16 Thoughtful Touches for the Christmas Table
Impress your Christmas dinner guests as soon as they are seated with these fun and festive table settings
Christmas will be here before you know it, so now is the time to gain inspiration from these lovely yet easy ideas, to help you make your holiday table look suitably festive.
2. Twigs and things
Or use a more traditional card for the name tag, but attach it to natural or painted twigs for a festive feel.
Make nature-inspired placemats
Or use a more traditional card for the name tag, but attach it to natural or painted twigs for a festive feel.
Make nature-inspired placemats
3. Christmas tree decor
If you prefer to let people sit wherever they choose, then how about tying a snowflake or other Christmas tree decoration to the napkin.
If you prefer to let people sit wherever they choose, then how about tying a snowflake or other Christmas tree decoration to the napkin.
4. Table runner
Adding a table runner is an inexpensive and easy way to add instant cheer. A long strip of patterned fabric like this red chevron happily announces ‘Ho ho ho, it’s Christmas time!’
Adding a table runner is an inexpensive and easy way to add instant cheer. A long strip of patterned fabric like this red chevron happily announces ‘Ho ho ho, it’s Christmas time!’
5. A gift tree centrepiece
A gift or wish tree is a thoughtful touch to welcome guests and to make a statement when people arrive. Wrap and hang a small gift or a card with festive cheer for each person to welcome them to your home.
A gift or wish tree is a thoughtful touch to welcome guests and to make a statement when people arrive. Wrap and hang a small gift or a card with festive cheer for each person to welcome them to your home.
6. Floral finery
Flowers are a must for any festive table. Use poinsettias for a traditional Christmas feel, or choose white and yellow flowers for a more elegant look.
Flowers are a must for any festive table. Use poinsettias for a traditional Christmas feel, or choose white and yellow flowers for a more elegant look.
7. Golden touch
Add touches of gold for a sophisticated, celebratory feel. Source gold placemats, cutlery, coasters or just add gold tinsel.
See more gold in dining room decor
Add touches of gold for a sophisticated, celebratory feel. Source gold placemats, cutlery, coasters or just add gold tinsel.
See more gold in dining room decor
8. All wrapped up
Vintage cutlery tied up with a satin ribbon hints at a special occasion. Use with a traditional tablecloth, runner and candleholders to complete the look.
Vintage cutlery tied up with a satin ribbon hints at a special occasion. Use with a traditional tablecloth, runner and candleholders to complete the look.
9. Silver sparkles
Spray pine cones silver or gold for an easy, inexpensive but classy way to decorate the Christmas table.
Spray pine cones silver or gold for an easy, inexpensive but classy way to decorate the Christmas table.
10. Glittery glass
For a less formal table, glue silver glitter on the outsides of jars and use as vases. Sprinkle more glitter on the tablecloth, add a couple of stars and voila, instant Christmas cheer!
For a less formal table, glue silver glitter on the outsides of jars and use as vases. Sprinkle more glitter on the tablecloth, add a couple of stars and voila, instant Christmas cheer!
11. Festive fruit bowl
Fruits can be used with or instead of flowers to achieve a holiday feel. Stay with one colour for a stronger visual effect, such as these pomegranates and berries, and then trim with some pine needles, holly or ivy to hint at a Christmas feel.
Fruits can be used with or instead of flowers to achieve a holiday feel. Stay with one colour for a stronger visual effect, such as these pomegranates and berries, and then trim with some pine needles, holly or ivy to hint at a Christmas feel.
12. Dreamy drinks
Add berries to champagne flutes to extend the Christmas feeling to refreshments.
Get your dining room ready to (dinner) party
Add berries to champagne flutes to extend the Christmas feeling to refreshments.
Get your dining room ready to (dinner) party
13. Pretty lighting
If you have a feature light above the dining table, consider adding some Christmas baubles, tinsel and feathers for instant wow factor. It’s so easy to do and can be tweaked to suit all sorts of celebrations throughout the year.
If you have a feature light above the dining table, consider adding some Christmas baubles, tinsel and feathers for instant wow factor. It’s so easy to do and can be tweaked to suit all sorts of celebrations throughout the year.
14. All of a twitter
A pretty little bird can bring a little cheer to your table even if there are no tweets or birdsong coming from it. Of course, along with pretty lighting, candles are also a must for the Christmas table.
A pretty little bird can bring a little cheer to your table even if there are no tweets or birdsong coming from it. Of course, along with pretty lighting, candles are also a must for the Christmas table.
15. Terrific trays
Use trays to centre pared-back decor. They’re then easy to move when the food arrives. Again, a small bird, this time a silvery soul, somehow makes a table feel very Christmassy.
Use trays to centre pared-back decor. They’re then easy to move when the food arrives. Again, a small bird, this time a silvery soul, somehow makes a table feel very Christmassy.
16. Dress your mantle
If you have a fireplace in your dining room, don’t forget to add some festive touches to the mantle. Cloche jars with gold baubles would look great on the table as well.
TELL US
What Christmas decor do you like on the tabletop? We’d love to know, so please share your ideas in the Comments below.
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Read more stories about Christmas
If you have a fireplace in your dining room, don’t forget to add some festive touches to the mantle. Cloche jars with gold baubles would look great on the table as well.
TELL US
What Christmas decor do you like on the tabletop? We’d love to know, so please share your ideas in the Comments below.
MORE
Read more stories about Christmas
Personalise each place setting with charming name tags. Christmas tree-shaped cutouts from gift paper or old maps are easy to do and look sweet.