No matter how or where we give thanks or celebrate the holidays, this year is different. And even if fewer people gather at our holiday table, that doesn't mean we can't make it special.

Setting the table, in fact, can be more than a little therapeutic.

"Sharing a table or sitting down at the table for a meal is a basic human need," says Marielle Shortell, co-founder of Hestia Harlow, which follows a Rent the Runway (an online short-term clothing rental company) model applied to table settings, including everything from dinner plates, linens, flatware, glasses and even flowers.

"When you take time to set the table, you enjoy your meal even more. You may eat slower, try a new recipe or even have a better conversation if you take the time for presentation and aesthetic. The dinner table is where the home is."

"Now, more than ever, it's important to elevate the everyday," says Kira Faiman, founder of Von Gern Home, a company focused on tabletop and accessories design. "When you're at home, there's no reason every meal can't be a chance to show your style."

"When you sit down to share a story, a drink, a meal -- or to grab a quick bite of takeout, it's an opportunity to connect, be present and simply enjoy," says Faiman. "The table is where our lives meet. It's an outlet for our creativity and personality to shine, and a place to enjoy beautiful design."

Pinterest pages, blogs and retail sites are rich with ideas. There are tips for table settings, as well as food -- menu ideas and prep. Plus, there are a few new books. Aerin Lauder's "Entertaining Beautifully" ($55, Rizzoli) draws on family tradition and includes an homage to Lauder's grandmother and beauty pioneer, Estee Lauder, and her legendary soirees.

"The best entertaining, to me, is a mix of easy elegance and effortless chic," says Lauder. "If you strive too hard for perfection, people can't relax and be themselves."

Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten also has a new book, "Modern Comfort Food" ($35, Clarkson Potter ). She's doing a virtual event with Katie Couric on November 17 (you can sign up at www.williamssonoma.com).

Williams Sonoma also features Ina's Thanksgiving recipes with mouthwatering images of dishes. On the menu: pomegranate cosmos, fig and cheese toasts, cornbread stuffing, Tuscan turkey roulade, sauteed shredded Brussels sprouts, potato fennel gratin, mashed butternut squash, apple sauce cake with bourbon raisins, ultimate pumpkin pie with rum whipped cream.

Especially designed for de-stressing are a growing number of fully prepped meals. In fact, even the entire tabletop now can be rented for the holidays and other special occasions.

The Hestia Harlow online rental platform features 745,000 table-setting combinations on its website. The contactless rental service delivers everything to your door. When the event is over, you pack everything back into your custom, COVID-safe, sustainable box, and it's picked up the next day. Marielle Shortell's large event production company inspired this business.

Another, Bluebird in a Box, "takes the effort and overwhelm out of planning a home-based seasonal gathering for friends and family right where you are -- no travel required." Virginia Frischkorn applied years of special events planning to create her party kits. Holiday themed packages ($48) detail how to set the scene. The downloadable kit includes clever conversation starters, menus (including vegan/gluten-free options), cocktail recipes/wine pairing suggestions, links to tasteful decor, paper or paperless invitations and party favor ideas, table-setting how-tos, soundtrack playlists on Spotify and a timeline/checklist.

Coming soon are two other options that include handpicked accessories, and soon, location services.

This year linens are especially prominent. Perhaps it's because they add warmth, color and/or pattern and personality, framing table settings or providing a ground for the tablescape. They especially bring basic white and beige porcelain or stoneware to life.

Elizabeth Lake, aficionado of antique textiles, porcelain, fine art and furniture, with a passion for flea markets, launched her eponymous lifestyle brand this year. Her focus is limited-edition, handcrafted table linens sourced from mills in Belgium, Italy and Ireland, then hand-stitched by artisans on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Those kinds of handcrafted materials are especially appreciated today. An overriding theme for much of decor and tabletop today is to design with your heart. Not necessarily with what's on trend, but with what sparks joy. Some current themes:

Indulge in nostalgia

This is the time. There's something always comforting about seasonal imagery -- pumpkins, turkeys, angels, Santas, holly, Star of David.

