The tree is up, the presents are wrapped and now it’s my favourite of all, dressing the Christmas dinner table. Whether you eat at two for two, or seven with eleven, getting the festive feel to your meal is just so much fun!
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Have a theme
To make everything work together it helps to have a theme to help you plan and create. You could choose a colour or a character, a texture or a pattern, a film or a book, rustic or glam! This year brass is big and can create the starting point for your table glam. You could be Rudolph, rustic and wood, adding in some greenery and mistletoe. Tropical tables for brightness and zing! -
Create a centrepiece
A centrepiece adds focus to your table as your family, friends and guests come to the table to sit down. You can create this in lots of different ways, but don’t forget it might need to be moved later on to make way for the food so consider this when you plan! Candles and foliage arrangements always look great and add a traditional festive feel. You could pile your table gifts into a Christmas tree shape, draped in mini fairy lights for an instant wow that will be demolished in delight early on, this is a great one as height is critical, read on… take care to keep the centrepiece a good height so you can all see each other and let the chatter and frivolities flow. Low or high, avoid the in-between (unless you want to avoid your Auntie!) -
Add lights
Lights are the magic. They add the twinkle and the glow, they bounce off and reflect in the decoration, glassware and sparkling cutlery. There are easy ways to add lights to your table. Candles are great, voitives or tealights in gorgeous glass jars. You can make your own in glass jars with glitter, twine and holly. Or candles higher up above guest’s eye line in tall candle sticks and candelabras. A favourite of mine is the micro led fairy lights, wound in and around your table décor, in warm and cool colours. -
Place settings
Make your table personal, plan who sits where to let the festivities flow. Place settings are another great way of decorating your table and can become the focal point to your table decorations. Fun, festive napkin rings, matching in colour and theme. Place names with a difference, wooden laser cut names with a sprig of holly tucked behind them on a white napkin. Wine glass markers & personalised sparkling cocktail stirrers in the prosecco and fizz. -
Crackers or table gifts?
Crackers or table gifts…or both?! Crackers can be bought to theme with your table colours, some contain great games and entertainment for all generations sat at the table. Making your own can be great fun, a chance to include personal presents, family favourite games or charades! There are lots of Cracker making kits to help you do this. You could have everyone making their Christmas hat or selfie props! Table gifts are popular, wrapping them in same size boxes can keep your guests guessing the contents! -
Something for the small people (or fur babies!)
Christmas Dinner can be a lengthy affair and keeping the small people at the table and not escaping back to their presents can be a challenge. Including something just for them is a good way to do this, colouring placemats and tablecloths with a pot of festive shaped crayons can keep them focussed and quiet. A joke book is always great and lets them become the centre of the table entertainment. Puzzles, mini construction kits in the table gifts can keep them entertained. Treats, toys and chews for the Fur Babies keeps a happy mutt. -
Laying up a place setting
Getting this right can be tricky so just remember a couple of golden rules, forks on the left, knives on the right, facing inward…eat from the outside in. This means starter’s cutlery goes on the outside of the place setting and mains on the inner side, soups and deserts above the place setting. A separate glass for each kind of drink, fizz, white or red. -
Crockery & cutlery
Plates, knives, forks, glasses…oh we can have fun here! Are you a simple classic kind or a full on festive?! There are some fabulous choices of Christmas themed crockery and glassware and so so easy to get carried away. Make sure it compliments and enhances your table theme, tie in colours and patterns. If you go for Festive patterned crockery keep the napkins plain and simple to show off your plates and glasses.
Whatever your theme and décor, rustic or glam…always add sparkle it is Christmas after all and just once in the year! Sprinkle table crystals, mini baubles, glitter, mini fairy lights, candles or just classic sparkling glassware! Adding table sparklers is always a great way to bring in the Christmas pudding. Most of all have fun and let your family, friends and guests be your sparkle!