If there’s ever going to be an occasion to put a little time and effort into your table setting then it has to be Christmas dinner! The most important meal of the year deserves the ultimate table decor and so now’s the time to start planning. Whatever style of decor you’re aiming for, make this year’s festive meal the best one yet with our top tips on how to set your table for Christmas dinner.
Prepare Ahead
Planning is key when thinking about how to set your table for Christmas dinner. From presents to cooking, there’s a lot to think about on Christmas Day and the last thing you need when juggling a million different tasks is to think about setting the table. That’s why our top tip for how to set your table for Christmas dinner is to set up the day before. Plan the dishes, crockery and cutlery that you would like to use in advance of the big day so that you can check if anything is missing and see what you need to buy new. Once you’ve got everything you need laid out, the actual process of how to set your table for Christmas dinner will be quick and straightforward. However, doing this ahead of time will mean that you don’t need to worry about rushing and can focus on enjoying the festivities instead.
Pick A Theme
When thinking about how to set your table for Christmas dinner, you want to start by picking a theme. The theme that you decide to go for really depends on your individual decor preferences and the style of your Christmas dining table. For example, if you have an industrial style dining table then a rustic and minimalist theme that incorporates plenty of exposed textures like wood and metal looks great. Our Exmoor Cutlery Set that features dark titanium handles in a gunmetal grey are a perfect complaint to an industrial style dining table. If you’re looking to achieve a more classic theme to suit a traditional or farmhouse style dining table, sticking to a neutral colour palette with the odd splashes of classic festive red and green is a great look. Wooden serving boards are perfect for a country style Christmas, and particularly well suited to serving cheese or starters.
Choose An Eye-Catching Centrepiece
We couldn’t write a guide on how to set your table for Christmas dinner without mentioning the importance of choosing a good centrepiece. Space is precious at the Christmas dinner table and so you don’t necessarily want to choose something that’s large and takes up valuable space that could be used for food. Running a pine garland down the centre of the table with tall candle sticks makes a beautifully festive centrepiece that doesn’t take up too much room. You can also accessorise this with dried oranges, faux berries and dried flowers. Tall and narrow, our Bovey Candle Holders in antique brass are perfect for adding interest and light to the centre of the table without taking up too much space. Alternatively, the stunning Cleave Candelabra in brass creates an elegant statement on its own. Capable of holding up to 6 candles, this stunning piece benefits from a statement sculptural look that’s bound to wow guests.
Don’t Forget Glassware
With so much to think about regarding food, it’s easy to forget the importance of choosing the best glassware when thinking about how to set your table for Christmas dinner. However, you don’t want the wrong glassware letting down the look of the rest of the table! If you have the space on the table, it’s always best to set out both water and wine glasses. If you’ve gone for a traditional theme then high quality, clear glasses such as the elegant Coniston Bourgogne Wine Glasses are the best choice. If you’re hoping to add a subtle hint of colour with your glassware then we’d recommend the Melbury Wine Glasses with an amber or smoke hue on the stem. The Melbury collection also includes tumblers and cocktail glasses to complement your wine glasses. If your dining table is very short on space it can be a fun idea to set up a DIY drinks stand separate to the table where guests can help themselves to beverages and glasses.
Personalise Your Table
Our ultimate piece of advice on how to set your table for Christmas dinner is to make it personal. That’s what turns a good Christmas table layout into a spectacular Christmas table layout! Get creative with handmade place settings. For example, you could make small gingerbread biscuits and ice people’s names onto them. Another simple but effective DIY trick for table place settings is to write or print names onto a label and tie it to a small Christmas bauble or ornament. It’s also a lovely idea to create small table presents for each of your guests to open when they sit down for dinner. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, but makes a lovely gesture that makes the meal even more special! When thinking about how to set your table for Christmas dinner, it’s the small details like this that make all the difference.
