How to Set a Sophisticated, Scandinavian-Inspired Dinner Table for The Holiday Season

Giant furry spiders, light-up plastic pumpkins, eerie glow-in-the-dark skeletons… It’s no wonder Halloween décor has a reputation for being over the top! So what can you do if you’re planning to hold an elegant dinner party on 31 October and don’t fancy covering every inch of your table with artificial cobwebs?

article_image

 

For a Halloween table setting that’s stylishly spooky, we suggest drawing inspiration from Scandinavia, a region celebrated for its design expertise. Scandinavian design is at the heart of our homeware collections and has been popular for decades, thanks to its focus on striking yet simple décor. Its principles will help you to create an atmospheric table setting without going overboard.

Here are our top tips for laying an elegant, Scandinavian-style table this Halloween.

 


Step by Step

 

  1. Choose a Chic Colour Scheme
    Designing your Halloween table setting with a particular colour scheme in mind is a fantastic way to create a chic, coherent look. Black and white feature prominently in Scandinavian interiors and work wonderfully well at Halloween. For a modern, monochrome Halloween table setting, try pairing stylish black cutlery with brilliant white plates, a black tablecloth with white napkins, and dramatic black candelabra with tall white candles. Black bats cut from felt and white ceramic pumpkins provide the perfect finishing touches.

    Another eye-catching option is to combine black and white with a bold accent colour (orange is often linked to Halloween). A traditional look can be achieved with an autumnal colour scheme, such as russet, deep orange and golden yellow. Alternatively, bring gothic enchantment to the table with black and burgundy items.
  2. Think Seasonal, Not Just Scary!
    Don’t limit yourself to conventional, ‘scary’ Halloween decorations. The natural world is a rich source of ideas, especially in autumn. Seasonal flowers and plants form an important part of Scandinavian décor. For your Halloween table centrepiece, why not ask a florist to create an autumnal arrangement featuring orange roses, oak leaves and berries? Alternatively, fill a wicker basket with speckled pumpkins, pine cones and foliage. For a magical, luxurious look, sprinkle glitter over the centrepiece – you’ll feel as if a witch has cast a spell on it!

    Embracing autumn doesn’t mean you can’t include spooky decorations in your table setting. Why not give a dozen plastic spiders a style upgrade by spray-painting them gold and displaying them around the centrepiece? You could incorporate Scandinavian folklore into your table setting by decorating it with troll ornaments. Add a touch of mystery by placing masquerade masks around the table for your guests to wear.
  3. Look for Simple, Subtly Spooky Tableware
    Scandinavian design encourages us to appreciate the beauty of simplicity. There’s no need for your crockery, cutlery and related items to compete for attention with the spectacle of your Halloween table decorations. Look for plates and other pieces that benefit from clean lines, high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship – they’re a joy to use. Add visual interest with a range of textures and finishes (for example, woven placemats, smooth porcelain bowls and shiny double-walled glasses), as well as subtle Halloween motifs (side plates featuring black cats, perhaps).

    The realisation that the items they’re using have all been chosen with great care can’t fail to increase your guests’ enjoyment of the Halloween dinner.
  4. Enhance the Halloween Mood with Candlelight 
    Candles are widely used in Scandinavian table settings, especially on special occasions. They’re ideal when you want to enhance the Halloween atmosphere with some elegant mood lighting. Imagine dining by candlelight on the spookiest night of the year and watching shadows flicker on the walls!

    Your Halloween table setting could include taper candles in gothic holders, pillar candles of various heights or spiced pumpkin-scented container candles. Display the candles symmetrically (for example, place one holder on each end of the table) to help achieve the pleasing sense of balance that’s often apparent in Scandinavian interiors. If you don’t wish to use candles (perhaps children or pets will be present or your guests will wear elaborate fancy dress costumes), fairy lights in glass vases are a great alternative.
  5. Treat Each Guest to a Halloween Gift
    Making guests feel welcome is a key part of Scandinavian culture, so it’s worth taking the time to ensure that your Scandinavian-style Halloween table setting shows real attention to detail. You might like to tie each guest’s cutlery in ribbon matching the colour of your table runner, display handwritten place cards in ghost-shaped holders, or design an ornate menu.

