My Christmas decorations are still decking the hall, with all but the live tree in place through Epiphany Sunday. But, I’m busy restyling the kitchen and dining room for New Years Eve tablesetting and entertaining.
With a gold, silver, black and white color palate, it’s not too difficult to make the change from Christmas to New Years.
Sparkling decorations are always festive.
Post-holiday clearance sales of metallic and crystal ornaments, beads, garlands, paper products, and candles make for decor that easily transition from one occasion to the next.
Do you set a special table to celebrate New Years?
Today, I’m revisiting two New Years Eve tablescapes, while sharing favorite entertaining and decorating ideas. Whether it’s an intimate setting for two to four, or a buffet table to serve a large party crowd, these are sure-fire to rock around the clock.
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New Years Table Styling Ideas
- Metallic tulle length of fabric layered over tablecloth, or as tablerunner
- Print clock faces on cardstock paper as placemats, or to anchor centerpiece elements
- Stack festive plates — embrace paper & plastic
- Use labels on gift bags or favors to double-duty as name place cards
- Create gift bag filler by shredding scrapbook paper made of festive print
- Individual-size champagne bottles make great party favors
- Purchase cookies decorated like watches & clocks to embellish cupcakes; give as favors
- Gather together noise makers, hats, ribbons, beads, clocks & candles to create festive centerpiece
- Create party hats & decorations from scrapbook cardstock paper & embellishments
- Purchase post-Christmas decorations and ornaments in silver & gold to decorate bar, table & chandelier
- Repurpose Christmas wreath and tree decorations with clock and timepiece elements
- Use masks in place of party hats & tiaras for a different look
Set the New Years Eve Table & Buffet
Styling a tablescape usually begins with a great tablecloth, runner and/or placemats as the underlying layer and foundation.
Metallic Tulle
Rather than covering up the mahogany surface completely, I used a length of inexpensive metallic gold tulle as a table runner. No sewing required — just tuck, poof and shape into place. And, it’s reusable for other occasions and applications.
See the tulle runner in New Years Eve Tablescape: Diamonds & Top Hat.
Clock Face Placemats
Make your own placemats from these Victorian-inspired clock faces by VectoriaDesigns. The instant download provides eight different images for about $5.
An online or Pinterest search will also bring up free download options. Or, you might find ready-made clock paper and embellishments at a craft store.
Premade sheets (Pat Catans) were used under the character dolls I created for the Alice in Wonderland Table and Party Favors. They were also large enough to use as placemats in a New Years Eve tablesetting.
Pretty Plates
You don’t need a complete set of special dishes to style a great New Years table. Just one or two special styles of dessert or luncheon-size plates will do. Mix and match styles for dramatic effect. And, layer dishes with black, white or metallic chargers.
In the picture above, I’ve layered metallic gold chargers under Lenox Eclipse china. The black and gold decorated plate rim complements both the owl’s top hat and penguin’s diamond necklace. To the upper left is a clock face salad plate. In all, I mixed and matched four different plate styles and patterns with the chargers.
But, you don’t have to use china and crystal for a festive, fun New Years Eve tablesetting. Paper and plastic can be perfect for the occasion! Especially appropriate, if you are setting up a buffet to serve a large group. Or, maybe you are just starting out and don’t want to invest in or store a lot of tableware?
You can even find little appetizer-sized silver forks and spoons, and other dinnerware at Dollar Tree to dress up your New Years Eve tablesetting.
With paper plates, napkins and plastic flutes, cleanup is a snap!
Festive Favors
Everyone loves to find a small gift or favor at their place setting.
Double-Duty Gift Tags as Place Cards
Plus, gift bags and favors can not only do double-duty as table decorations, but also as place cards. Simply add a name tag to personalize each favor.
Use Scrapbook Paper & Embellishments
Traci of Whimsy, Fancy Goods & Fine Events created these festive gift sacks using plain brown paper bags, but with lots of silver and gold embellishments. She also appears to have taken music sheet scrapbook paper sheets and run them through a shredder for stuffing the bags.
Craft your own party hats from scrapbook paper and embellishments. This can also be a fun do-head project for the kids and visiting grandchildren. Or, make something a little more sophisticated for your adult guests in advance of the party.
This year, I’m thinking of wearing the Queen of Heart fascinator I made for my Alice in Wonderland, Unbirthday Party. It has lots of glittery embellishments to compliment a gold pantsuit.
Learn How to Make a Mad Hatter Fascinator, or several, as party favors for the ladies.