Wabi sabi

Embrace the Japanese concept of perfect imperfection.

Kira Faiman of Von Gern Home likes the unexpected. "Go for coordinating over precise matching," she advises. "Pair tabletop items in similar color families but different hues and patterns for a look that's fun, unique and visually stimulating."

Go for the gold

Gold flatware and accessories seem to be everywhere. For good reason. They add warmth to the table.

Abandon convention

Break out the Fiesta vibe. Bold patterns, screen printed or embroidered, bring out the boho and ethnic feels. Advice from the website Hestia Harlow: Go wild. Just choose based on your curiosity. Try something fun and different!

Go glam

Just like sparkly clothing, a little glitter on the table elevates the dining experience. Especially when you usher in the new year.

Sources

-- Ballard Designs, 800-536-7551, www.ballarddesigns.com

-- Blue Bird in a Box, party@bluebirdinabox.com, www.bluebirdinabox.com

-- Crate and Barrel, 800-967-6696, www.crateandbarrel.com

-- Elizabeth Lake, hello@elizabethlake.com, www.elizabethlake.com

-- Hestia Harlow, 775-442-7569, www.hestiaharlow.com

-- Kim Seybert, 877-564-7850, www.kimseybert.com

-- Neiman Marcus, 888-888-4757, www.neimanmarcus.com

-- Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, www.potterybarn.com

-- Von Gern Home, where to find retailers on website, https://vongernhome.com

-- Williams-Sonoma, 877-812-6235, www.williams-sonoma.com

From bare-bulb looks to twisty wires, whose teeny lights resemble fireflies, and multiple pendant installations at staggered heights, lighting has emerged as one of the most exciting elements of home decor.

In foyers and stairwells, over dining tables and on walls, lighting is making a dramatic statement. As a focal point, it can infuse energy into a vanilla interior.

"I've always craved light -- layers of light for my own rooms and the homes I design for others," says Atlanta interior designer Beth Webb. "Light is essential to life. Light is joy. Light creates ambience and it infuses a house with psychological warmth."

Modern styles have been the most illuminating in recent years. The range of materials include the familiar -- metals, glass, wood, rattan, stone, shell, fabric -- but it's the way those materials are being put together that's impressive. Architectural and sculptural forms transform some lights to art.

Industrial styles marry with romantic crystals. Retro looks bring sputnik forms into a new era with a fresh perspective. Tiers of cascading lanterns range from metal to seashells and shimmering crystals. Some linear shapes have morphed to freeform metal tubing that snakes around spaces. Even sconces are stretching across walls with branchlike arms, some to be configured as you wish. Scale is huge, literally and figuratively, and hanging pendants in multiples speaks volumes. In addition, the option for customizing has made new designs more appealing.

"What's happening with lighting is incredible," says Houston designer Margaret Naeve. "It's super important. People are paying more attention to it at the beginning of their projects. Lighting has become more of a star. Light can change a room, evoke a feeling."

LED (light-emitting diode) technology has been a real game changer for product. Not only are the bulbs smaller and literally cooler, they allow more creative applications.

The appreciation for handcrafted, artisanal pieces continues to grow. There also are hybrids, such as some of the new table lamps that seem more like light sculptures or objects that simply light up. Handblown glass sparkles, evoking raindrops, icicles, starry constellations.

Even classic designs are being tweaked, sometimes with more durable materials, reinterpretations in scale or new colors.

At virtual design shows in Paris (Maison and Object) and London (London Design Fair) in September, as well as October's High Point Market, illuminating introductions cover a wide swath of categories.

And now that designer show houses are opening up again, it's an opportunity to see first-hand some of the newest fixtures and applications.

