If we ask you to think of a Christmas plant it’s more than likely a poinsettia that will spring to mind – no surprise, since this most festive of florals has become a firm favourite at this time of year. This colourful flower is famous for sprinkling a little Christmas joy into our homes and making a perfect Christmas table decoration idea.
If you’re wondering how best to keep your plant alive though, our poinsettia care tips provide an expert guide on how to care for your Christmas plant. Plant experts share advice to help expand a poinsettias lifespan – keeping this festive favourite healthy for longer.
Known as the Mexican Flame Tree or Christmas Star, the poinsettia is synonymous with the festive season, with its brightly coloured, star-shaped leaves flowering in December and January. Its popularity is on the rise, too, according to floral experts Direct2Florist, who revealed that poinsettias are the Christmas flower that has seen the biggest increase in interest on Pinterest this year.
‘It’s not a surprise to see poinsettia trending so much, but the enormous 985% interest on Pinterest shows just how popular this red-petalled plant is at Christmas,’ says Direct2Florist’s Wendy Rea. ‘Apart from the vibrant colours and star shape, one of the reasons poinsettia feels so festive is that it pairs beautifully with gold and green, so it’s very easy to work them into any theme. An indispensable part of the season.’
Poinsettia care tips
Image credit: Future PLC/Polly Wreford
As beautiful as they are, however, keeping your plant looking its best right up to the big day can be tricky. Don’t fear, as we’ve got some advice to help you keep these stunning plants looking tip-top right through the seasonal period.
1. Choose carefully where you buy from
It’s important to buy your poinsettia from a reputable store or garden centre, where the poinsettias will be cared for correctly. Be wary of outside shops or stalls as lower temperatures will reduce the shelf life of the plant. Inspect it carefully before buying; poinsettia are tender plants and will not last if they stand in the cold for any length of time.
Check the compost before you buy, making sure it’s neither dripping wet nor totally dry, and look at the leaves and flowers – dense foliage and yellow-green budding flowers in-between the coloured bracts are a sure sign of quality.
Transport it home quickly and keep it in a bright, warm spot. Your poinsettia will be happy at a temperature of around 20° C. It can be close to a radiator, but not in direct sunlight or near draughts – so keep away from open doors, windows and fireplaces.
Lastly, be careful not to overwater it by leaving a pool of water in the bottom of the pot it’s sitting in. Water only when the compost is starting to change colour and become lighter.
2. Remove dead leaves
If your poinsettia is looking a little worse for wear, there are a few things you can try to help bring it flourish again. Remove any dead leaves from the pot, and continue to remove any leaves that fall off. If the stems of the plant have started to rot, cut them back far enough so that you can remove the dead parts.
3. Reposition your poinsettia
Image credit: Polly Wreford
You could also try changing its position. Place the poinsettia near a bright, south-facing window – as they are tropical plants they benefit from plenty of light.
4. Water enough, not too much
Monitor how much you are watering your poinsettia, too, as it should be moist rather than soggy. How much water you will need will depend on the temperature and humidity level. When in doubt, skip the water.
5. Fertilise the soil
Fertilise the poinsettia once a month after you’ve pruned it. As a rule of thumb, a poinsettia will require 1 or 2 tablespoons of fertiliser.
Lastly, cover your poinsettia plant every night or move it to a dark cupboard overnight. For it to bloom again, a poinsettia requires 14 hours of complete darkness every night. Continue to cover your plant until the buds start to appear again.
Image credit: The Big Poinsettia, £35, Bloom & Wild
How do you care for a poinsettia plant indoors?
‘Arguably one of the most famous Euphorbias, Poinsettias are easily identified by their large, red, star-shaped bracts, often mistaken for its flowers. The flowers are actually the tiny yellow berry-like structures at the centre of each leaf bract, which are called cyathia.
‘The poinsettia is a very easy plant to care for, but will want high light, so a spot in a well-lit room would work,’ says Keira Kay, plant expert at Bloom & Wild. ‘It’ll need watering every 7-10 days, but be sure to check the soil has partially dried ahead of watering again. You can do this either using your finger to feel the soil or by picking the plant up – if it feels light, it’s dry.’
‘Excessive moisture and poor drainage can cause root and stem rot, which can kill the plant,’ Keira continues. ‘To avoid this, make sure you only add more water when the surface of the soil has almost (but not completely) dried out. And it’s best to bottom water this plant, by placing it in a bowl or tray of tepid water for 10-15 mins, so that you can ensure the plant only takes up what it needs. This is a plant that will thrive in more humid conditions, so be sure to mist regularly to further the flowering cycle.’
How do you keep a poinsettia alive year round?