Simply change the fabrics and embellishments to reflect a New Years theme.
Perfect Favor for the Occasion
Along with a noise maker and chocolates, you might want to tuck an individual-size champagne bottle inside the bag.
Or, place one in each guest’s glass as I did for Celestial Tablescape Rings in New Year.
Decorate Cupcakes with Cookies
Another festive favor is a decorated, cutout cookie in the shape of a timepiece or champagne bottle. Just place it in a clear cellophane bag and tie with metallic ribbon.
Or, take a simple cupcake and turn it into a wow dessert, by placing a cookie into the icing on top.
I only needed four cupcakes for this intimate New Years Eve gathering. It would have taken too much time and effort to create four clock face cookies — so I purchased them instead. Then, I placed each cupcake in a lidded stand. Voila, dessert, favor and table decoration!
Create a Centerpiece
For each of my New Years Eve tablescapes, the centerpieces were assembled by gathering together items I already had.
It’s all about layering elements to create a New Years centerpiece. Begin by going vertical; decorating the chandelier or light fixture overhead. Drape it with beaded and crystal garland, and hang metallic balls — borrowing from the Christmas tree! Or, pick up some inexpensive shatterproof, plastic ornaments for the occasion.
And remember those paper clocks printed on cardstock? Cut those out and hang on the chandelier using strands of curly, metallic ribbon.
Next, gather together mirrors, timepieces, candles, and crystal and silver tableware. Mix those with noise makers, metallic ribbons, and party hats.
For a central “vase,” consider using an upside down top hat or silver champagne bucket. For the Celestial Tablescape Rings in New Year, I used a clear trifle dish.
The New Years Eve Tablescape: Diamonds & Top Hat centerpiece began with an ornate silver tray. Layered on top was a crystal cake stand that later held a grand gold luster dessert.
Festive Happenings
Yesterday, we attended a beautiful family wedding in the charming, historical town of Beaver, PA. It was so wonderful seeing my aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mom will be here to ring in the New Year with us. But first, we’ll make an evening visit to the Magical Phipps Winter Flower & Light Show.
One of my favorite things, is watching the Rose Bowl Parade on New Years Day. How about you? Afterwards, I’ll be glued to the TV to watch my alma mater in a bowl game. At the same time, I’ll be texting and talking with family and friends. Crossing fingers and toes for a victory!
Thank you for following along this year! What blog post or Pinterest pin brought you to Debbee’s Buzz? Have a favorite or two? What would you like to see in the coming year?
Wishing you a happy and healthy year ahead.
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How pretty your past New Year’s Eve decor has been! This year’s rollout is equally up to the challenge! Very nice that your Mom will be there to ring in 2019 with you. She’ll no doubt be in awe of the decor you set out. We will be home. I’ve contracted a VERY nasty virus and don’t want to spread it around. (Unlike the thoughtless young woman who brought her sick baby to our home on Christmas, thus rendering me useless ever since!)
Happy New Year! Enjoy!!!
Thanks Alycia. Other bloggers seem to always be one holiday ahead of me. Like now, I’m enjoying Christmas decorations too much to take them down early and put up NYE just to blog about it. It is nice having mom with us. Right now we are watching a Steeler game while working on a puzzle. Relaxing! Can’t believe your unluck — so sorry you are sick! Hope you recover quickly. Looking forward to our friendship continuing to grow in 2019.
Only you Debs. As I read in a book somewhere, beyond compare. Haven’t read your musings, only looked at the pictures. Tomorrow. Happy New Year!
Kem, you are always so generous with your compliments — thank you. Hope 2019 is a great year for you!
Love the table setting with the gold tulle added and all the great ideas. It will just be Michael and me this year. I won’t be decorating the table as we’ll be going out to dinner and then off to Longwood Gardens for the festivities, but I’m pinning for the years ahead. Know you’ll have a wonderful time getting together with your mom. I’ve been through Beaver several times–brought back some nice memories of our time living out your way. Big hugs and all my best for a fantastic New Year!
Aww Bobbi, I’m envious of your trip to Longwood! Hope you have great weather too. Really, you’ve been to Beaver? The wedding was at the Wooden Angel and I’ll be you know the place? My aunt and uncle have a fabulous, wonderful home in Beaver for post wedding festivities. Sent my youngest back home your way several days ago, with a 8 by 12 foot rug in tow for his Fairmont condo. Hugs to you too. Hope you and Michael have a lovely NYE.
