Amid the swirl of parties, travel, and deadlines that define the holiday season, it’s easy to forget that taking time to gather with your friends and family is what makes this time of year truly special. Even better? Doing that around a thoughtfully dressed table.
So, in the spirit of the season, we rang up three tastemakers across a range of industries—from an acclaimed garden designer to a culinary collective to a celebrated textile artist—to offer their interpretations of a holiday tablescape, and photographed them for Vogue. For some, the task was an opportunity to pile on celebratory colors and prints, while others pivoted toward natural textures and subdued palettes to bring their narrative to life. But whether it involves an heirloom candlestick, sculptural glassware, or a fragrant sprig of pine, the standout element of every holiday tablescape here is the personal touch—a sense of personality was the centerpiece for all.
Ahead, dive into three holiday tablescapes to inspire your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Hanukkah decor over the months ahead.
Sean A. Pritchard
As an award-winning garden designer, Sean A. Pritchard’s rule of thumb when decorating to entertain is to always start with bringing the outside in—even, he notes, during the less abundant months of the holidays. “At first it can seem that at this time of year there is little of interest in the garden or the landscape that can be brought indoors, but I suppose it is about shifting expectations away from the bountiful and colorful chaos of the summer to the decorative potential of bare branches, dried flowers, and seasonal salad crops in winter,” he explains. “I start from there, bringing these interesting and ornamental curiosities in from the cold and allowing everything else on the table to follow their lead.”
Fans of Pritchard’s will know his description of “bountiful and colorful chaos” well: the kaleidoscopic interiors of his picture-postcard 17th-century Somerset cottage, where paintings and posters hang askew on every inch of wall and bookcase, and overflowing vases of freshly cut flowers jostle for space against joyous clashes of color and print. What helps bring it all together, Pritchard explains, is an anchor—and in the case of his tablescape for Vogue, that happens to be the Emma Grant for ODD tablecloth in an indigo Baracca pattern, atop which sit arrangements of chard leaves and a large jug of dried honesty, poppies, teasels, and branches of crab apples. Further whimsical touches can be found in the handmade crackers created using decorative papers from Choosing Keeping and Tinsmiths, as well as glass baubles displayed in bowls and paper chains dancing across the walls. (We really are overdue a paper chain revival, come to think of it.)
It all ties into Pritchard’s main advice when gearing up to host or entertain this holiday season: not to take things too seriously. “I would encourage anyone to let go of any sense of good taste,” he says. “If ever there was a time of year to listen to the most extravagant and eccentric voices of the imagination, it is surely the holidays. Add that extra bit of tinsel, put up that box of forgotten tree decorations, make an extra tier for the cake. We spend all year at the behest of deadlines, appointments, and late-running trains—this time is ours to enjoy in the ways that bring the most heart-warming and life-affirming personal joy.” We couldn’t agree more. —Liam Hess
Sarah Nsikak
For artist and creative director Sarah Nsikak, a tablescape is like a map of the host’s travel and life experiences. “Mine is a reflection of the artists in my life, the places I’ve been, and antiques collected over the years,” she says. A long, low-to-the-ground Drew of Saw Earth table set the scene for Nsikak’s holiday tablescape, with her custom floor cushions lining the edges. “I didn’t want to cover the table, so I used a runner I made out of antiques collected from Paula Rubenstein’s beautiful shop on Chrystie,” she shares.
When Nsikak first moved to New York City, Williamsburg-based shop Nomia was among her first discoveries (and eventually the first outlet to carry Nsikak’s home goods). “I’m lucky to know the owner, Yara Flinn,” she says. Some of the accoutrements on Nsikak’s tablescape are part of Flinn’s curation at Nomia. “We share sensibilities and are inspired by the same eras in antique home goods, so her world and mine feel harmonious.”
Among her top tips for hosting is simple enough: don’t be overly precious. “I’ve learned to embrace the wine stains and candle wax—it adds to the story of the pieces I live with and get to share with loved ones.” And whatever you do, don’t neglect the final course of the meal. “I don’t think it’s ever right to skip dessert!”
We Are Ona
“We treat each experience as a micro-universe,” We Are Ona founder Luca Pronzato says of his culinary studio’s creative regimen. The sommelier, restaurateur, and Noma alum struck a balance between sophistication and spontaneity with his holiday tablescape for Vogue, employing sculptural objects and organic textures to set the tone. “It’s the same tension we play with in our pop-ups: nothing too perfect, everything thoughtful, and very reflective of this time of year.”
While every one of Pronzato’s tables is crafted to match the individual moment, artisanal pieces with personality are always present. Just look to those Sophie Lou Jacobsen coupes—with brims fanning out like delicate flower heads—as an example. Or the modern seasonal florals by Marcotte that meander down the table, curling around flickering taper candles in palette-cleansing cream.
As for the menu, Pronzato recommends centering it around comfort. “Holiday food should be generous and warm, dishes that encourage sharing.” The most important ingredient, however? The host’s presence. “Prepare as much as you can in advance.”
“Ultimately, the tablescape must support the food and the conversation,” Pronzato explains. In practice, this means avoiding anything that might feel overly staged—and instead, embracing a lived-in atmosphere. “Hosting is about hospitality, not perfection. People remember how a night made them feel, not whether the napkins matched.” —N.K.
