A GINGERBREAD HOUSE TABLESCAPE 

A Step-By-Step Guide
by: Penelope
● January 30, 2025

This past holiday season, my best friend and I decided to ditch the traditional and embrace something a bit more whimsical with a gingerbread house-inspired tablescape. She found some adorable gingerbread-themed pieces from Pottery Barn that she loved so much, she asked me to create the entire holiday tablescape around this theme. Of course, I said yes—I’m always up for a challenge, and honestly, I just love doing this!

This guide will walk you through creating a festive, whimsical and enchanting setting that will leave your guests in awe. Not to mention I decided that I would also make a complementary wreath to match this tablescape, because…why not?

STEP 1: GATHER YOUR SUPPLIES

BASE: The table itself is made from custom wood, and my vision was to create the feeling of “snow on the land.” To bring this to life, I used white fleece fabric, tulle with glitter, and fresh pine leaves to set the foundation for the scene.

CENTERPIECE: 

Option 1: A small gingerbread house (store-bought or homemade). 

Option 2: Create a “gingerbread village” with miniature houses, trees, and figurines. OF COURSE, we went for this option—my friend got three houses, a gingerbread tree, and a gingerbread man to boot!

DECORATIONS:

Edible: Gumdrops, candy canes, peppermints, rock candy, and mini marshmallows.

Non-Edible: Cinnamon sticks, pine cones, sprigs of rosemary, small wooden houses, miniature trees, faux snow.

PLATES AND UTENSILS: Choose dishes with a festive flair, like those featuring gingerbread man motifs or classic holiday patterns.

Glasses: Clear glasses with festive touches like gold rims or holiday-themed charms.

Candles: Warm-toned candles in various sizes and heights—think pillar candles or tea lights. For a personal touch, I went with deep red wine-colored tapered candles and added LED-powered candles inside the ceramic gingerbread houses to create the illusion of lights glowing inside. Such a cute touch!

 

STEP 2: CREATE THE BASE

LAY THE TABLECLOTH: Start by laying your chosen tablecloth or runner. In our case, we used two layers of faux snow fabric, arranging them to simulate a winter village scene.

ADD A BASE LAYER: For a rustic touch, scatter cinnamon sticks, pine cones, and a garland with holly or pine leaves along the length of the table.

 

STEP 3: BUILD THE CENTERPIECE

PLACE THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE: If using a single house, position it centrally on the table.

CREATE A VILLAGE: If you’re opting for a village, arrange the miniature houses, trees, and figurines to build a charming scene. I also used different tools to create layers and give the scene depth, rather than keeping it flat. The best part? All we had to do was cover them with fabric, and no one would even notice!

 

 

STEP 4: ADD NON-EDIBLE TOUCHES

INTRODUCE GREENERY: Add sprigs of rosemary or small evergreen branches for a touch of nature.

INCORPORATE FAUX SNOW: Sprinkle a light dusting of faux snow around the base of the centerpiece and along the edges of the table. In our case, we added fairy lights entwined under the tulle and around the houses to give it that perfect “holidaze” look.

 

ADD OTHER ACCENTS: Include small wooden houses, trees, or other festive decorations. I added small ivory balls scattered along the table to further enhance the snowy winter landscape vibe.

 

STEP 6: SET THE TABLE

PLACE PLATES AND UTENSILS: Arrange chargers, plates, and utensils neatly at each place setting.

ADD GLASSES: Place glasses to the right of each plate.

 

 

STEP 7: FINAL TOUCHES

STEP BACK AND ADMIRE: Take a moment to admire your creation. In my case, I took many moments and even enlisted my ever-supportive husband to take videos and photos, too!

ADD PERSONAL TOUCHES: Include small personalized notes or favors at each place setting. Since we have a friend who’s really into the latest craze of Pop Mart Skull Panda figures, we decided to have some fun and incorporate them into the tablescape, especially since they were from a holiday edition series.

TIPS AND VARIATIONS

DIY GINGERBREAD HOUSE: For a truly unique touch, bake and decorate your own gingerbread house. We didn’t do this and instead opted for ceramic ones. Maybe if we have time in the future, we’ll give it a try… but honestly, we chose to spend more time cooking our spread this year! Haha!

THEMED PLACE CARDS: Create place cards shaped like gingerbread men or houses.

HOLIDAY MUSIC: Set the mood with festive holiday music playing softly in the background. This is a MUST!!!!

CREATE A MATCHING WREATH: I bought an empty wreath, ribbons, and some decorative pieces because I wanted it to match the tablescape. The finished product turned out exactly how I envisioned it, and I’m so happy with it!

 

 

This gingerbread house tablescape was born out of my love for creative projects—and, most importantly, my love for my friend. I truly enjoy making things that bring happiness to her and all our guests. For me, the heart of creation lies in the joy it brings—both to me and, especially, to those who get to see and appreciate it.

Remember the point is to have fun and let your creativity shine through!

Disclaimer: This is a general guide, and the level of detail and complexity is entirely up to you. Feel free to adjust the decorations and elements to match your style and preferences.

I hope this guide inspires you to create a truly unique and unforgettable holiday tablescape! ❤️

K.I.T (keep in touch)

(because we make kits, DUH)

ABOUT THE WRITER…

Penelope

Unicorn whisperer, miracle believer, and master connector of people and ideas for the greater good. Behind every success, there’s a friend like Pen. With kaleidoscope color-changing hair, Pen is a total MOOD with an eclectic flair for fashion, jewelry, and design. A lover, a traveler, and a happy, smiley wanderer. With her, shopping addictions are enabled and totally justified, so consider yourself warned. Always ready to embark on a wild adventure with friends (both furry and human) and family, Pen will literally work for food and look aesthetically pleasing doing it.

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