Image credit: Polly Wreford
If you plan on keeping the plant beyond the festive period, it’ll want feeding monthly with potassium-rich plant food to encourage new flowers. ‘Prune back in the early spring and keep it at a slightly lower temperature (around 13-15 degrees),’ says Keira at Bloom & Wild. ‘Reduce the light it gets to 10-12 hrs per day to mimic the wintery shorter days.’
‘You’ll want to re-pot it in May and pop it in a cool location (around 18 degrees) for continued growth.’
Will you be displaying some striking poinsettias in your home this Christmas?
Why do the leaves on my poinsettia keep falling off?
‘Leaf drop occurs as a result of overly warm or dry growing conditions,’ says Kiera. ‘To fix this, prune back any spent leaves and move it to a slightly cooler location, make sure it has enough water and mist it using a spray bottle to replicate humidity.
Top Tip: Keep poinsettia plants away from pets
The poinsettia plant’s brightly coloured leaves contain a sap that is irritating to the tissues of the mouth and oesophagus, so if the leaves are ingested by your pet they can cause nausea and vomiting. However, it would take a large amount of the plant’s material to actually cause significant poisoning.
With the dining room at the centre of the action over the festive season, all eyes will be on the table. Wow friends and family with Christmas place settings that look beautifully professional. Just get ready to see your table all over Instagram when people start posting about the day.
Christmas table decoration ideas are having a serious moment this year, and place settings are the easiest way to pull together a stylish look for every guest to enjoy.
Christmas place setting ideas
From elegant, grown-up arrangements, to designs the whole family will love, read on to discover your new favourite ways to lay your table this December.
1. Provide a plant
Image credit: Future PLC
It’s fair to say that succulents are the plant of the moment. They’re just about unkillable, meaning that even if you’re completely lacking in green thumbs, you can probably keep one alive.
Mini succulents on each place setting not only provide a contemporary take on festive foliage, but act as a thoughtful takeaway gift for your guests. Amp up the seasonal aspect by adding on some plant-safe glitter spray paint to match your Christmas dining room decor.
2. Add a retro touch
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Christmas is a time when we often look back to the past, and when doing this, we sometimes get a little drawn in. Retro-style Christmas decorations are having a definite moment and we’re all for it. A cute, quirky tree dec makes the perfect addition to your place settings. Either gift to your guests, or ask them to add to your tree after the meal so everyone feels included.
When thinking out Christmas table centrepiece ideas, go equally as retro, with a classic white-iced Christmas cake and a classic Christmas garland.
3. Consider your materials
Image credit: Lights4Fun
Sometimes choosing a simple place setting can be just as effective as a more overtly decorative approach – particularly when you’re focusing on a material or texture.
Look to nature for a relaxed and earthy inspiration. A thin round of wood becomes a perfect place mat, which is elevated with wonki ware and natural linen napkins. Wooden place holders complete the look.
4. Opt for elegance
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If you’re hosting purely for adults, or you just have an especially elegant theme running through your home, then add a sophisticated touch to your Christmas place settings.
Learn how to fold napkins for Christmas to achieve a professional look, then drape on a slender sprig of eucalyptus or fir and top with a flower. For the floral element, ideally choose whatever you’re using in either your centrepiece or from your Christmas flower arrangement ideas – both for ease and to create a finished look.
A simple silver bell becomes an ideal place holder – stamp with a pretty festive icon or just handwrite names in your neatest calligraphy.
5. Create cohesion
Image credit: Marks & Spencer
Place settings really don’t need to be complicated beasts. Once you have your centrepiece in mind, take out a few distinct elements to act as part of your place setting.
Wire brush trees are a great example, and when guests take their seat, the trees can be moved back into the centre to become part of the dining table forest. Alternatively, baubles could be placed into an already filled centre bowl for a party effect.
6. Mix and match
Image credit: Craft Editions
More can most definitely be more at Christmas. If you can’t decide between adding a decoration or some nature to your place settings, then simply add both!
Plain white crockery and tablecloths provide an ideal backdrop for going a little extra up on top. Remember to keep a thread of cohesion with your colourways – fruits or flowers matching embroidery or the decorations, for example.
7. Choose a rustic scheme
Image credit: Dunelm
Rustic Christmas decorating ideas all instantly conjure up a warm and welcoming feel, so bring this approach onto your dining table.
Novelty crockery in woodland scenes are a great starting point for these place settings and this also means that they don’t need too many extras. A simple, wooden decoration adds that Scandi-style vibe.
Make sure you stick to a warm palette of russets, golds and browns for a truly rustic theme.
8. Include personal Christmas trees
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We all love a miniature Christmas tree, but why not go even smaller with the tiniest sprig of fir wrapped in burlap? These sweet ‘trees’ make each place setting, and can either be given as a gift, or included into an arrangement elsewhere in the home once the meal is complete.
9. Add a pop of colour
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If your Christmas place setting is perfectly lovely but just feels as though it’s missing something, add a pop of festive red.
