Simple gold-trimmed plates would suit formal occasions all year round, but when paired with mercury glass votives and aged golden flatware the setting is extra special.

When it gets cold and icy outside, turn up the warmth inside with amber accents and radiant candles in a range of shapes and sizes. Layer ceramic stoneware plates with an organic, textured feel over woven placemats and finish with slub-weave linen napkins in an intense shade of burnt orange.

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Long fringe detailing on the edges of this tablecloth create wow-factor, while a magnolia leaf wreath brings whimsy to the window.

Pears are the perfect addition to your holiday place settings — they’re inexpensive, easy to find and offer big impact. Small arrangements of cedar clippings and winter berries look nice sprinkled throughout the table.

A cozy sheepskin is the perfect cool weather accompaniment in this glassed-in dining space.

Fresh moss (available at most garden stores) and a scattering of McIntosh apples makes for an earthy centerpiece in place of a runner. Coupled with a harvest table, red and white napkins and green dishes, this is a subtle take on traditional reds and greens.

Fresh green, white, and the warmth of natural wood is a classic combination made modern by the addition of polished copper flatware and willow green glass tumblers.

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For evening dinner parties, black dishes look especially dramatic. To keep the look from going too gothic, mix in a few sprigs of delicate greenery and a light linen runner.

Tall matte black candlesticks give tabletop arrangements nice height.

A tufted bench makes an elegant perch in this transitional dining room.

Using a few different chairs works even in an ultra-mod, minimalist dining space.

For the traditionalists at heart, a long tablecloth that kisses the floor creates drama in the dining room.

Nature-loving decorators will appreciate the rustic simplicity of a pine cone and evergreen clipping atop their place setting. This look works especially well for daytime hosting, like breakfast on Christmas morning or a holiday brunch.

Pale blue is a nice match for dark black in this formal space.

The perfect balance of rustic and regal is achieved by pairing real pinecones with luxe gold flatware and a glittery golden charger.

Meals at the cottage can be just as elegant as city meals. Here, a pair of wing chairs command attention at the end of this long walnut table, while tall gold candlesticks achieve height.

Dark and dramatic, this dining room is fit for a royal feast. Deep red wine glasses and bountiful greenery feel rich.

Unique antler-inspired candleholders and a vibrant throw blanket draped over each chair give this dining room personality.

Touches of pink sprinkled throughout this space and the warm glow of mercury glass candles create an enchanting atmosphere.

Hosting an informal holiday gathering can mean no sit down meal. If that’s the case, adorn your coffee table with a selection of pomegranates, persimmons, kumquats, and a few bowls of nibbles like olives.

A selection of tall candlesticks is just what this traditional dining room, complete with a chandelier and fine china, needed.

Designer and TV personality Jillian Harris hung two identical wreaths on the windows in her dining room, and mirrors the look with greenery on her dining table.

This cozy lodge looks like an ideal spot to share a holiday meal. Dramatic black windsor-style chairs pop against the mostly wood space.

A high-gloss emerald table and spikey chandelier set the stage for memorable meals in this space.

Eucalyptus fills out the center of this dining table, located in a white-washed farmhouse.

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Bowls of clementines (a holiday staple) act as centerpieces in this funky dining room.

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Play up copper, one of the year’s hottest metals, on your dining table with a selection of side plates. A few copper accents can go along way, so keep your regular dishes in the mix.

Combine the laid-back, rustic ease of country with a cool, modern edge. Mix and match black spindle-backed chairs that have been updated with contemporary style with a dining room table that has a unique cross-legged base and brass hammered top.

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Design blogger Orlando Soria decked out his dining room with a series of bottlebrush trees and pops of lime green.

Orlando went for a tone-on-tone look with his napkins, dishware and placemats. A large evergreen branch punches up the look.

In the dining area of this Ontario farmhouse, vintage chairs in varying shades of green and white bring eclectic charm. “I paid $10 or $15 for each one. I think there’s enough new stuff in the world,” says homeowner Pheona Wright. 

Sugarplum purple and crisp white plates with a traditional border are offset with a relaxed linen runner.

Fresh in the summer and cool in the winter, mint works year-round on the tabletop.

Gather around this laid-back, high style table from Shop H&H for winter feasts and holiday meals. The palette is plum, silver, rust and darker shades of purple. We’ve used a pale woven charger, then a rimmed dinner plate in pewter, and a raspberry pink salad plate.

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Greenery is a fresh, long-lasting alternative to flowers in this timeless dining room.

A delicate gold dot pattern is a subtle and special holiday touch on these white plates. Traditional potted ivy is a long-lasting centerpiece.

Painting nearly everything in a custom teal was a gutsy move that paid off in this dining room.

Bring a French bistro feel to your next dinner party with authentic “reserved” signs.

Vessels with handfuls of fragrant evergreen and eucalyptus branches and sprigs of pepperberries infuse this dining room with a fresh, wintry smell.

A magnolia garland decorates the 19th century Dominican sideboard in this dining room.

A plum and light blue plaid tablecloth is sure to make a lasting impression on your holiday guests.

A mid-century modern Saarinen table is paired with Art Deco-style upholstered chairs and a traditional banquette in this dining room.

A pair of angular stools are a mod counterpoint to the rustic reclaimed-wood harvest table in this dining room.

Stemmed clementines are only slightly pricier than non-stemmed ones at most grocery stores this time of year, and we think the extra stem really ups the presentation.

20th-century touches, like playful pink glasses, bring this dining room’s formality down a touch.