Decorating for the holidays, pressure to set up jaw-dropping tablescapes, elaborate gifts, the perfectly baked apple pie—sometimes it can all just get a bit too much… Right??

For quite some time, I have noticed how this festive period can feel a little bit competitive and just too overwhelming.

So this year, I chose to keep our Christmas table super simple yet elegant by using only two elements: candlelight and the fruit of the month, pears.

Scroll down to see how to achieve this simple holiday tablescape and how to make a very easy DIY place card!

*This post is sponsored by Superfresh Growers

pears—a delicious and gorgeous December harvest

December is National Pear Month, and when Superfresh Growers sent me some beautiful, juicy Anjou pears, I was instantly inspired to use them for more than just eating!

Their beautiful green and maroon/red colors are perfect for the season, and with their pear figures (pun intended!), I knew they would be great for our Christmas table decorations.

They are indeed beautiful in their simplicity, and you know I love decorating with more natural items!

Friend, I encourage you to look for everyday, natural elements to decorate with, like these pears that are not only delicious to eat but gorgeous in their own way, too. They serve a dual purpose, and I love that!

Creating a simple yet elegant table

The saying goes, There is beauty in simplicity.

As Orderly Chaos puts it: “It is the idea that beauty can be found in things that are simple, unadorned, and uncomplicated. It is about embracing the elegance of minimalism, and finding joy in the uncluttered, clean, and unpretentious.”

And this was exactly my vision for my holiday table this year!

Pears and candles are certainly two things that are simple, uncomplicated, and unpretentious.

anjou pears

Anjou pears were the stars of the show on my table.

Simply placed on the center of the dinner plates, they added such a gorgeous pop of color.

If you find that they keep falling over, you can cut a piece off their bottoms to make them more level.

What I love about Anjou pears is that their colors do not change as they ripen. So they will stay bright and shiny for a very long time.

You could also add a few together in a beautiful wire basket to use as a centerpiece on your table.

You don’t have to use only pears; you can mix it up with apples, too!

Candlelight

Candlelight will always guarantee a cozy, calming ambiance. It also instantly makes something more elegant and romantic.

Taper candles look very stylish and add some height to make the table more visually pleasing.

Pick a color that will tie in with the rest of your decor. These red taper candles added to the festive look and also gave it a more dramatic look.

Votive candles in small, patterned glass holders completed the romantic feeling and radiated a soft glow over the table.

greenery, twinkle lights, and touches of gold

I love using natural greenery in the house when decorating our rooms and mantel during the holidays.

Beautiful green garlands draped around our dining room arch and my antique gold mirror bring nature indoors, and they give a bit of a forest feeling.

Twinkle lights on our Christmas tree, the gold candle sticks, and the gold underplates add to the festive magic and elegance.

Make your own nature-inspired Christmas tree ornaments

diy dried pear place cards

This is such an easy, simple DIY, yet I think it makes such a statement on the dinner plates.

These place cards are made using only dried pears, star anise, ribbons, and name tags.

I love dried pears; they are the perfect crunchy snack. So your place cards are edible too!

You’ll need:

A few pears, sliced
Star anise
Ribbons
Name tags

How to:

Preheat your oven to 135˚F.
Start by slicing your pears into 1/2-inch slices
Some slices will have holes where the seeds were. If the slice does not have a hole, make a small one to be able to pull through your ribbon after drying.
Place them spread out on a tray lined with parchment paper.
Let them dry in your oven or dehydrator.
Drying can take 6-12 hours, depending on the moisture in the pears and air and your climate and temperature.
In the meantime, you can make your name tags and punch holes in them.
When your pears are dried, you can start making the place card.
Simply pull your ribbon through the name tag and the hole in the dried pear slice.
Make a beautiful bow tie, place the place card on the plate, and add a cute little star anise on top to round it off.
You can also add a little greenery to make it more colorful, like a rosemary sprig or some pine leaves.

Did you notice the gorgeous pear cake in the above pic?? It is such a show-stopper!

Here is the recipe for this yummy, beautiful Poached Pear Caramel Cake!

Friend, may you find joy in the simple things this festive period. The smallest, simpliest, unadorned, and uncomplicated things can indeed make a huge impact!

Love, Annette xx