When the holidays roll around, our design hearts go full festive. At Basil & Tate, we believe that every dinner party is another chance to bring beauty, warmth, and a touch of magic into your home. This year, our designer Brei created a Whimsical Wonder dinner party theme: think soft candle glow, festive flair, dressy holiday attire, and a menu that feels indulgent yet light.

Setting the Mood: “Whimsical Wonder” Style & Atmosphere

Picture this: guests arrive in their holiday best. The vibe? Festive and a little magical, but still relaxed enough that you can laugh, talk, sip, and linger long after dessert.

Our inspiration for this party came from a mood-board full of warm tones, layered textures, natural materials, and organic elements — exactly the kind of aesthetic we adore at Basil & Tate. Think flickering taper candles, mixed ceramic dishes and glassware, softly draped linens, evergreen sprigs, and touches of gold or brass in little details to catch the light.

Add in soft background music, a few low lamps or string lights for mood, and you’ve got a setting that feels celebratory but effortlessly intimate.

holiday hosting inspiration by Basil & Tate.png

The Decor: How to Pull Off a Tablescape with Personality

A memorable tablescape isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating a mood. For this holiday gathering, we leaned into a layered, whimsical style that feels warm, inviting, and effortlessly elegant.

Start with texture.
Think natural linens, soft cotton napkins, and a mix of ceramic, glass, and wood serving pieces. The blend of materials creates that collected, cozy look we love — refined but never fussy.

Bring in seasonal elements.
A few sprigs of evergreen, bowlfuls of pomegranates or citrus, or scattered seasonal fruit add natural color and shape. These simple touches bring depth to the table while keeping things organic and unfussy.

Layer the lighting.
Instead of relying on overhead lights, mix taper candles, votives, and soft accent lighting. Warm, low lighting instantly makes the table feel more intimate and magical — especially on winter evenings.

Let it feel personal.
Your table doesn’t need to match perfectly. In fact, a mix of heirloom pieces, everyday favorites, and a few holiday accents feels more inviting and intentional than a fully coordinated set. The goal isn’t formality, it’s warmth.

Menu & Drinks: Simple, Seasonal and Celebratory

One of the joys of hosting is the food. For our holiday dinner, we leaned into flavors that feel seasonal and celebratory but don’t require a gourmet chef. Here’s what we enjoyed…

LASAGNA SOUP by HALF BAKED HARVEST

4 Tablespoons salted butter

1/4 Cup all-purpose flour

1 Yellow onion, chopped

4 Cloves garlic, chopped

2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning

Chili flakes

1 Cup chopped celery

1 Jar (8 ounce) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, oil drained

6 Cups broth

Salt and black pepper

1 Pound Taccole pasta, or 8 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces

4 Cups chopped baby spinach

1 Cup heavy cream

1 Cup milk

1 Cup shredded provolone cheese

1/2 Cup grated parmesan

How to make:

1. Melt the butter and flour together in a large pot. Cook 1-2 minutes, then add the onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and chili flakes, stirring to combine. Stir in the celery, sun-dried tomatoes, and broth. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes.

3. Bring the soup to a boil over high heat. Stir in the noodles, spinach, cream, and milk. Let cook on high until the noodles are soft, about 8 minutes. Alternatively, you can cook the noodles in boiling water and stir them into the soup.

4. Stir in the provolone and parmesan until melted. If the soup is too thick, add additional broth or water to thin.

5. Serve the soup topped with fresh thyme. Enjoy!

FIGGY BRIE BITES

Puff pastry dough

Brie cut into cubes

Fig jam

How to make:

1. Set oven to 400 degrees

2. Cut party dough into 4" squares and line in a cupcake tin

3. Place brie cube in dough and top with fig jam

4. Bake according to pastry directions; 15-20 minutes

HONEY CHEESE DIP

2 Packs Boursin garlic & herb cheese

Honey

How to make:

1. Spread cheese in a serving bowl and drizzle with honey

2. Serve with crackers

PEPER JELLY DIP

Cream cheese

Pepper jelly

How to make:

1. Mix cream cheese with peper jelly

2. Serve with crackers

CHRISTMAS KISS BITES

Mini-pretzels

Hershey kisses

Christmas colored M&Ms

How to make:

1. Set oven to 200 degrees

2. Line cookie sheet with pretzels and top with Hershey kisses

3. Bake for 5 minutes but keep a close eye to make sure they don’t melt completely

4. Remove from oven and press M&M on top of kiss

5. Chill in the fridge and enjoy!

PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE MOUSE by BROMA BAKERY

Chocolate, chopped into fine pieces

Heavy Whipping Cream

Espresso Powder

Vanilla Extract

1 Egg

Peppermint candy crumbles

How to make:

1. Place the finely chopped chocolate, espresso powder, and the egg in an high powder blender. In a sauce pan heat 1/4 cup of water until boiling. Pour the boiling water into the chocolate and blend on high speed until smooth.

