A Classic Red, Gold, and Tartan Holiday Table: An Invitation to Celebrate

Creating a holiday tablescape is one of my favorite parts of the season. It’s not just about the aesthetics—crafting an environment where guests feel truly welcomed and comfortable, surrounded by warmth, sparkle, and festive cheer. For this table, I aimed for a balance of elegance and simplicity, using thoughtful touches to reflect my style while celebrating the magic of Christmas.

When it comes to entertaining, making guests feel welcome is at the heart of it all. The little details—intentional design choices, the soft glow of lighting, and even the perfect background music—create an atmosphere where guests feel at ease and ready to celebrate. A thoughtfully designed table adds beauty to the gathering but also sets the tone for the evening. It says, “You are cherished, and I’ve created this space just for you.” Everything works together to make the moment memorable, from the sparkle of candlelight to the textures and colors of the tablescape.

Tartan Plaid: A Timeless Trend for 2025

With its deep roots in tradition and heritage, Tartan plaid has become one of the most exciting trends in interior design for 2025. Its ability to blend nostalgia with modern style makes it a standout choice for creating warm, welcoming spaces. For this holiday table, I chose a tartan plaid throw in a rich red, green, and blue palette to set the tone. Its vibrant colors and layered texture instantly added a festive, cozy ambiance that felt timeless and current.

What makes tartan especially appealing is its versatility. It carries a sense of history that resonates with many, yet it can be styled in a fresh and relevant way. On this table, the plaid pattern acts as a bold foundation, drawing the eye while complementing the gold and cream accents. The throw’s richness grounded the design and tied together the holiday hues, creating a cohesive and celebratory look.

Interestingly, this “tablecloth” wasn’t initially meant for the table—it’s a small throw that I repurposed after trying a plain white cloth that felt too understated. The weight and texture of the tartan throw made it the perfect choice, bringing a layered, intentional quality to the table that a simpler option couldn’t achieve. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best design decisions come from creatively rethinking everyday items.

Incorporating heritage patterns like tartan brings depth, warmth, and a touch of nostalgia to modern celebrations.

Adding tartan plaid to this tablescape, I embraced an on-trend and deeply personal design element. Its resurgence in 2025 reflects its enduring charm, proving that timeless patterns can evolve beautifully to fit today’s style while still honoring their traditional roots.

“Classic patterns like tartan remind us that the past can inspire the most beautiful moments today.”

— MERZE Lifestyle

Personalized Details: DIY Place Cards

Nothing makes a guest feel more special than a place card created with care. For this table, I embraced a bit of DIY charm. While I’m no calligraphy expert, I carefully hand-lettered each card. I added a personal touch with a sticky dot, attaching a sprig of evergreen, a few winter berries, and a tiny fleur-de-lis—a nod to my French family heritage. These thoughtful details add personality and warmth, showing guests that the table is as much about them as it is about the holiday itself.

A Festive Centerpiece with Meaning and Balance

At the table’s heart is a centerpiece that embodies the spirit of the holidays. I combined two types of evergreens for depth and texture: red roses for their timeless beauty and symbolism of love and hope and cream berries to add softness. The vibrant red roses, especially, represent the joy and love we feel during the holiday season, while the evergreens signify resilience and the enduring spirit of Christmas.

Design and Photo by Merze Lifestyle
A festive blend of deep burgundy and vibrant red roses, accented with cream berries and evergreen, creates an elegant centerpiece that embodies the richness and warmth of the holiday season.

Yet again, despite my years designing tables, the centerpiece design taught me a valuable lesson. I’ve always recommended designing a table from the outside to the center, but I was reminded why that approach matters as I put this tablescape together. Once I had laid out the place settings, glassware, votives, and other elements, I realized how little space I had left in the middle for the centerpiece!

Initially, I planned a more elaborate arrangement, but the limited space led me to pare it into something smaller and more intimate. The result was a centerpiece that perfectly complemented the table without making it feel crowded. It was a reminder that even a seasoned host’s adaptability is key to creating a balanced design. If you have a larger table, consider adding more elements to the centerpiece or extending the design to the ends of the table. For a smaller table, focus on a smaller, more intimate centerpiece that doesn't overwhelm the space.