Lay a sprig of real berries on each plate, ensuring none fall off in case they’re toxic. Alternatively, faux berries on a wire can be easily shaped into a pretty napkin holder or decoration.
10. Layer your crockery
Image credit: Matalan
Add a sense of occasion to your table by catering for every need. Instead of a single dinner plate, work your way right up from the table. Start with a large charger – always a place to add some fun, so choose a metallic or brightly coloured option. Next, add on your place mats (yes, we’re doing both – it’s Christmas, after all!).
Pop on a dinner plate, side plate and top with a bowl which, since it’s unlikely to be used during the meal, can be filled with foliage or baubles for decoration, then taken away when it’s time to eat. After a quick rinse, the same bowls can be brought out again for dessert.
11. Be inspired by nature
Image credit: Future PLC
Bring the outdoors in with a whimsical setting inspired by winter walks. Seasonal foliage from the garden or florist, strewn along the centre of the table, makes a lovely alternative to a fabric table runner, while a ring of greenery around each plate creates the illusion of a lush, mossy place mat.
Continue the theme with nature-motif place cards and gifts in little boxes, wrapped in beautiful marbled paper.
12. Take a simple approach
Image credit: House of Fraser
Leaving a wood table uncovered, exposing the grainy surface, conjures up a relaxed feel. Dress with a garland of fir with seasonal berries and add pared-back place settings to balance the look.
‘Capture simple Scandi style with textured crockery and linen napkins,’ says Lois Vincent, home design manager at House of Fraser. ‘Name tags tied to pretty silver decorations can double up as party favours.’
13. Go for gold
Image credit: Dobbies
This lavish look evokes the grandeur of country houses, with its luxe linens, elegant glassware and touches of antique gold. ‘Introduce elements from the British countryside, such as foliage reminiscent of hedgerows,’ says Craig Roman, head of visual merchandising at Dobbies.
‘Wildlife and garden-themed accessories complete the scheme, including partridge feathers, bird decorations and fruit.’
14. Have some fun
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Little ones will love this playful place setting, complete with house-shaped gift boxes – perfect for hiding sweets and mini baubles. With excitement at an all-time high at this time of the year, we advise keeping your finest crockery for adult-only occasions.
Instead, layer festive paper plates on top of everyday white china to achieve a seasonal feel, while minimising the risk of breakages!
15. Choose a relaxed approach
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An informal place setting can look just as chic as a more elaborate look. Mixing styles is key: here, patterns and plains in an array of textures are linked by a co-ordinating colour palette.
Stick to traditional Christmas table decor ideas, at least in terms of the colourways. Classic red, green and white scheme is complemented by a miniature evergreen centrepiece in a felt pot holder – there’s nothing like the smell of fresh spruce to get your guests into the Christmas spirit.
16. Scent with fruit
Image credit: Notonthehighstreet.com
This sophisticated setting appeals to the senses as it smells as Christmassy as it looks. The scent of a clove-studded satsuma, teamed with twinkling tealights, creates an intimate mood.
The fruit also makes a colourful statement amid a crisp all-white scheme. Silver cutlery adds simple elegance and a sprig of faux snowberries a decorative flourish, while an initialised bauble is a thoughtful favour.
17. Add a touch of nostalgia
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Glass cloches are everywhere at the moment and we love their nostalgic feel. If you fancy a change from traditional festive colours, you can’t beat rich jewel shades for an opulent look.
Practise your calligraphy and tie handwritten names to the top with luxurious silk ribbon, and place a stylishly wrapped gift underneath as a personalised alternative to traditional crackers.
18. Take a twist on tradition
Image credit: Marks & Spencer
Red and green hues never go out of style at Christmas, but for a contemporary twist on tradition, opt for frosted berry decorations and accessories in rustic wood or with metallic finishes.
Recreate the look by embellishing the table with bowls of baubles, mini pine cones, elegant menus and fairy lights – those on invisible wires are our top tip for a sparkling table without clutter.
How do you set up a nice Christmas table?
A lovely Christmas table include enough place settings for all your guests, each with a personalised place holder, cutlery, glassware and crockery. A Christmas centrepiece is a must – either bang in the centre of the table, bud vases scattered along, or a draping fir garland running down the length. Ensure you leave room for candles, serving plates, platters, wine bottles and water jugs. Finally, remember not to overcrowd – guests still need enough space around their place setting to not feel overwhelmed.
Where do Christmas crackers go on the table?
Christmas crackers are a fun addition to any festive table. You can set one in the middle of each place setting or on a side plate, if you’re using one of the above ideas and don’t want to disrupt the effective. Another idea is to pile crackers into a large bowl or platter and allow guests to dig in whenever they want. If you have a large table, make sure there’s a bowl towards each end, so everyone feels included.
