Holiday hosting can be a little intimidating, especially if you’re new to it! And I recognize that while a lot of the tabletops I put together here on coco kelley are meant to inspire, they’re not always super realistic for the entertaining newbies, those on a budget, or those who are simply overwhelmed by it all.

So, this year, I’m doing two types of table settings. And this first one? It’s all about getting back to the basics. Showing you how to use combine those everyday pieces with special items to create a simple, modern, festive, no pressure table for the holidays! But don’t think for one second that just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s not stylish, gorgeous, and glowing.how to mix everyday items with special pieces for the perfect minimal holiday tabletop | coco kelleyhow to set a simple festive holiday tabletop with items you already have (and a few new ones too!) | coco kelley

For this project, I teamed up with a company some of you may have heard me mention before, called Spruce Up. They were perfect to partner with because their service is like having access to that good friend who is also a designer. You know, the one you’re always telling, “Hey, I need to have you over to my house to help me figure out what to do with this corner”. Yeah, that one.

Using a combination of AI and personal stylists, Spruce Up was created to help you hone in on your personal taste (through a quick style quiz) and do the shopping for you when it comes to challenging places in your home. There is huge selection of designer-curated products, and Anne and her team of stylists are experts at pulling together the perfect look to match your style and budget.

For this little project, my sister got to be the client and I – obviously – the stylist (along with the help of Anne!). Her challenge? Where to start with setting a table for her and her fiancé to do lots of holiday entertaining! how to give your tabletop a little makeover for the holidays | coco kelley

First, we had my sis fill out the style quiz on the Spruce Up website. Her results came out as a strong combination of ‘Contemporary Glamourist’ and ‘Modern Minimalist’, so I decided to keep things fairly simple and clean, but with plenty of shimmer! Working with one of the Spruce Up stylists, we used some of the items suggested via the AI selections, and then added a few of our own picks to get just the right mix. Then we sent her this:

our moodboard for a simple holiday tabletop with spruce up and coco kelleyour moodboard for a simple holiday tabletop with spruce up and coco kelley

Your personalized Spruce Up always contains up to 12 shopping picks selected just for you. From there, you can choose the elements you like, request some alternates (maybe a different color, etc), and then simply purchase everything right there through the site!

For my sister, I wanted a balance of items that could be used everyday with items that would be a bit more specialty for the holidays. When you’re just starting out with building your entertaining arsenal, you want to choose a set of simple dishes that will work with a variety of other plates. For her, I picked a pretty set from Pottery Barn that have a nice subtle texture.dark green teal tablecloth with pops of gold | holiday tabletop makeover on coco kelleygold splatter paint dishes on a rich teal tablecloth | coco kelley holiday tabletop tutorial

To bring in the ‘sparkle’ of holiday, I chose lots of gold elements! The gold flatware is West Elm, and it’s one of my favorites. I’ve owned my set for years now, and use them for all my special occasions! The salad plates were a fun find from Anthropologie – and perhaps the most unexpected choice as they are a bit more playful than what she usually goes for, but as a stylist I like to pick one or two items that I think may push those comfort zones! add a little swag to your chandelier to create a festive holiday look in your dining room | coco kelley

The gold candlesticks were a must-have. Classic and elegant, they will mix with any style, any time! For my tapers, I like to go with a mix of neutrals to add a little more interest (rather than all-white!). And I haven’t even talked about the star of this show yet: that tablecloth!!! The rich teal-green tone combined with the gold flatware is just gorgeous. And the linen makes it less fussy, more ‘everyday’, so again this is a piece she could use for many occasions.

Now let’s talk about the details…mixing special pieces with basics for an easy holiday tabletop | spruce up and coco kelley

A teensy tiny bottle brush tree sits on every dish as a quiet nod to Christmas. My sister kept reminding me to keep things simple, and so we did. I like this little touch that feels playful but classy at the same time.how to create the perfect modern holiday tabletop | coco kelley

The bowl was one of the first items I chose for the table. This piece is S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G in person. It could be used throughout the year for many purposes, but on our table, I decided to fill it with pinecones that I’ve tipped with gold leaf. Simple, easy, no fuss. And you can keep them year after year if you want! (I’ve had these for several years now!)fancy modern champagne coupes | how to set a simple festive holiday table

And then there’s these gorgeous coupes. Holy moly are these just lovely on this table! The ribbed glass gives them a vintage look, but the shape is 100% modern. I adore these! I found them through one of the more boutique sites that Spruce Up has partnered with, which makes them feel even more special and unique.

set a simple and festive holiday tabletop with a mix of everyday and holiday pieces | coco kelleyhow to set a simple festive tabletop for the holidays | spruce up x coco kelleya simple and rich modern holiday tabletop setting | coco kelley

Ok, so here comes the best part guys. If you are looking for a little last-minute help on getting your own tabletop or other space in your home together for the holidays, we’ve got you covered! Getting your own Spruce Up is so easy.

First you take the style quiz and tell the team what it is you’re looking for. Then you’ll receive your Spruce Up board containing 12 items. Tell your stylist which items you like and they can swap out items you don’t! They will work with you to make sure you love your final selections. Once you decide on items and make your purchases, your $25 styling fee is waived. You can also do multiple spruce ups for more than one area in your home! 

If you’re interested in getting any of these specific products that we found for this project, simply take the style quiz and ask for the ‘Coco Kelley’ Spruce Up, and you’ll get something like this:

These pieces can also be customized to your needs, so make sure to let them know what you’re looking for! Any orders that are $250 or more, use our code COCOKELLEY50 to receive $50 off when you checkout! Oh! AND, they do price matching, which is especially important this time of year when items are constantly on sale! So you don’t have to worry about hunting around to get the best price. It’s already done for you!

I think this service is pretty fun and definitely filling a need in the design world. What do you think? Is this a service you would use? If you guys have any questions about it, let me know and we’ll do our best to answer them! Happy Table Topping!

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