Ideas for the table: Build, gild, group

Some suggestions from Dan Zelen on setting an interesting holiday table:Mix: Old and new, shiny objects and matte surfaces, vintage antlers and contemporary ceramic partridges all complement one another, Zelen says. “I love the play of texture, the gleam of ceramic or polished stone bowls against wood, the rustic roughness of tree branch or carved against the smooth shiny surface of polished metals.”

Match: Display items based on shape, material or color. “Put white objects, glass pieces or floral-patterned things together,” he says. “A group of Danish teak objects works well with pottery by Jonathan Adler, which has a Scandinavian feel.” In his design for a coffee and dessert table, Zelen achieved harmony among Nordic dishes, French floral linens and an Egyptian revival candlestick.

Group: “I don’t believe in spreading things out evenly across a surface,” he says. “Clusters of three or four things together are much more interesting to the eye.”

Gild: “Gold denotes luxury and really warms up a room,” Zelen says. Brass and bronze? Bring them on. “Never be afraid to mix metals.”

Build: Mesquite branches can create an architectural backdrop for a bar and give a tabletop “instant structure,” he says. The look can be replicated on a smaller scale with branches from your tree.

Elevate: On a buffet, Zelen uses wooden cutting boards, glass cake stands and antique books to raise items and create a sense of topography. “A stack of leather-bound books gives you old-world opulence without being too fussy,” he says. “It’s a simple way to dress up a table and let people see what you are serving.”

Illuminate: “Red and black candles add more sophistication to the table than holiday white,” Zelen says.

Saturate: If earthy materials prove too beige for your style of celebration, add potent splashes of color. “You can bring those in with napkins and chargers. Or you can get the same effect by filling things up with pomegranates, crab apples and pears.”

— David A. Keeps