Get inspiration for your festive feast with our table setting ideas, from a stylish all-white palette enlivened with sparkling silver, to a bright family-friendly spread.
SOME QUICK TIPS FOR DECORATING YOUR CHRISTMAS TABLE
The easiest way to decorate a table and/or room is to first pick a theme and colour, and add on from there.
Themes to think of are:
- beach and country colours of sand, icy blues, and oak tree greens.
- mix natural elements like ivy and pine cones with glitz and sparkles .
- red, wood and gingham are classic combinations that create a comfy feel
- lots of white (table cloth, crockery) lit up with big Christmas baubles and crackers in bright and bold colours like pink, purple, green and blue.
- for something more elegant go for fine white China and crystal glasses on a table decorated in white, dark pink and black.
- gold and white are so in again and quite striking in the evening. Add touches of red or, for a day event, accents of wood. (The cute Santa hanging decoration pictured here is from Woolworths)
By using plain white plates and simple glasses, you can easily dress them up using coloured napkins, crackers and a few decorations.
Don’t worry if your tableware doesn’t all match - mixing and matching are hot trends right now. Use the pieces that work the best, and then add accents within your chosen theme and colour scheme.
Add an attractive centrepiece as a crowning touch to your table. If you are entertaining a large crowd rather use smaller arrangements or vases placed at intervals up and down the table.
Spread the spirit throughout the house. Add a bit of holiday décor to the foyér, bedrooms and bathrooms.
Soft ambient light created by candles, dimmed lights, or even tea lights are a quick way to add atmosphere to your table if you're entertaining at night. Group candles together and tie them with a velvet ribbon (see picture to the right). Or spell out the words "Noel", 'peace" or 'love' in tea lights.
String baubles from the ceiling or the light fitting to hang over the table. Or fill the small openings with Christmas herbs (mint and rosemary) and scatter around the table (see picture above).
For an easy table cloth, use a 3m roll of colourful Christmas wrapping paper. Run it down the middle of the table and set the plates on top – festive and fast!
MORE CHRISTMAS TABLE SETTING IDEAS