We tapped Vancouver interior designer Megan Baker to create a refined and modern tablescape to last you from Christmas to New Year's€”and she's sharing some of her top style and entertaining tips, too.

   

Zhuzh Up NeutralsMix textures as much as possible: a shiny glazed dinner plate with an irregularly shaped handmade bread plate and a matte black appetizer plate are each going to bring a lot of interest to a limited colour palette.

Backup BarCreate a tableside bar on a sideboard with just the essentials (water, chilled wine, your chosen spirit) so that you don’t have to leave the dinner table while hosting.

That X Factor Using glass and metal to add shine is key—the reflection adds another level of dimension to the lighting, creating that sparkle we want for holiday dining.

Skip the ChargerA charger can be one piece too many for a modern dinner party, so instead try folding a napkin into thirds lengthwise and then placing it under the plate at each setting. It’s a hybrid of a placement and a charger that reads fresh, and you can easily use pattern here to inject some personality.

Create DramaWith fewer flowers and wild, gestural branches, this dramatic centrepiece is a fresh alternative to big florals and adds interest without creating a blockade guests can’t talk over.

Height FactorOpting for three different arrangements at varying heights creates an elegant grouping at one end of the table so you can leave room for food at the other.

Tableware and accessories provided by CB2, Crate and Barrel, Provide, the Bay, the Cross Decor and Design, and West Elm. Flower arrangements by Hana florals.

Western Living

Western Living

The editorial team at Western Living loves nothing more than a perfectly designed space, place or thing: and we’re here to tell you about it. Email us your pitches at [email protected].