Celebrating Tradition with Holiday Elegance

I used my holiday Lenox butter plates to elevate the table's festive feel. Their charming holiday design adds a delightful seasonal touch that blends seamlessly with the table’s red, green, and gold palette. These classic Christmas hues evoke the spirit of the season.

Paired with the Waterford wine glasses and red antique cordial glasses for dessert port, the table sparkles with the ambiance and glitter that make Christmas so magical.

Blending Vintage and Modern for Timeless Appeal

One of my favorite approaches to tablescape design is mixing vintage or antique pieces with modern-day decor. For this table, I incorporated my cherished Waterford wine glasses, which sparkle beautifully under the soft glow of votives. These timeless pieces, rich with history and craftsmanship, add an air of refinement and remind me of cherished moments from holidays past.

At the same time, I balanced these vintage touches with more modern elements to ensure the table felt fresh and relevant. While vintage items like my Lenox butter plates, with their classic holly design, bring a sense of nostalgia and patina that’s hard to replicate, the addition of sleek etched gold dinner plates and velvet ribbon details tie the design to the present.

This intentional blend of old and new creates a dynamic balance. The vintage pieces bring history, character, and memories of days gone by, while the modern elements elevate the table for today’s environment. Relying solely on vintage can make a table feel dated or overly formal, but pairing it with contemporary decor keeps the design fresh and engaging—a perfect way to celebrate tradition and today’s style.

The Importance of the Design Edit

A well-designed tablescape isn’t just about adding more—it’s about choosing the right elements and editing until everything feels right. My journey to this table’s final look was no exception. These are a few design edits I made as I created this table.

Here is a design edit I did using my Lenox accent plate. I love these plates, but I wanted something a bit more elegant.

I originally started with a simple white tablecloth, but it lacked my desired festive warmth. Switching to a plaid square throw in classic red, green, and blue instantly transformed the table, grounding the design with its heavier texture and rich colors.

If you don’t have a plaid throw, consider using a festive table runner or a large, similar-colored scarf. Sometimes, inspiration strikes when you least expect it, and I encourage you to look around your home for pieces that could work in new ways.

Napkins, too, were part of my design edit. After trying a few options, I settled on white linen napkins embroidered with light gold, tied with red velvet ribbon and a brass bell. These details added enough sparkle without overwhelming the table’s balance, and the deep red velvet against the white linen made the setting pop. It was exactly what I was looking for.

I began with a brass reindeer and brush Christmas tree centerpiece, but the table felt too sparse and needed more warmth.

A Table Designed to Welcome Guests

The final design, featuring lush red and burgundy roses in a gold vase, perfectly captured the warmth and elegance I sought. This design edit brought the table to life, creating a festive and inviting look. The rich tones of the roses, paired with evergreen accents, embody the cozy spirit of intimate holiday gatherings. Sometimes, it’s the minor changes that make the most significant impact, turning a simple setting into a celebration of togetherness and seasonal charm

Ultimately, this tablescape reflects what I love most about holiday entertaining: gathering loved ones around a festive and inviting table. With its pops of red, glimmers of gold, and touches of greenery, the design evokes the joy and warmth of the season while allowing guests to relax and enjoy their meal without distraction.

From the sparkle of vintage glassware to the thoughtful DIY details, each element of this table was chosen carefully to create a space where memories can be made. It’s not about perfection—creating a table that tells a story and makes everyone feel at home.

I hope my table inspires you to create beautiful, welcoming spaces where laughter, love, and joy flourish this holiday season.

Incorporating both vintage and modern décor brings a unique balance to this tablescape, blending timeless charm with contemporary style. The patina of vintage pieces adds depth and history, while modern accents keep the design fresh and on-trend. Together, they create a harmonious look that feels current yet steeped in tradition—perfect for celebrating the season in a way that honors the past while embracing the present.

So, as you prepare for your next holiday gathering, think about what truly brings you joy—the textures, colors, and pieces that hold meaning for you. Don’t be afraid to edit, mix vintage with modern, and layer elements you already have. The tartan tablecloth, the roses in a golden vase, and the little personal details tell your story. The most beautiful tables welcome guests to sit, savor the moment, and make memories that will last long after the candles have flickered. In these thoughtful touches, the season's spirit shines through, creating a space that feels timeless and full of heart.