How do you decorate a Christmas table on a budget?
It’s so easy to decorate a Christmas table on a budget. You can use leftover decorations from your tree, or re-use displays from elsewhere in the home. Alternatively, you can forage for seasonal foliage for a striking – and budget! – approach that can last for much longer than the one meal. ‘Garland foliage such as fir can be stored in a zip lock bag with a drop of moisture and left somewhere cool to extend its shelf life,’ notes Ming Veevers Carter, Founder, Veevers Carter. ‘A garden shed would be ideal and will ensure your greenery keeps for roughly one month – you can reuse each piece when New Year’s Eve rolls around.’
The dining room really comes into its own over the festive season. Using Christmas dining room ideas you can transform your day-to-day space into something truly magical for friends and family to gather around.
From the table itself, to shelving and lighting, you can use these Christmas ideas to dress your dining room beautifully for the season. It may not make up for any cooking mishaps which are bound to happen, but at least you’ll be in perfectly festive surroundings, whatever happens!
Christmas dining room ideas
Whether you just want to add a few Yuletide touches, or are looking for a more all-encompassing change, read on to discover our favourite ways to upgrade your dining room this December.
1. Hang a branch to create a hanging centrepiece
Image credit: Future PLC
Leave space for festive fare by opting for an overhead centrepiece. Make sure the decorations are lightweight and hang from an existing light fixture, or fix to the ceiling using Command ceiling hooks and clear fishing wire.
Using a piece of wood with its natural undulations allows you to hang baubles from all different lengths, creating a more naturalistic and relaxed finish.
2. Create a cohesive scheme
Image credit: Future PLC
When dressing your Christmas dining room remember that, although important, it’s not all about the table. Make sure you include the other large pieces of furniture, such as dressers, cabinets and sideboards in your decorating. Christmas mantel decor can be linked in, too.
An easy way to integrate multiple pieces is by having a cohesive thread linking them all. For the festive season, an easy and pretty option is to continue whatever greenery you’re using on the table onto these other pieces. Sp if you have a eucalyptus garland on the table, add a jug of the foliage on a dresser, or a wreath hanging from a sideboard.
3. Choose a lengthy option
Image credit: Future PLC
Size isn’t everything. But it can make a difference! For the majority of the year you’re unlikely to need an especially large dining table, but if you’re hosting for the extended family at Christmas, then things change.
Extendable tables are a godsend for when you have a large influx of guests, just make sure that the room can still comfortably fit the table when at its full length. Integrate your dining room with another space that you can make use of over the rest of the year, when the table is smaller. Choose something easy to move out. Perhaps a small yoga area, a little oasis for houseplants, or a beanbag lounge area for the kids to read and relax.
4. Accessorise with seasonal shades
Image credit: Neptune
Choosing a strong colour scheme in your Christmas dining room not only makes finding pieces and decorating it much easier, but it creates a warmer, more finished space.
One must-have item can usually dictate this colour for you. Perhaps a cushion, a water jug or simply your absolute favourite bauble. Choose a couple of complementary shades and use your accessories to layer the colour throughout.
This is also a great option for people who love hosting, as changing the scheme of the room can simply come down to switching out a few small pieces for each different event.
5. Stick to a dominant material
Image credit: Future PLC
Colours aren’t the only way to create a cohesive look in your dining room. Texture and material are equally as useful.
Since the focal point of these spaces is, more often than not, the dining table, use this as your jumping off point. A rustic wood table can be echoed in your Christmas decorations throughout the room. Woven wreaths, naturalistic displays and wooden decorations all tie in to the table to create a considered room.
6. Add a festive glow
Image credit: Lights4Fun
Nothing quite adds atmosphere to a Christmas dining room than the use of lighting. Candles and Christmas lights create a sense of occasion, as well as making the room appear warmer, and creating extra sparkly details.
Weave fairy lights into centrepieces, garlands, wreaths and anywhere which needs a little extra something. If tying in with greenery, choose versions with green or clear wire so it blends in with the foliage.
7. Create a festive splash in an open-plan living space
Image credit: Lizzie Orme
If you have an open plan living space you can still add an extra festive flourish in the dining area. Capitalise on the proximity to the Christmas tree and keep the rest of the decorations simple.
A crystal reindeer as the table centrepiece and foliage over the mantlepiece keeps this space festive but elegant.
8. Keep the trimmings simple
Image credit: Polly Eltes
Sometimes less is more, especially when it comes to hosting a laid-back rustic Christmas. When choosing your Christmas table decorating ideas, consider simple sprigs of seasonal foliage, crackers and a large bowl filled with baubles is just enough to set the scene without overpowering the table with decoration.
