A Winning, Festive Tablescape

After an open call and voting by our farmhouse community, see how this creative stylist won your hearts and the Tablescape Contest title!

Jennifer Svendsen is a former event planner turned blogger who shares all her best tips and tricks for easy entertaining at home. From seasonal décor to party crafts, free printables, stunning tablescapes, simple recipes and curated menus for any occasion, Jen shares it all on her blog Midwest Life and Style (midwestlifeandstyle.com). Wife and mom of two girls, Jen is a lifelong Nebraskan.

We are delighted to pass along these tips from Jennifer about her whimsical gingerbread themed tablescape:

• When styling my tables, I always start with an inspiration piece. I love a classic red and white Christmas color scheme, so for this table, I was inspired by red and white ticking stripe ribbon. It reminds me of the tiny peppermint candies you see decorated on gingerbread houses during the holidays.
• The DIY Gingerbread snow globe centerpiece was inspired by an image on Pinterest. Their “snow globe” used a real gingerbread house, but I made the project my own by upcycling a thrifted Christmas village and painting it to look like gingerbread. (Note: Follow the QR code on the lefthand page for instructions on how to make one yourself).
• Greenery or flowers (either real, faux or sometimes a mix of both) are usually a staple of my tablescapes. For this table setting, I draped a Christmas garland down the center of my dining room table. To add depth, I mixed in other holiday stems including frosted branches and red berries. I also included battery operated twinkling lights for some extra holiday sparkle.
• I love creating layered place settings for all of my tables. The napkins were made from fabric I found in the craft store. The “napkin ring” holder is just some twine with a gold bell tied around it. The woven twig chargers add a bit of a rustic touch. Classic white plates work great so I can add color for the season or holiday and not spend a lot of money on seasonal-specific dishes.

To see more of Jennifer’s creativity, follow @midwestlifeandstyle on Instagram.