you need while also keeping place settings and décor to a minimum. 

On the opposite end another challenge that some may face is a table that does not feel as full as they would like it to be. I have 2 suggestions in order to get over this challenge. The first is to layer, if you layer tablecloths and placemats you will fill more of the space on the table and this will have a bigger impact within your table setting. Another suggestion is to decorate, decorate, and decorate! By adding small touches of décor to your table you will see the table come alive.

Let’s get into the 3 different ways you can style your table for the Holidays:

This is our “Winter Dinner” inspired by beautiful glacial landscapes…

Second, we have our “Holiday Brunch” setting – bringing back the traditional festive colors that remind of us the holiday season, with deep reds and glittering gold.

Finally, we have our “Midnight Celebration“ which we felt was the perfect modern, elegant setting to ring in the new year or for a new year’s eve party!

We hope that you take some inspiration from these beautiful table dressings and find a way to add your own special take on it! On behalf of Stokes, we wish you a very happy Holiday season!

Featured Products:

Winter Dinner:

Holiday Brunch:

Midnight Celebration:








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