9. Tie in a colour scheme with bows on the back of chairs
Image credit: D. Blackmore
Ribbons on the back of chairs are a simple and cost effective way to add a little pizzazz to the dining table come Christmas time.
While balloons might not be a typical Christmas decoration, if you have opted for a snow themed decor they are surprisingly effective decoration that will delight dinner guests.
A combination of white pearlescent helium balloons and see-through ones filled with confetti add to the snowy effect. Attach a garland of stars instead of the typical balloon string to add to the magic.
11. Hang a centre-piece from the ceiling
Image credit: David Brittain
Centre-pieces don’t need to be relocated to the table. Create a natural chandelier out of foraged foliate and hang above the dining room table for a naturally festive look. Finish the look with a relaxed tartan table cloth and old milk bottles with berries and roses scattered along the middle of the table
12. Put up a Christmas tree
Image credit: Joanna Henderson
If you are a family who prefers to open their presents after Christmas dinner, why not bundle all the festivities into the dining room. Decorate a real tree with paper lanterns and wooden decorations to match a rustic dining table covered with wooden tea light holders.
13. Fill a chandelier with foliage
Image credit: Brent Darby
Bring the outside in and decorating with seasonal foliage. We’re not just talking holly and mistletoe. Weave sprigs of pine and eucalyptus through chandeliers, on sideboards and along the table for a fresh and festive look.
14. Cast a rosy glow with scattered tea lights
Image credit: Dominic Blackmore
A Christmas Eve dinner calls for demure and subtle lighting. Dim the bright overhead lights, and scatter tea lights in mismatched silver holders across the table and sideboard.
The more the merrier, but if you’re also adding in foliage, go safe not sorry and look to battery powered LED tealights rather than the real deal.
15. Take a break from tradition with red roses
Image credit: Jonathan Gooch
If you want to create a splash on the dinner table a striking floral centrepiece will draw the eye, but remember to keep it low so your guests can see each other across the table.
A bowl of poinsettias will always look festive and colourful. However, why not take a break from tradition and opt for a display of red roses.
16. Hang traditional wreaths over a mantlepiece
Image credit: Dominic Blackmore
Wreaths aren’t just for the front door. Transform a chimney breast into a festive feature wall with three wreaths. In this dining room, rather than opting for a traditional red and green theme, more autumnal colours such as copper and amber have been used to compliment the existing room decor.
17. Create a Christmas scene on the mantelpiece
Image credit: Simon Whitmore
Sometimes only a jolly red will do when it comes to decorating for Christmas. Opt for a candy came red that will pop in your living room and bring a smile to adults and children alike. If you have a fireplace in your dining room, take full advantage of it by recreating a vibrant red Christmas village scene out of wooden decorations. Small lanterns spelling out Xmas on the table are a playful finishing touch.
How can I decorate my dining room for the holidays?
Decorate your dining nearly as liberally as you will when considering your Christmas living room decor. After all, the main event of Christmas dinner takes place here, so it needs to look good. That said, practicalities need to be taken into account. Christmas trees are lovely if there is space, but really work out if people can move around easily to get to their seats or leave the room. Similarly, layer up the table, but only once you’ve worked out how much space you need for your serving plates and platters.
How do you set up a Christmas dinner table?
Set up a Christmas dinner table as you would for any other large formal dining event in your home. All the key place setting elements must be there – place mats, coasters, cutlery, water jugs, candles and so on. To add that festive touch, a pretty Christmas centrepiece or garland harks nicely to the season. Similarly, place a small present, candy cane or personalised bauble at each place setting.
The table is where one of the biggest events of the festivities comes into play, so make sure yours is looking the part. From elegant place settings to all-out party Christmas table decoration ideas, there’s a style to suit every home for the holidays.
Get ready to welcome friends and family in this year and display all of your fabulous Christmas ideas – just be prepared for the food to take second place.
Christmas table decoration ideas
‘Tablescaping is a great way to express your personality and inject individuality into the home at Christmas,’ says Rosie Ward, Creative Director at Ward & Co. ‘This year, many of us are hoping to go big with our festive scenery, pulling out all the stops as we finally get to enjoy time together and celebrate around the table.’
1. Add a personalised touch
Image credit: Future PLC
We’re all used to place settings at formal gatherings, but make sure you enhance the sense of occasion by including them at your Christmas table. If you’re having drinks before dinner, or will be moving to another room after eating, then consider attaching the name tags to ribbons.
These tags can be quickly and easily handmade in line with your Christmas dining room ideas design. Once your guests have been seated, encourage them to tie the ribbon around the base of their glass as a helpful way to identify glassware as people start to move around the home.
2. Make impact with simplicity
Image credit: Neptune
Berries and pomegranate brighten a simple table setting. Use clementines and physalis if you prefer zesty orange tones. These fruits will add impact to plain white china and neutral table linens.
