El HOGAR de la Navidad, incluso en la mesa

The days that separate us from Christmas celebrations are getting shorter and shorter, and as we begin to plan our gift lists for our loved ones, a few questions naturally arise: how should we set the table for December 25th? Which decorations create the right atmosphere? Which colors are appropriate and which should be avoided? In short, we're at that time of year when we need great ideas that allow us to express our tastes, our sensibilities, and perhaps create that wow factor that's perfect for Instagram.

Christmas 2021, in fact, has a more significant symbolic and emotional value than usual, because global circumstances have taught us that being together is the greatest gift. On the most heartfelt holiday of the year, we need to create a reassuring atmosphere, whose beauty serves as a backdrop for a newfound conviviality, the starting point for creating our festive table setting. The Christmas table setting, on the other hand, is the most difficult of the year because it's there for all to see. And since the Christmas table speaks volumes about us, it's essential to think of each element as a puzzle piece within a festive yet sincere framework. Here are some suggestions: the first thing to do is choose the overall look, which can be natural or traditional. Then move on to the tableware, because it sets the stage for the festive table. Avoid show-off, avoid extravagant trends, and above all, arrange all the available elements simply. Be bold with non-contrasting colors, experimenting with different glasses, plates, and cutlery until you achieve your desired result. Complete the table by adding some decorations and matching accessories.

With its natural inspirations, references to essentiality, and minimalist yet elegant decorations, the Christmas table imagined by CASA, the Belgian chain of contemporary furniture and home decor stores with a global presence (with nearly 500 stores in eight European countries), perfectly captures our renewed desire for conviviality. Among its Christmas table decorations, we find references to Central European tradition, with plates that seem to have come straight from a terracotta artisan's workshop, simple and original glasses in neutral colors, cutlery, candle holders, and gold-plated objects, jugs, and placemats in soft colors and delicate textures.

The Christmas spirit, after all, is in CASA's DNA. Delighting a customer with a gift is, in fact, the idea behind the company, born from the inventive genius of Karel Govaerts, who founded the Fort company in 1925. Initially focused on dairy products, it later expanded to include food products, the most famous of which was Fort Coffee. When purchasing products, customers received stamps that could be redeemed for gifts from the Fort catalogs. When Belgian law banned the offering of stamps on food products in 1971, the founder's older sister (who passed away in 1962), Suzanne Govaerts, and her husband, Joris Onzea, turned adversity into an opportunity for renewal and launched the Comfort Centers project, where customers could admire and purchase homewares and gifts. Thus, CASA was born.

Since 1975, when the first store opened in Ottignies, in the Belgian province of Walloon Brabant, the company has expanded internationally, opening other stores throughout Europe, Aruba, Morocco, and, since 2008, in Italy. Since 2016, with a new corporate structure, CASA has begun a new chapter in its history, with a strategy focused on inspiration and three contemporary styles. Following the launch of the Click&Collect online shop, today the goal of CASA and its 80 stores in Italy is to make people feel at home, with a selection of decorative and gift items, textiles, kitchenware, and furniture for both the home and garden. The company always stays abreast of the latest furnishing trends and strives to surprise and inspire its customers, constantly updating its range in line with fashion and the seasons. For this reason, even during the most festive time of the year, entering a CASA store means entering a whole new world, where you can find countless ideas and inspirations that warm the heart and transform Christmas into the celebration of our dreams.