It’s the festive month of December and Christmas day is rolling along fast! If you’re hosting Christmas this year and you’re currently putting some thought into how to decorate the merry table, here are some useful tips and pics for inspiration depending on your style!
You can create a wonderfully festive table without spending a lot of money and simply by using a collection of elements you may already have at home. It’s always great to look to the Northern hemisphere and retailers at this time of year as they do winter festive table settings so well.
Whats your theme? Choose a style that shows your personality. Do you prefer Cosy Cottage, Nordic-Woodland, Beach-Casual, Retro fun or a more opulent dinner party style!
Cosy-cottage
A simple classic look with a minimalist approach. With this style you can go with crisp white, beige, navy or simple patterned linens and napkins. It’s a classic look to go with white linen and build the cottage style around with table runners and festive items. You might even have a suitable quilt that will dress the table. Don’t be tempted to go out and buy new china, simple white or pastel is best. Mismatched plates can even look great. Then add natural touches, candles, lanterns, decorations, snacks, vases with flowers from the garden such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, twigs, branches or even Pohutukawa. Natural elements make a table setting feel more relaxed.
Nordic-Woodland
This is a fun and very whimsical Christmas theme, think winter Christmas in Norway and all the natural elements that apply…neutrals, linen, jute, wooden serving boards, gingerbread houses, pine cones, miniature wooden decorations, reindeer’s, green garlands and festive branches from the forest dusted with snowflakes. Woodwick candles also make wonderful crackling wicks to help set the scene. For table foods add bowls of nuts, cherries, cheese boards, figs and chocolates.
Beach-Casual
This is a great relaxed theme for non traditional, outdoor tables, at the beach and bbq kiwiana Christmas with family and friends. For table linens why not choose a bright floral or beach stripes. You can add crystal looking tinted plastic tumblers and dress the space very minimalist. For the table top simply add jars filled with sand, shells and tealights to protect the candles from the wind, vases with flowering Pohutukawa, twigs, Toi Toi and driftwood and wine bottles reused with tall candles.
Retro colour
Have a bit of fun with your Christmas day table setting. Throw out tradition adding a dose of quirkiness and colour pop if that’s more your thing. Build up the colour with table cloths, accessories , decorations, bright flowers, tumblers, Christmas crackers and sweets.
Glitz and Glam
Create a luxuriously festive party table for Christmas day through metallic and glittery accents. Layer up the china and place the cutlery and glassware squarely in its place for a more formal setting. Tables runners, crystal stemware, tall candles, ball balls, place mats, napkins with napkin ties, place name cards…the works!
Victorian opulence
For a banquet style feast with all the tradition of Windsor, get out the finest and old English serve ware. From regal cutlery, gilded china, candelabras, Wedgewood, table runners, tassels and more…You can even lay out the appetizers in feast form along the table runner with high and low stands, serving trays and silverware. For the menu why not add roasted chestnuts, pork pies, pigs in blankets, figs, ‘bird in a bird’ roasts, Beef Wellington, Eton mess, fruit mince pies and more.
Decadent Black and Gold
A sophisticated and luxurious Christmas table theme with striking visual effect for guests as they arrive. Either modern or 50’s Gatsby glam. Fill tall vases with black and gold decorations, black ribbons around napkins and chairs, golden champagne flutes, an array of wine glasses to match wines, water tumblers, tall candles, gold cutlery and servers, posh Christmas crackers and some Veuve Cliquot and Charbonnel&Walker truffles to top it off!