Layer Christmas-themes crockery for each place setting – a festive jumper-style snowflake design will never date! Team these with tartan placemats and crisp white table linen, both of which you can continue using well after the festivities are over.
To add a touch of texture and personality, make sure you think about coasters and placemats just as you do the crockery and glassware.
4. Combine flames with fresh produce
Image credit: Future PLC’Let there be light!,’ say the teams at Nyetimber and Lay London. ‘A simple way to elevate the table at home is with glowing candles or lanterns. Tall, glowing dinner candles in varying heights on the table adds a party mood. A colour-combo of candles can look sumptuous and liven up a simpler setting.’
Similarly, the flowers and foliage you choose can have a real impact. ‘Flowers make the table sing. These could be sprawling, banquet-like vines, or vases of blossomy hydrangeas in snow white. By picking out colours in the tableware for the florals, it really brings the scheme together. A quick cheat is having bowls of pomegranates or clementines on the table, for pops of bright colour.’
5 Choose an Art-Deco style
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The Art Deco look brings glamour to seasonal styling. Think flapper feathers and bugle beads, soft velvet ribbons and cool Jazz Age patterns, brimming with holiday spirit.
‘A dramatic blue tablescape is perfect for those that dine on Christmas evening, or could also work well for a New Year’s Eve party,’ adds Rosie Ward.
6. Go greener
Image credit: Toast
Presents are always a lovey touch to bring to a Christmas table but now, more than ever, it’s time to look at more eco-friendly ideas.
‘I like to bring warmth to the table with a Furoshiki table gift at each placing, which are the perfect alternative to crackers and can be re-used infinite times, making them a more sustainable option,’ says Judith Harris, Head of House & Home at TOAST.
‘Never underestimate the excitement of leaving little keepsakes for guests on the table,’ say the teams at Nyetimer and Lay London. ‘As it’s the festive season, you might add velvet bow napkin ties, candy-stripe bags of humbugs or ribbon-tied baubles at each place. No matter how small, guests will feel gleeful at their surprise, festive token.’
7. Make it work harder
Image credit: Marks & Spencer
If you’re decorating your table for Christmas, then it seems rather a shame to only use it for the one meal. Of course, many people adapt it slightly to use for a New Year’s setting, but that’s not all you can do.
Bring a true sense of occasion to your home, and add something extra to your Christmas countdown by setting the dining table for a festive breakfast, too. Some themed crockery can take the place of any more impressive or delicate centrepiece you’re bringing in the main event. Keep things simple so it’s easy to switch out when it’s time to prep for turkey time.
8. Welcome the outside in
Image credit: Dan Duchars
Bring a hint of greenery to the table. More than ever we’re looking for ways to connect with nature. Create a Christmas scene of natural joy, filled with gathered greenery made into beautiful arrangements along the dinner table.
String clustered bundles of sweetly scented herbs and foliage above the table using garden twine, that can scale the full length of the table to add both decoration and scent. Uses potted plants and thoughtfully placed sprigs on place settings to tie in further elements of nature at the table.
9. Set the tone with a muted palette
Image credit: Dan Duchars
Style a table filled with foliage and earthy toned textures to create a welcoming grounded essence to your festive celebrations. A muted colour palette helps to avoid overwhelming the scene, providing an understated elegant decorating scheme. Lay the table with considered crockery and glassware, interspersed with draped and potted festive foliage, buds and sprigs. Simple, sophisticated and stylish.
10. Decorate with warm and inviting shades
Image credit: Max Attenborough
Draw guests to the table with an alluring pull of festive shades. Get in the mood for entertaining with a dining room decorated in rich mulberry, gold and spice colours to conjure up the essence and spirit of Christmas.
Dress the table with simple dinnerware and create a runner of foliage down the middle to add a comforting touch of nature.
11. Make your own crackers
A little goes a long way when it come to decorating the Christmas table. This year why not make your own crackers? To save on budget and waste, because both are much-needed at this time of the year. Plus, who doesn’t love having a go at Christmas craft ideas? Aside from the bang of pulling a cracker, there’s nothing you’ll miss from making your own.
Simply place a treat inside a cardboard roll, wrap crepe paper or even fabric scraps around, then tie the ends with ribbon. You could even write your own jokes for inside, simply ask Google for the best cracker jokes.
12. Set up a drinks station
Image credit: Max Attenborough
Whatever the situation is for Christmas this year, one thing’s for sure…drinks will be required. Whether a Zoom celebration or a small number gathered still go all out and set up a dedicated drinks station.
Concoct classic cocktails with the help of a stylish home bar. Blend cocktails beautifully in delicate glass beakers with the aid of a handy mixologist set. Your Christmas party ideas have only just begun…
13. Welcome nature to the table
Image credit: Max Attenborough
Embrace the beauty of nature, beyond that of foliage and fresh flowers. Plump for seasonal fruits to help add a touch of colour to place settings.
