1. START WITH THE FOUNDATION AND BUILD YOUR THEME
Building a beautiful and bountiful Christmas spread is first and foremost about getting the foundation right. So first on your Christmas checklist is thinking about who you might be having over during the holiday season and whether you Christmas dining room accommodates.
2. REMEMBER THOSE LITTLE TOUCHES
It’s all in the details, and the best tablescapes will consider everything, right the way down to the smallest touches. This means adding pretty bows to napkins with a place name tied with twine or ribbon and a sprig of rosemary, handfuls of pinecones, and bowls of seasonal fruit.
3. CONSIDER YOUR COLOR SCHEME
When it comes to how to decorate your Christmas table, think about what kind of color scheme you might want for your Christmas table. It’s not always about going for the red, green and gold combination, and actually, you can surprise your guests with avoiding the kitsch look and going for something magical and metallic, or rich with jewel-like tones.
4. DON'T FORGET THE FESTIVE FOLIAGE
Go foraging outside, and take your cues from nature. Bring in beautiful winter fruits, twigs, ivy and try your hand to a spot of Christmas flower arranging to create an abundant verdant display that floods the center of the table.
5. EMBRACE THE BUSY LOOK
This year, we're embracing the decor and going all out for busy but beautiful Christmas dining room decor. Filling your table with decor may not feel natural if you're used to the minimalist look, but hammers home the point that Christmas is a time all about extravagance, opulence, and not doing anything half-heartedly. ‘We think a table looks best when the tablescaper is generous with their décor,’ says Katie. ‘Your table will look best when busy and filled to the brim with festive accessories in seasonal colors.’
6. ADORN YOUR TABLE WITH CANDLES OF VARYING HEIGHTS
When it comes to creating that lovely cozy ambiance that's crucial to a Christmas table, it's all about the lighting. Candles (in all shapes and sizes), fairy lights, side lamps, all of this low-level lighting is what's going to give that all-over glow to the whole room. Candles are also great way to add height to the christmas table (along with those bottles of wine that will later feature), and candelabras with tapered candles add to the sense of whimsical traditionality and are an elegant way of adding height and drama to a tablescape.
7. GO FOR A BOLD QUIRKY COLOR SCHEME
How fun and fabulously festive is this set-up? Red and green might dominate the festive period, but really any color goes at Christmas and as this table proves opting for a rainbow of hues can be far more stylish than it may sound. Be inspired by this tablescape and make quirky candleholders and equally quirky candles your centerpiece.
8. SUSPEND DECORATIONS FROM THE CEILING
Hanging decorations from the ceiling above your Christmas table has such a magical effect, and yet it's so easy to achieve and works with so many different decorating you can adapt the look to suit your style.
9. ADD TEXTURE
Remember your table linens, tablecloth, napkins and runner for the ultimate layered effect. 'We think table linen is one of the easiest ways to make an impact with your tablescape. In particular, a statement tablecloth (we love Indian block print cotton) or quality, colored napkins tied with velvet bows are sure to impress guests and take very little time to set up,' says Katie.
10. CHOOSE A FROSTY ALL WHITE CHRISTMAS TABLE
If you are after a more contemporary look with your Christmas table decor this year, there are plenty of ideas to pinch from this frosty look. Firstly, no table cloth?! For so many styles a table cloth is a must have, but we are actually loving this clean, more contemporary approach. It's a look that would suit a fuss-free style, perfect if you are hosting on Christmas Eve or have some festive drinks and nibbles planned with friends, the lack of table cloth just makes it... cooler.
11. TAKE IT OUTSIDE
When it comes to outdoor Christmas decorating ideas, perhaps an alfresco dining space isn't top of your agenda, but we spent so much of last Christmas and winter drinking and dining outdoors and this year it seems to be an actual trend to set up your Christmas table outside. And we think it's such a lovely idea to spend a cold crisp afternoon wrapped up in a blanket sipping mulled wine and eating suitably festive nibbles (ie. a very crowded cheese board).