    Another idea is inspired by the Halloween custom of trick-or-treating: leave a sweet treat, such as a handmade pumpkin cake topper or bag of liquorice, on every place setting.
    And there you have it – a table setting for a truly distinctive Halloween dinner party!

 

 

 


Step by Step

 

  1. Choose a Chic Colour Scheme
    Designing your Halloween table setting with a particular colour scheme in mind is a fantastic way to create a chic, coherent look. Black and white feature prominently in Scandinavian interiors and work wonderfully well at Halloween. For a modern, monochrome Halloween table setting, try pairing stylish black cutlery with brilliant white plates, a black tablecloth with white napkins, and dramatic black candelabra with tall white candles. Black bats cut from felt and white ceramic pumpkins provide the perfect finishing touches.

    Another eye-catching option is to combine black and white with a bold accent colour (orange is often linked to Halloween). A traditional look can be achieved with an autumnal colour scheme, such as russet, deep orange and golden yellow. Alternatively, bring gothic enchantment to the table with black and burgundy items.
  2. Think Seasonal, Not Just Scary!
    Don’t limit yourself to conventional, ‘scary’ Halloween decorations. The natural world is a rich source of ideas, especially in autumn. Seasonal flowers and plants form an important part of Scandinavian décor. For your Halloween table centrepiece, why not ask a florist to create an autumnal arrangement featuring orange roses, oak leaves and berries? Alternatively, fill a wicker basket with speckled pumpkins, pine cones and foliage. For a magical, luxurious look, sprinkle glitter over the centrepiece – you’ll feel as if a witch has cast a spell on it!

    Embracing autumn doesn’t mean you can’t include spooky decorations in your table setting. Why not give a dozen plastic spiders a style upgrade by spray-painting them gold and displaying them around the centrepiece? You could incorporate Scandinavian folklore into your table setting by decorating it with troll ornaments. Add a touch of mystery by placing masquerade masks around the table for your guests to wear.
  3. Look for Simple, Subtly Spooky Tableware
    Scandinavian design encourages us to appreciate the beauty of simplicity. There’s no need for your crockery, cutlery and related items to compete for attention with the spectacle of your Halloween table decorations. Look for plates and other pieces that benefit from clean lines, high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship – they’re a joy to use. Add visual interest with a range of textures and finishes (for example, woven placemats, smooth porcelain bowls and shiny double-walled glasses), as well as subtle Halloween motifs (side plates featuring black cats, perhaps).

    The realisation that the items they’re using have all been chosen with great care can’t fail to increase your guests’ enjoyment of the Halloween dinner.
  4. Enhance the Halloween Mood with Candlelight 
    Candles are widely used in Scandinavian table settings, especially on special occasions. They’re ideal when you want to enhance the Halloween atmosphere with some elegant mood lighting. Imagine dining by candlelight on the spookiest night of the year and watching shadows flicker on the walls!

    Your Halloween table setting could include taper candles in gothic holders, pillar candles of various heights or spiced pumpkin-scented container candles. Display the candles symmetrically (for example, place one holder on each end of the table) to help achieve the pleasing sense of balance that’s often apparent in Scandinavian interiors. If you don’t wish to use candles (perhaps children or pets will be present or your guests will wear elaborate fancy dress costumes), fairy lights in glass vases are a great alternative.
  5. Treat Each Guest to a Halloween Gift
    Making guests feel welcome is a key part of Scandinavian culture, so it’s worth taking the time to ensure that your Scandinavian-style Halloween table setting shows real attention to detail. You might like to tie each guest’s cutlery in ribbon matching the colour of your table runner, display handwritten place cards in ghost-shaped holders, or design an ornate menu.

    Another idea is inspired by the Halloween custom of trick-or-treating: leave a sweet treat, such as a handmade pumpkin cake topper or bag of liquorice, on every place setting.
    And there you have it – a table setting for a truly distinctive Halloween dinner party!

 

 

 


Subscribe our Newsletter

Subscribe our Newsletter
© 2019 bodum®. all rights reserved.
©bodum®. all rights reserved.