With so many colours derived from nature, it’s a fabulous way to tie in all the accent colours that may already be present around the table, from textiles to stoneware. Plus a simple staged fruit for place settings is far more cost-effective than many other alternatives.
14. Add finesse with statement foliage
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Don’t underestimate the power of flowers, and they don’t have to be overly festive to still make the right impression. We’ve opted for beautiful hydrangea blooms to make a bold centrepiece that isn’t particularly festive, and yet it works. Whatever foliage you favour keep it in the same colour palette as your decorating scheme to tie it in seamlessly.
Sprigs of the same flowers are intertwined into the tree and on the metal wreath to create a co-ordinated look.
15. Enhance with reflective materials
Image credit: Maxwell Attenborough
Choose vessels that enhance your chosen foliage. Here warm sprigs of orange, yellow and pink flowers are off-set by a simple brass vase – adding a simple touch of glam to the table. While metallics also help to pick up light, reflecting a warming ambience around the surrounding table. so simple, yet so effective.
‘When it comes to creating your arrangement, remember not to add too much height and therefore block your guests’ views,’ says Ming Veevers Carter, Founder, Veevers Carter. ‘When organising your arrangement, sit down in a chair so you can see clearly and gauge the right height.’
16. Dot homemade candle bowls around the table
Image credit: Dan Duchars
Create your own festive lighting with candle bowls. Half fill a footed glass bowl with water and add floating candles. Place in a shallow glass dish and arrange sprigs of rosemary, snowberries and larch cones to create a woodland centrepiece.
17. Adorn the table with homemade mini trees
Image credit: Ti Media
Make a thoroughly festive statement by adorning the table with mini trees on place settings. You can cheat this effect by making homemade mini trees.
Simply take cuttings of branches from a real fir tree, and placing it in a tea light votive. If you have a real tree as your main tree you can easily snip branches from the back, they won’t be missed. Add a further touch of personality by dressing the ‘trees’ with mini baubles.
18. Look to the north for decor inspiration
Image credit: Paul Raeside
Use cool wintery colours and icy glassware for a relaxed Scandi-style Christmas table. Stack white and smoky grey plates topped with gorgeous glass bell jars filled with treats or rustic star-shaped decorations, alternating the two colours around the table.
For informal dining and a pared-back look, eschew a tablecloth in favour of a rustic linen table runner and matching napkins in a textured taupe. Finish the scheme with frosted glasses wreathed in eucalyptus, foraged berries and woodland finds.
19. Keep it classic with country style
Image credit: David Brittain
Mix traditionally festive colours of red and green with cute country-style touches for a warm Christmas look. Start by dressing the table in tartan and plain tablecloths for colour and texture. Add natural rush placemats, wood-handled cutlery and a mix of pretty candle holders for a natural theme and stack patterned plates with a contrasting colour to add interest.
Finally, create a name holder from threading nuts, herbs and berries into a garland and dress a cracker in an embroidered linen napkin.
20. Pick a traditional colour palette
Image credit: Simon Scarboro
Give your dining room Nordic charm with crisp stripes and checks in red and white. Add snow-white highlights with ceramics and candles. Bring it all together with the gleam of glass and silver, and scarlet-berried greenery. Use striped ribbon to tie decorations to guests’ chairs and dress the table with a red and white striped cloth.
Top sparkling silver place mats with gingham check napkins and go for white tableware with green and red decoration and cranberry-coloured glassware. Make it all shimmer and shine with plenty of candlelight.
21. Go for striking shades of blue
Image credit: Paul Raeside
Mix rose gold metallics and soft velvet in midnight jewel tones for an effortless yet luxe Christmas table setting. Inky indigo tableware contrasts perfectly with warm copper.
Choose a cutlery set with a streamlined minimal design to really show of the beauty of the burnished metal and match to a hammered-effect copper coaster and button details on the table runner.
22. Get creative with cookies
Image credit: Jan Baldwin
Create a charming Christmas table centrepiece with a playful biscuit tree. Here, elaborately iced festive treats are strung with ribbon and hung from the branches of a vintage metal stand – a mug tree or jewellery stand will serve just as well.
Wreath the base in fresh foliage and add a touch of sparkle with gold accents on champagne glass and a nut dish. It’s a lovely way to decorate your table between sit-down dinners.
23. Simply set the scene with white and foliage
Image credit: Robert Welch
For any Christmas table, a smart white backdrop will give the room a real sense of occasion and sophistication. Ensuring your staple table elements are pristine gives you a perfect base to build upon. A neutral base also ensures that key dining elements, such as cutlery place settings and serveware are highlighted within the scheme.