Naeve designed a gallery for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas (open until Oct. 25), and she created a focal point with a spectacular light installation by Apparatus Studio. "It's a glorified hallway -- very long, very rectangular," says Naeve. "It needed a moment in the middle." The pendants, with jewelrylike chains, become a "lit sculpture in the middle of the room that defines the space."

"It adds a little magic and a moment of curiosity, too, as the last pendant almost touches the table," she says.

Looking ahead to 2021, this is what you can expect to see in lighting:

-- Bare essentials. Stripped down Edison bulbs have been electric in lighting design. They have not lost energy, but are evolving, with more movement and dynamic shapes within the classic filament pattern.

-- Global entry. There's no denying that globes and spheres are among the most popular shapes today. Clear to mottled or wavy glass, combinations of frosted or metallic with clear or white and black, in addition to a variety of colors, have lit up the choices.

-- Pump up the volume. Supersizing has been a theme with lighting designs. The approach works well above large kitchen islands and dining tables. Boxy, linear suspension lamps shine in this group. Pendants get plenty of praise, commanding a space when they're hung in multiples.

-- Geometry reigns. Hexagons, octagons, diamonds and polyhedrons have taken shapes beyond pleasant circles. These forms complement popular designs in floor and wall tiles.

-- Cagey frameups. The geometric shapes themselves become frames for lights within -- single bulbs or even traditional candle lights, which give them more gravitas.

-- Nature inspires. Biophilia has been a buzzword in decor, and the connection to nature is evident in lighting design, as well as the use of natural materials. Dimensional flowers -- metal petals or blooms in ceramic, crystal or glass strike a romantic note.

-- Natural fibers also speak to sustainability. Weaves like rattan, raffia and hemp are being integrated into lights in creative forms that also happen to be good for the environment. These materials also are appreciated for their texture and tactile dimensions. Beth Webb chose rattan to create a framework around a white linen lamp, part of her new light collection for Arteriors.

"Wicker and rattan immediately put you at ease," says Webb. "They infuse any space with a sense of approachability. Texture is my 'color.' I gravitated to the simplicity of the drum shade, with the linen diffusing the light, and softened it a bit with a slight angle."

-- Drumroll for the drum shade. The simple squarish lampshade has been elevated to its own category. Plain whites surged in restaurant design and moved into the home. Florals and horizontal stripes came into play. Last fall, menswear patterns like houndstooth and tartans were introduced by Diane Keaton. The actress's Keaton Industries teamed up with Aidan Gray Home for her foray into lighting, in a not-surprising palette of black and white.

-- Jewelry glow-ups. It's not simple adornment but jewelry that's inspiring some designers. In Jonathan Adler's Globo collection, for example, "jewels" in the form of blue acrylic relief cabochons, polka-dot the face of white lacquer cabinets. His new sconces extend that collection, lending an elegant note that's a little glam without glitz. Lariat-like roping in some pendants channels jewelry. And the Italian Twenty Brand Design (www.twentybranddesign.com) sets off rough-cut Cryrock (crystals that look like amethyst and garnet) in gleaming asymmetrical brass frames reminiscent of musical triangles.

-- Finishing touch. Black wins for its graphic edge, as in other areas of home interiors. Paired with gold (often as a liner), it's dressed up. Matte is the preferred finish, and that also seems to have rubbed off on other metals, including brass, copper and silver.

Sources

-- Arteriors, 800-338-2150, www.arteriorshome.com

-- Brokis, info@brokis.cz, www.brokis.cz

-- Duistt, info@duisst.com, www.duistt.com

-- Hammerton Studio, 801-973-8095, http://studio.hammerton.com

-- Hubbardton Forge, 800-826-4766, www.hubbardtonforge.com

-- Jonathan Adler, 800-963-0891, www.jonathanadler.com

-- Louis Poulsen, 954-349-2525. www.louispoulsen.com

-- M. Naeve Interiors, 713-524-0990, www.mnaeve.com; Apparatus Studio lighting (www.apparatusstudio.com) available through M Naeve Interiors Boutique

-- Tom Dixon, 866-446-3140, www.tomdixon.net

-- Vanderpump Alain, 786-409-5775, www.vanderpumpalain.com

Some summer, right? So here comes fall, back to school (for some physically, others virtually), with all the seasonal changes. The aroma of pumpkin bread may bump that of banana bread. The air may feel a little crisper. Daylight patterns are shifting. So are the palettes in home goods -- ahead of the tree leaves, which eventually will show off brilliant red, vivid yellow and blazing orange hues.