2. Heat 2/3 cup of the heavy cream until very warm, but NOT boiling (you can do this in the same pan you boiled the water!). Stream the cream into the chocolate mixture as you blend. Add the vanilla extract and salt, and blend on high speed for 1 minute. The mixture should be creamy and smooth with no pieces of chocolate remaining.

3. In a separate bowl whisk the last 1/2 cup of cold heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Pour the chocolate mixture into the whipped cream and gently fold until completely combined and no pockets of unmixed whipped cream remains.

4. Spoon the mixture into 4 to 6 individual containers depending on how big you want your servings to be. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours to set before serving with fresh whipped cream and peppermint candy crumbles.

MERRY MULE

Pomegranate juice

Ginger beer vodka

Juice from 1/2 a lime

2 oz pomegranate juice

1 oz vodka

Juice form 1/2 a lime

Top with ginger beer, and garnish with pomegranate arils & sugared rosemary

ESPRESSO MARTINI

2.5 oz espresso

.5 oz kaluah

.5 oz vodka

Shake all together and top with frothed whipping cream, then garnish with espresso beans

CHRISTMAS MARGARITA

1 oz blanco tequila

1 oz orange juice

1 oz cranberry juice

Mint leaves

Sugared orange

Mix together and garnish with mint leaves & sugared orange

whimsical winter dinner party created by Basil & Tate

Hosting Tips: How to Make It All Feel Easy & Relaxed

A beautiful dinner party shouldn’t feel stressful, and your guests will always remember how your home made them feel more than any single detail. Here’s how to keep the evening effortless…

Set the mood early.
Warm lighting, soft music, and an inviting entry make guests feel welcomed the moment they walk in. Create a tone that says “come in, slow down, stay awhile.”

Start with simple bites.
A charcuterie board and a few easy appetizers are the perfect way to ease into the evening. Guests can nibble, mingle, and settle in while you finish any last-minute prep.

Use what you have and mix as you go.
You don’t need a perfectly matching set of plates or glasses. Mixing textures, finishes, and colors creates a layered look that feels thoughtfully lived-in and completely unique.

Keep the table open.
Aim for a balance of beauty and function — decorative details are lovely, but leave plenty of room for passing dishes, conversation, and movement across the table.

Engage all the senses, subtly.
Think soft background music, warm candlelight, and natural seasonal scents like evergreen or citrus. These small touches create a feeling of ease and comfort without overwhelming the senses.

And above all, enjoy your own party.
Your energy sets the tone. When you’re relaxed, your guests will be too, and the evening will naturally unfold with warmth, beauty and connection.

An Invitation to Bring Goodness Home

Holiday hosting doesn’t need to be complicated or over-the-top. At Basil & Tate, we believe a beautiful home is one that welcomes, comforts and delights — especially during the holidays. So grab your favorite linens, mix up textures and serveware, gather some greenery, light the candles, and invite friends or family to sit down, share food, and enjoy good company.

If you’re dreaming of a more permanent refresh — a renovation, remodel, or new build — we’d love to help you bring that same sense of warmth, style and simplicity into your everyday life. Book a complimentary discovery call with our design team today. Here’s to winter nights filled with good food, warm light, and beautiful memories!

📌 Explore our Festive Holiday Dinner Party inspiration board on Pinterest

Ready to elevate your home?

From Denver home renovations to creating custom new-build homes, the design team here at Basil & Tate is ready to help you bring goodness home. If you’re looking for an expert design eye to help with furnishing, remodeling or building from the ground up, let’s schedule a chat and see if our design team is the right fit for your home project.

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Welcome to Basil & Tate— a full-service residential interior design studio serving Denver, Colorado & beyond, curating bespoke interiors that seamlessly blend comfort, nature and timeless design. We describe our design aesthetic as earthy, organic, and elevated. If you like a combination of classic and modern design, mixed with soft neutral colors and natural textures, you’re in the right place.

Whether you’re looking for an interior designer to save you time on your custom home renovation or to help bring your luxury new-build vision to life, the interior design experts at Basil & Tate will be with you every step of the way to deliver a turn-key, white-glove design experience.

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