1. Go For A Rustic, Natural Theme
Take inspiration from nature and create a calm, comforting space by pairing furniture and tableware in natural materials with winter foliage and candlelight. Let texture take the lead and set the scene with a rustic linen tablecloth, then layer with fir and pine Christmas table garland, placemats in woven jute, and wine goblets made from recycled glass, all available at The White Company.
2. Create A Sophisticated Setting With White And Navy
Create a timeless and elegant dining scheme by decorating with blue and white. Set the mood for celebration with walls in a dramatic navy and pair with a crisp white tablecloth, simple white bone china crockery and elegant clear crystal glassware and candlesticks. Keep decorations pared-back with silver tealight holders, a white floral centerpiece and a simple fir Christmas garland idea.
3. Delight Guests With A Beautiful Table Gift
Christmas table gift ideas make a lovely surprise when guests take their seats and help spread gift-giving out throughout the day, plus they add a lovely decorative flourish to a place setting.
4. Channel A Cool Scandinavian Theme
Create a cool Scandi-inspired scheme by trading in classic red and gold for blue, white, and natural wood. Switch a formal tablecloth for a rustic woven runner to expose the wooden table beneath and for a pared-back Christmas table centerpiece display sculptural branches in a rustic pot (filled with sand to keep them in place) and pair them with wooden church-style candles.
5. Choose A Warm Berry Palette
Warm, welcoming, and cocooning, a red dining room makes a fabulously festive setting for a cozy Christmas celebration and works particularly well when bedecked in a medley of berry and spice shades peppered with metallics. Decorate the table with simple dinnerware and a runner of Christmas foliage along the middle.
6. Complement A Colorful Scheme
Dining rooms that are reserved for Christmas and special occasions can be fabulous places to embrace bold dining room color ideas. Pairing dining chairs in rich berry-toned velvets with peridot green walls, as done here by Oka, is a great way to create a head-turning jewel-toned scheme, plus, upholstered dining chairs will offer wonderful comfort for guests.
7. Create A Colorful Carnival Atmosphere
Take inspiration from fabric designer Molly Mahon and channel a playful yet sustainable approach to Christmas dining room decor by trading in plastic decorations for a room bedecked in colorful paper streamers and paper chains. This fun, fiesta-style decor idea works wonderfully with a table in folksy block-printed table linen and the paper chains are a great Christmas craft activity to do with children.
8. Create A Drinks Station
A handy bar cart is brilliant for serving welcome nibbles and drinks to guests, whether it’s a glass of mulled wine, a winter cocktail or something sparkly, plus it provides extra storage for large items like ice buckets that can dominate the dining table.
9. Go For A Quiet Country Look
Create a relaxed farmhouse Christmas look by teaming bench seating and a gingham tablecloth, such as this from Tori Murphy, with a centerpiece of humble clementines, candlelight and paper decorations. Foraged foliage topped with fabric bows makes a cottage core-style alternative to a traditional Christmas wreath.
10. Set The Scene With Beautiful Table Linen
No Christmas table is complete without a beautiful tablecloth, it forms the foundation for your table decorating and brings a sense of occasion to dining. Inspired by traditional Hungarian textiles and featuring playful bird motifs, Julia Brendel’s jacquard woven cotton/linen tablecloths and napkins are perfect for bringing an elegant yet folksy feel.
11. Hang Your Centerpiece From The Ceiling
A festive centerpiece is a joyful thing – but not if it gets in the way of you either seeing your guests or being able to reach for the gravy.
12. Make Your Crockery A Design Feature
Crockery is so much more than functional at Christmas – choosing festively patterned plates and more can do wonders for the design of the entire dining room.
13. Create Mood Lighting With Candles
‘Mood lighting is important,’ Jessica Hanley, founder of Piglet In Bed. ‘If it is a special occasion, I often opt for candles in the center to create a more festive feeling.’ In this example, tabletop Christmas tree decor is paired with numerous candles for a glowingly festive look.
14. Put A Twist On Traditional Color Schemes
When working out how to set the perfect Christmas table, ensuring you balance tradition with your own personal taste is key. This rustic yet contemporary table setting in bold primary blues and reds is finished off with handcrafted ceramics and trailing garlands of delicate honesty seed heads, all presided over by a striking chandelier. Traditional touches of green are evident in the emerald glassware.
15. Make An Intimate Setting Elegant
Benji Lewis, founder of virtual interior design service, Zoom That Room says: 'Christmas can be stressful for many people, and rather than buying everything new, try to focus on a few key items to ensure that your table is welcoming, elegant and a little bit opulent.'