It's a good time for a little color of your own -- in home decor. From tableware, bedding and pillows to small tables, chairs and sofas, there are plenty of options for adding a little pop in solid hues or patterns. Even a tiny change of scenery is so welcome, especially for those who are still working from home.

Consider a feature wall. One bold wallcovering can bring an edge to a room. Add some life -- literally -- with plants. Besides the smallish containers with grow lights for kitchen counters, one company -- Rise Gardens --manufactures etagere-like furniture that houses an entire indoor garden. It's done hydroponically, so not a lot of watering involved. They'll get you started with seed packs for herbs and vegetables, and an app tells you when to refill water and nutrients.

There's no design map for stepping things up with your decor. Just buy what speaks to you. A single addition can be huge!

Where to start? Take a holistic approach. If the idea of some kind of pattern appeals, break away from neutrality on the walls or on the floor. Yes, you can totally go small with accent pillows. But maybe you're in the mood for something more dramatic.

The style trends for wallcoverings and rugs actually parallel one another, with geometrics leading the way. What's appealing about geometric shapes is that they can be paired effortlessly with other patterns, such as florals, for balance. A modern pattern also is a foil for more traditional looks. And geometrics can be subtle or electric, depending on the color scheme.

A new pattern from York Wallcoverings, for example, takes on a very different look in a bright navy on gray, rather than a subtler white on gray. It's especially striking as a backdrop to solid browns -- in a brown channeled leather sofa and a rustic wood coffee table.

Digital printing, of course, has revolutionized imagery for the wall. One floral design from Tempaper, a company that manufacturers removable wallcoverings, depicts a series of exploded dahlia blossoms with an amazing fidelity to form and color. Imagine a blooming garden -- for as long as you care to enjoy it. The paper can be pulled easily if you want to move into something silvery and ethereal.

Bold floral motifs in bath towels are more common in Europe, where lush and textural patterned towels in a range of on-trend colors are more available. A pretty new offering at Anthropologie features an allover retro-flower print on a textural towel in salmon and dark berry hues.

On the floor, sophisticated pattern can read as art. In fact, Danish designer Cecilie Manz approached the pieces of a rug collection for Fritz Hansen in the same way she creates a composition on canvas. Her concepts unfold as collages with paper, before she transforms them into wool weaves that are tufted in different heights. The depth and tactility add to their appeal.

For the most part, Manz presents a toned-down palette, centered by grays and beiges, plus "nuances you would find in nature during autumn/winter or at sea." At the same time, she feels the need for more intense, rich colors. So shades of saffron lend excitement, depth and variation to the wools in geometric blocks of color.

"I love working with colors," Manz says. "It feels almost healthy because it's connected to joy."

Chicagoan Michael Thompson, known for his kite art, also has a deep connection to color. His beautiful compositions, crafted from fabric and bamboo, actually could take flight, but most find themselves on the walls of collectors. One of his latest pieces, available at Pagoda Red, employs materials he scooped up during a trip to Japan last year.

"I saw piles and piles of kimonos," says Thompson. "I couldn't look through them anymore." Once he got them home, he cut them up, stashed them in bins, then started constructing his pieces.

"The layout is like a collage," he says, "balancing, with color relationships, spatial things, overall designs. There's some narrative, with a background, foreground, garden. Sometimes it's purely abstract."

