(All tabletop elements are listed and linked at the end of this post for easy shopping.)

If you had walked into my dining room during the holidays, this table would have been the first thing I showed you. Not because it was “perfect,” but because it felt warm, layered, and full of little moments that made it special.

This table actually started with the bird cages. I found them at Hobby Lobby and immediately thought about how many ways I could use them beyond Christmas. Spring tables, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, even an intimate dinner party. That’s usually how I shop for table décor. I look for pieces that spark ideas and can be reused to tell different stories throughout the year.

I paired the cages with flocked clip-on birds, which were technically ornaments. I love anything with a clip because it gives you freedom. You can move them, perch them, and change the scene completely. Once they were clipped onto the cages and florals, the table felt almost alive, like a little winter cottage moment frozen in time.

Doves have always felt especially meaningful at Christmas. They symbolize peace, hope, and comfort, which feels very fitting for a season centered around gathering, reflection, and togetherness. I wanted the table to feel cozy and welcoming, like you’d stumbled upon a quiet countryside cottage with candlelight glowing and time slowed down.

To elevate the cages, I tied fishing line to secure them to glass hurricane candle holders. That gave the table height without feeling heavy. At first, I had the fairy lights wrapped in a ball inside the cages, but my husband suggested dropping the string lights down the candle pillars instead. I loved that idea instantly. It softened everything and added a gentle glow that made the whole table feel warmer.

For the place settings, I built the color story around pieces I already loved. I used my Portmeirion dinner plates with the red brushstroke detail and layered them with burgundy and white block print napkins from Hobby Lobby. That combination felt festive without being too traditional. Adding touches of pink through the florals softened the palette and leaned into that cozy cottage feel I was going for.

One little detail I loved was the napkin rings. I made them myself using simple steel rings from the jewelry section and berries filler from the Christmas decor at Hobby Lobby. I just used the twist ties on the berries and wrapped them around the rings, which makes them completely reusable. I can swap out the berries for florals, greenery, or ribbons later on, so the same rings can work for so many different tables and seasons.

Walnut charger plates grounded the table and added warmth, while the Solino Home checkered table runner and Laura Ashley Dothan tablecloth layered in texture and pattern without competing. Vintage Libbey Gibraltar glasses added a collected, timeless feel, and of course, I couldn’t resist adding a few disco balls for a little sparkle. I love mixing old, cozy, and unexpected details together.

This table was perfect for Christmas, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Swap the napkins, change the florals, or tweak the color palette, and this same setup could work beautifully for a Valentine’s Day dinner, a winter birthday, or even an early spring gathering. That’s always my goal. Each table tells a story, but it also leaves room for the next one.