How to dress a dining table for a non-fussy holiday celebration that’s true to your style

Forget the matching china. Meghann Landry doesn’t think your holiday plates need visions of Christmas trees on them.

Instead, the Baton Rouge-based interior designer and founder of the vintage-minded Lola Jay Collection might reach for green cabbageware or vintage Fostoria glasses.

“It doesn’t have to be so holiday specific,” Landry says. “You don’t have to have a turkey plate for Thanksgiving.”

Landry makes the case for layering old and new, playing with color and setting a holiday table that’s entirely your own.

She approaches tablescapes with the same processes she uses to design a room. A rug might inspire an entire living room. At the table, the jumping-off point could be a floral arrangement, a patterned plate or a favorite tablecloth. Then, she starts layering.

On a recent fall table, Landry paired linen placemats edged in embroidered scallops with honeycomb chargers, vintage green cabbageware and butterfly plates from Williams Sonoma. An antique bok choy vase held tulips, roses and magnolia leaves. Tulips for fall? Go for it.

Rather than following seasonal rules, Landry looks at color, shape and texture. Green is practically a neutral in her book. Gold and orangey-red tones warm things up for more of a subtle autumnal touch.

Repetition helps otherwise disparate pieces feel cohesive. Colors on a plate can reappear in the floral arrangements.

But not every inch needs decorating. “There’s beauty sometimes in relief from the design,” Landry says.

Simple white dinner plates can quiet more decorative pieces layered on top. If you don’t have a full matching set of plates, alternate dishware instead. It brings charm and personality to the table.

Many of Landry’s finds come from estate sales, where she tracks down china, glassware and candlesticks with plenty of life left in them.

After all, the good china doesn’t need to wait for Thanksgiving—or even for company. Pull it out for dinner with your family on a Tuesday.

“Enjoy it,” Landry says. “That’s what it’s meant for.”

A moveable feast—Tips for dressing a table layer by layer:

Dinnerware: Skip the complete set. Mix vintage finds with newer pieces. Use everyday white plates as a quiet backdrop for a showier accent plate.

Linens: Add color or texture with a tablecloth, placemat or napkin. Pulling a shade from the dishes or centerpiece helps everything relate.

Glassware: Vintage colored glasses add personality without requiring a major collection. Estate sales are prime places to hunt.

Flatware: Don’t fret about a perfect match. A repeated finish, like gold, can connect it to other details on the table.

Centerpiece: Think beyond flowers. Fill a large bowl with pumpkins in fall or vintage ornaments at Christmas. Keep sightlines in mind for easy conversation.

Candlelight: Vintage candlesticks and petite rechargeable lamps add warmth. “I love light on the table,” Landry says.

Color: Look at what you already love. The shades in your closet and home are clues to combinations that will feel naturally like your style.

This article was originally published in the November 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.