So much of what is resonating today in home design is artisanal, often based in ancient crafts. A new collection of small plates at Anthropologie is reminiscent of shibori textiles. Crafted in porcelain, the glaze mimics the dazzling effects found in Japanese hand-dyed fabric, and the bold designs are a wow for the table.

At CB2, a collection of pillows by jewelry artist Jennifer Fisher features tie-dyeing for moody effects. Also at CB2, a mottled iridescence is celebrated in the medium of glass. A shapely couple, which also could double for dessert serves, is finished in the style of vintage lusterware.

A new quilt at Anthropologie not only brilliantly shows off autumnal tones, its all-by-hand work features artisanal dyeing, stitching and appliqued patchwork, with the final touch of kantha stitchery.

Dawn Sweitzer has revived the art of eglomise -- reverse painted glass -- with her company Notre Monde, which in January merged with Belgian furniture manufacturer Ethnicraft. Tables and trays are breathtaking, some with swirling colors, and others with pinpoint geometry. Two new patterns, launching in September, display a very precise geometry in concentric squares of different scales, displayed in a perfectly seasonal pumpkin and grayed beige.

Complementing those popular clay tones is a range of rich green, saffron and purple, colors which have for the last year or so transcended the season. As WFH (work from home) and Zoom have become more ingrained, more and more people are seeking desks and office chairs.

For some, it means having a little fun with something small scale but with a ton of style. A desk currently on sale on the Anthropologie website, for example, is a black-and-white optical inlay in bone, with a teal painted drawer, shown with a bright yellow velvet office chair.

For spare form with plenty of style, an asymmetrical desk from Ligne Roset, introduced in 2013, is every bit as cool today. Its simple pairing of natural oak with a cantilevered, angled, lacquered surface in yellow is a knockout.

Upholstered beds have been on trend for some time, and one of the prettiest we've seen is from Roche Bobois. The ochre envelope has some texture -- exaggerated in the headboard with an extraordinary fine quilting.

Tactility boosts the warmth and sensuality of a room. That's one reason leather and velvet are so appealing. Dressmaker details highlight a tufted sofa from Poltrona Frau, shown off in a fetching shade of rich plum called Ume. The piece was introduced in 1912, the year the company was launched in Turin, Italy. The brand, which has never taken its color cues from fashion or current trends, recently introduced a concept called Color Spheres. Colorist Giulio Ridolfo has updated a range of colors from seven families and 14 subgroups (73 colors in all), all cohabiting harmoniously.

One of the more versatile and fun introductions is from Marrimor, which bills its products as "nice things for nonconformists." It cleverly combines the function of a pouf or ottoman with that of a table, which is labelled "toof." A powder-coated metal piece overlaying the mohair velvet pouf pulls out when needed.

There are some unexpected applications of velvet, as well. A bar from Anthropologie is clad in velvet, with a fluting that reads as a tone-on-tone vertical stripe, for extra dimensionality.

Apparently, there's been an uptick in the purchase of booze during the pandemic. So all the more reason to own a proper bar -- if you don't already. Cheers!

Sources

-- Anthropologie, 800-309-2500, www.anthropologie.com

-- CB2, 800-606-6252, www.cb2.com

-- Fritz Hansen Store New York, 212-219-3226, www.fritzhansen.com

-- Ligne Roset, 212-375-1036, www.ligne-roset.com

-- Marrimor, 877-778-1770, www.marrimor.com

-- Michael Thompson at Pagoda Red, 888-878-8628, www.pagodared.com

-- Notre Monde, Ethnicraft USA, 336-821-1385, www.notremonde.com

-- Poltrona Frau Group North America, 212-777-7592, www.poltronafrau.com

-- Rise Gardens, 201-849-7138, www.risegardens.com

-- Roche Bobois, 212-799-0090, www.roche-bobois.com

-- Tempaper, 732-920-2654, www.tempaper.com

-- York Wallcoverings, 800-375-9675, www.yorkwallcoverings.com