Not Your Typical Holiday Tablescape - Magnolia Leaves
One of the things that I love to do is incorporate foliage and other botanicals from nature and add them to my tablescape… especially during the holidays.
During this time of the year, I often will use evergreens and beautiful florals on my table but this time I wanted to challenge myself to go a little further from my normal aesthetics in design and Incorporate botanicals that are less obvious but still add warmth and richness to my presentation.
Magnolia leaves have such a rich brown color to them, and the texture is like a sumptuous rich leather on the underside. The front side is a brilliant shiny green color that is bold and luxurious. Oftentimes, you will see magnolia leaves grace beautiful wreaths during the holiday season because of the elegant chestnut color that adds richness and depth to any botanical design.
Magnolia Leave Wreath
Here is a project I am working on right now. I have sweet miniature wreaths that I will be hanging in my dining room windows. I have my glue gun and am simply tucking in some of the magnolia leaf’s in the wreath and adding a few ornaments.
Simply have an idea of what your design will look like and what colors you want to use. Since these will be going into my dining room, I will be adding gold ornaments and some blue ribbon. I will add the ribbon at the end of my design. Just tuck in your leaves in the wreath here and there and secure with a glue gun. It really is that simple!
You can find magnolia leaves at your local garden nursery, grocery store or floral shop especially during the holiday season.
I have already added a few to my fireplace mantel design. My living room will have this lovely red silk ribbon with champagne glitter on it. The ribbon is the base to my design idea and now I am just filling in with evergreens, magnolia leaves and pinecones.
Did you know that you can write on a magnolia leaf?
HINT: Use a contrasting colored chalk marker to write the name of each guest on the green side of a magnolia leave. This added detail is seen at weddings and other events. I personally like to do this when hosting a sit-down dinner at my house. The details are a little unexpected and brings conversation to my table right away. I love the surprise on peoples faces!
Now, onto the table design
I wanted to create a dinner table that was both festive for the occasion but also have a hint of nature that would help elicit feelings of calm and create a more casual look and feel.
I chose different hues of blue along with a silk, shimmery, gold material used for the runner. I then added silver and white using ornaments, votives, linen napkins and a tablecloth. I used my formal place setting and paired that with beautiful crystal and silver flatware. These were all the elements that create a more formal table. Mixing different metals is perfectly fine when designing a table.
The magnolia leaves and wooden bowl are used to add that additional layer of warmth I was looking for. The woods and botanicals helped to lessen the formality and add textures and layers that present a more earthy ambience.
For this table design, I let the brown side of the leaf just speak for itself. I wrapped a pretty satin ribbon around the stem of the leaf, secured with a tiny pin and placed it on each place setting, leaf facing up.
The symbol of a magnolia tree is strength, longevity, and purity. In China, people believe that planting a magnolia in the garden ensures luck, prosperity, and marital happiness.
My centerpiece is a free-flowing live-edge bowl that was created by upcycled walnut wood. It is rich with beautiful rings of color and textures. The bowl added another layer of warmth that you can find in the surrounding forest areas here in New England. I then filled it with simple glass ornaments that are sparkly and have an array of colors of deep blue, gold, and silver.
Mixed Metal Holiday Ornaments
““The fondest memories are made gathered around the table””
Ambiance is absolutely essential at my table. I use pillar candles along with votives….many many votives. The more mood lighting the better.
The thing is…a warm glow around the table is the perfect setting for spawning lasting memories. Using warm elements from nature whether botanicals or woods help with creating a calm, healthy and peaceful environment. The use of these many layers is not often seen in detail, but the overall effect of your design will leave your guest wondering why they had such a memorable time just sitting around your table sharing stories and laughter.
Relax and enjoy the memories you’ve just created
As with everything I post on my blogs, if you have any comments or questions, please leave them here or email me through my contact page. I would love to hear from you and welcome it anytime!
Design with your heart™️
Happy entertaining my friends!
Mary
“may your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows.”
My finished wreath with added magnolia leaves.