Flowers, foliage and candles in complementary colours will help to create an eye-catching centrepiece, and really bring a sense of the season indoors, without being obtrusive.
Faux options can be just as stunning as fresh foliage and also allow you to enjoy the decorations for longer. Try pairing the soft green tones of faux eucalyptus intertwined with dark berries, thistles and subtle fairy lights.
24. Warm your cockles
Image credit: David Brittain
Celebrate the completion of a bracing winter walk with a hot drinks table set up outside. A batch of hot toddy adds a deep ruby glow to the table, labelled with the tempting ‘Alice in Wonderland’ invitation. Keep some extra boiling water in a cheering thermos for top ups and pile up the fruit and nuts for a quick pick-me-up before supper.
Decorate the table with fresh fruit, foliage and feathers for a hint of rustic country charm.
25. Embrace Victoriana
Image credit: Jan Baldwin
Go all out and create a dessert side table laden with sweet treats and spicy mulled wine in homage to the great Victorian Christmas tradition. To set the scene in a neutral dining room, create a festive focal point with a homemade garland of pecan nuts and an oversized bauble.
Add a miniature tree, decorated in the same nut brown colours to one end of the table and choose vintage inspired tableware to complete the look.
26. Give a nod to Narnia
Image credit: Paul Raeside
Be inspired by the majesty of a winter snowscape with a white and silver Christmas table scheme. Create Narnia-inspired centrepieces with glass hurricane lanterns, miniature fir trees and heaps of fake snow.
Play with scale by filling different sizes and create a tangle of silver winterberries down the centre of the table. Finish the look with frosted glass and grey candlesticks dotted around.
27. Go dark and dramatic
Image credit: Paul Raeside
Make the most of a dark stone table top to create a striking monochrome scheme with blush accents. Mix black and white patterned plates with marble serving platters and a soft grey charger plate to add to the contrasting tones. Choose modern amber glassware in a simple design, shell pink napkins and copper touches for a luxurious twinkle.
A small wrapped gift makes a thoughtful name setting and finishes the look.
How do you lay a table for Christmas?
Interior designer and influencer, Louise Roe, lets us in on her step-by-step guide.
1.Use one item to kick-start an idea – Whether that’s an old candlestick, some bright wine glasses, or even a vintage gravy boat! It’s a great way to build a theme
2. Think about the table in layers – I like to start with the tablecloth, then add the plates and glasses, and finally the flowers.
3. Get personal – Custom, bespoke pieces on a tabletop really make a meal extra special. Having a family member’s name engraved, or a special phrase or message, is such a beautiful touch when hosting.
4.Think outside the box – don’t just shop in the tabletop section, but decorations and toys work too. I stole a few of my daughter’s wooden Nutcracker soldiers to add to each place setting last Christmas! Baubles dotted around the centre of the table look fabulous too.
5. Don’t hide the napkins – Be creative with how you show them off – fold them on top of the plate, inside the glass, or tie a little ribbon around them – that’s my favourite look.
6. Keep vases low – It’s important guests can see each other across the table, so cut flowers shorter. It actually looks best having colour lower to the table. I love a mix of jam jars and little coloured vases.
7. Make it seasonal, but with a twist – I love using colours from the time of year, but not making it too predictable. For example, one festive tabletop is a mix of tonal greens.
8. I’m a maximalist, so more is more – You really can’t go wrong, just have fun.
How do you make a Christmas tablescape?
‘Christmas tables should be joyful and fun, with a little glamour.,’ say the teams at Nyetimber and Lay London. ‘You can create an exciting colour scheme for the table beyond the classic ‘green and red’ and add a festive feel by mixing in golden tones and velvet textures. “Tablescaping” has become a widely known term and a popular trend, with creativity at the table flourishing thanks to everyone spending more time at home. Now that we can host loved ones once again, people are taking extra care over presentation for long-awaited moments shared with friends and family.’
What’s trending for Christmas this year?
One of the biggest looks of the year has to be the Scandi style. ‘Less is more – Scandi is the perfect theme for the low key host due to its limited colour palette and minimal accessories,’ says Rosie Ward. You can utilise items you likely already have in your cupboards and fill in the gaps with locally sourced or faux foliage. Festive greenery should be the star of the show. You can easily forage for sprigs in the garden, on a walk or use offcuts from the Christmas tree. Two or three shorter pieces can be arranged together down the centre of the table to create the look of one single garland, just make sure to hide any cut ends within the foliage.’
‘Pine cones make a lovely addition and can be nestled amongst the foliage to build volume and texture.
Think ‘hygge’ and fill your space with cosy light and earthy tones. A natural linen tablecloth can be layered with rattan placemats or charger plates and simple clear crystal wear. Intersperse cream or white candles amongst the foliage and consider using a mixture of taller candlesticks, tealights and chunky pillar candles to create drama and variety.’