Such a lovely New year’s table Debbee. Everything looks so festive and beautiful. how I would love to be a guest at your table. I found at the zebra napkins at http://www.tablelinendirect.com/20saanprsana.html
Happy New year!
And, I at your table(s) Linda! Thanks for the zebra link.
Hello what a festive table. Where can I find the animal plates?
Thank you Cecilia. The Dapper Animal Plates collection are still available from West Elm, but unfortunately not the penguins or owls.
What a fun idea! I love the clock cupcakes, the individual champagne bottles and the clock plates. How creative! I just came up with a New Year’s Eve itinerary these would go great with. Great post. https://amysenter.com/countdown-the-new-year/
Thanks Amy! Checked out your family friendly itinerary — looks like you have a wonderful evening planned. We are heading out of town this year to celebrate with my husband’s brothers and wives. I love your trivia idea and am going to put something together for our celebration.
Awesome as usual. Love the plates.
Wishing you a Happy New Year.
A most awesome year ahead to you, Myrna! We are celebrating with my husband’s brothers and wives out-of-town this year. It’s a nice change of pace and fun to be a guest.
Debee, your have inspired me to get busy tomorrow to change out our holiday table. You’ve also reminded me that I have a set of those fun animal plates as well as small clock plates.
This is a great post full of information and inspiration. Happy New Year!
Happy holidays Sarah — thanks for stopping by! We share many of the same tableware interests and things; can’t believe you have both kinds of plates! Do you have all four animals in the set? I only went for the penguins and owls. Hope you’ll share your table setting in an upcoming post, would love to see.
Debbee, I immediately regretted not adding all four of the animals that year. They sold out quickly! I have sets of 4 of the owl and the ram. Wish I had bought the ladies. Not sure why I didn’t. Mystery! I’ve used the owls and rams many a time. They are perfect for a celebration! I also bought the different Rachel Kozlowski plates with the dressed woodland animals. Haven’t used them as often, except for the owl. Fun, whimsical plates.
Maybe you just nabbed what was available Sarah? Mine came from calling individual stores out of state (we didn’t have one in Pittsburgh yet) and having them mailed. My son’s girlfriend has the Rachel K plates and flipped over the owl and penguin plates on my New Years table. I’m thinking of using them in a Valentines Day setting this February.
I simply love all of your tablescapes. Happy New Year!
Delighted you like ’em Rebecca! I’ll be setting a intimate table for just two this year in front of the fire for Mr. Buzz and I.
Debbee,
This is so fun and creative! Look for your feature on Wednesday’s Charming Homes & gardens Link Party.
Thanks Rachel! Most times, our New Years Eve gatherings tend to only include another couple or two. Of course, this year it will just be Mr. Buzz and I. But, I think most of the ideas can be scaled up for larger parties. Next year, we hope to host a large celebration and pull out all the stops!
Debbee, what a wow table full of beautiful decor. Thanks for the link to those awesome clocks. We are also celebrating alone. Happy New Year. Wishing you the very best for the new year.
Hope you guys had a lovely evening at your beautiful table. Our eldest son gave us a pasta maker for Christmas and hubby’s first batch of fettucine was part of a delicious meal.
So fun and festive! Happy New Year!
Thank you Amber, wishing you all the best in 2021.
Thank you so much for linking up Debbee to https://www.vintagestylegal.com/2022/12/whimsy-home-wednesday-no-10.html! I have chosen your post as a feature for next week. Your New Year’s table settings are stunning, I love all of the metallics with black and white, so classic and timeless! Thank you for your inspiration!
Wow Cara, what a great way to start the New Year! Thanks so much for hosting this fun new party and the feature!
Debbee, I know you already are aware that I featured your post, but I am just getting back by to say hello and how much I really loved this post! You come up with THE BEST TABLE IDEAS for New Year’s and so many other parties!!! You should write a book. 🙂
Anyway, your tablescapes were perfect for featuring for New Year’s. Sorry I just wasn’t well enough to run this week’s. I went to bed before 7pm and slept ’til 5am. I have Covid again (at least 3rd time) but my body isn’t having the massive reactions to it like the previous two times. The vaccines are doing their job and helping keep the lungs mostly open and clear. My head is clear, too, which makes it really nice to concentrate on things. Feeling really creative; a bizarre side effect. 🙂 Have a great weekend and keep warm!
Oh Barb, I can’t believe you have Covid for the third time! So sorry you are ill, but relieved to hear this time with less serious symptoms. Do take the time to heal and recover. Take care!