SETTING YOUR CHANUKA TABLE

TUTORIAL Setting Your Chanukah Table

ByShariBlack

Have you heard of tablescaping? It’s the art of setting a beautiful table. Until recently, I myself hadn’t heard of this term, until I took over Danke, the Judaica design business, from my mum. Suddenly, I found myself on Instagram, connecting with lots of Judaica and gift shops here and in the US, and following Jewish influencers. It was obvious to me that my products – fun, modern Judaica – would look perfect on a scaped table. And so I tried my best to learn that magical art of tablescaping.

It’s pretty fun, I admit – styling pretty dishes and vases, playing around with various themes, and picking the perfect accessories. I won’t lie and say that my Shabbat table looks picture perfect every week, but I do enjoy setting my table a little bit more these days, and my children get excited to help pick out what to use.

With Chanukah approaching, I can see the trends on social media as people start to think about their Chanukah décor for Chanukah parties and tables. Obviously, you can go all out and buy Magen-David shaped ornaments, blue crystal vases, Chanukahthemed placemats and silver decorative dreidels, and your table will simply scream “Chanukah!” However, for those of you who want to set a pretty table, but don’t want to empty the Chanukah section of your local shop, I’ve put together some tips for creating a beautiful table using just items that you have at home.

My Chanukah table-scape is simple and clean. I went for matching marble-effect trays and boards from Danke Judaica, and added a few little bursts of blue from around my house. As a final touch, I added tealights and fairy lights for a soft, magical look. Find your starting point

This could be a colour scheme or a specific item. Do you have a favourite dish or vase? Have you received the most beautiful flowers ever this week? Or do you want to finally use your new purple tablecloth? Find your focal point and create around it. When I think up tablescapes for my Danke product photoshoots, I use the product as the focus and build the tablescape around it For my Chanukah tablescape, my starting point was a simple, elegant, marble-effect board. I knew that I was going to include some beautifully decorated Doctor Sourdough doughnuts on my Chanukah table, which would add plenty of colour, so I wanted to keep the rest of the table simple. Once you have chosen your starting point, think about what sort of mood you want your table to create: chic and elegant? Fun and bold? Pretty and whimsical? Once you’ve decided, go through your cupboards to see what you can find that will complement your table. Be adventurous!

Definitely look through your serving dishes and glassware, but what else can you find that will add that little something extra to your table? Think candlesticks, ornaments, candy dishes, flowers, and leaves. Depending on the theme or occasion,

you could add more quirky items such as masks, fabrics, statues or even vegetables! One Purim, I used peacock feathers and sequins that I found in my kids’ arts and crafts box. Don’t be intimidated. Have fun with it.

This board was my starting point for the Chanukah tablescape. When styling a table to feature my Beads challah cover, I decided to pull out the pink colours and went round my house looking for anything in those tones.

Include something natural

Include flowers or plants if you can. A little greenery adds so much to a table. It’s something you don’t really notice is missing until you add it. Add a pop of colour

If you’re setting a monochrome or neutral table, consider including a pop of colour somewhere, just to add interest. This pop can come from vibrant flowers, brightly-coloured napkins, or a bold piece of Judaica. On my Chanukah tablescape, which is blue and white, my pop of colour comes from the beautiful doughnut decoration – little pops of pink and green against the neutral backdrop. The little details

Finally, add some little details that will truly elevate your table. Something small or cute that will make your guests say, “Wow!” This can be something personalised – for example, place cards that match your tablescape – or something cute and funny, like masks on Purim. It can even be a treat for your guests, like a small party favour at each place setting. On Pesach, I like to leave little packs of toys in each child’s seat. On my Chanukah tablescape, I dotted the table with little dishes containing tiny blue sweets. These will be a big hit with the children, and they also add a pretty little burst of blue in an unconventional way Now that you’ve read about my process for creating a tablescape, I hope you’ll be inspired to try your own. You don’t need extravagant accessories or fancy centrepieces – just a bit of Napkin rings are a great way to add detail to the table. Here, I threaded a couple of lavender stems through the napkin rings to make it extra special. The pink tulips on this tablescape add so much, and not just colour. They add another level of beauty.

Often, I use my Flowers challah cover and tray, which are more than enough to add a pop of colour to my Shabbat table. forethought, a little time spent rummaging through your cupboards, and lots of imagination! I’d love to see your Chanukah tablescapes. Be in touch via my website www.dankejudaica.com, or tag me on Instagram @ dankejudaica so that I can share them with my community.