“Forget the minimal Christmas table design,” says
Alysha Alli, head of interiors at Redrow. “Bringing a slice of your personality
to the table will ensure you stand out.”
Indeed, styling up your table setting is a
surefire way to showcase your festive flair – especially if you’re looking for
some wow factor when hosting family and friends.
“Incorporating hints of a more personal palette
creates a much more authentic look, with a contemporary edge on the classic
Christmas,” suggests Alli.
When it comes to creating your look, she says
blending luxurious fabrics like green velvet with rich comforting textures such
as red linens, or using dried botanicals with open constructions for an organic
look is on trend this year.
“Pairing these with contemporary finishes like
mixed metallics can exude a ‘perfectly imperfect’ finish for an understated
classical Christmas look,” she adds.
No stress
And for peace of mind – especially if you’re a
newbie to theming your tableware and dinner setting – Wendy Rea, expert florist
at Direct2Florist, says creating a luxurious tablescape display for Christmas
that looks professionally done doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive.
“The first thing you need to decide on is your
theme, like traditional or modern, and then your colour scheme,” suggests Rea.
Once you’ve decided on the theme, she says to pick
three to four key colours you want to incorporate throughout the display.
“I’ve gone with the traditional Christmas theme, so
I’ve stuck to red, green, white and gold, which matches the flowers and foliage
I’ve chosen to use,” notes Rea.
“This helps to keep the display looking effortless
and seamless, but striking as well.”
“I’d always suggest using either gold, silver or bronze alongside your other colours, to glitz things up a bit,” Rea adds.
A touch of glamour
Alli agrees – especially if you want to lean into
the glam.
“If you fancy a touch of glamour, incorporating
eye-catching and ornate designs such as metallics, diamonds or geometrics, will
elevate your table from the crowd,” she says.
You don’t have to get exact matching sets
throughout. While this may be a simple fast track to creating a seamlessly
themed tablescape, there are lots of ways you can get creative.
Little details – like napkins, ribbons, crackers
and flowers – can be pulled in for colourful accents.
Tree decorations can be a wonderful way to add
interest and pops of personality to your setting, too.
Whether you want to create a more elaborate
centrepiece or keep it simple by popping a bauble atop each plate, it’s all
about injecting some style.
Alli also suggests exploring different textiles and
finishes.
“Tactile finishes stand out,” she says, “so look
for different materials, like felt and velvet for an indulgent feeling.
“Table dressings combined with colourful
accessories like nutcracker candles will also help create a celebratory mood.
“Tinted glass decorations and using tabletop LED
lighting or candle holders also add a warm ambience to your table,” notes Alli.
Rea says to dot these around your foliage and flowers to complete the centrepiece. “This is your chance to be really creative. A floral display that’s fresh, dried, or both is usually what professionals often opt for.
Final flourish
For the final flourish, when it comes to arranging
stemware for the table, Hilary Green, head of design at Dartington Crystal,
says positioning is key.
“Creating a stunning festive table setting has
become one of the biggest Christmas trends in recent years,” observes Green.
“Festive decorations and beautiful crockery usually
take the most attention,” she continues. “However, drinkware provides the
finishing touch and, like everything else on the table, requires careful
consideration.”
When selecting drinkware for the table, Green says
to only include glasses guests require for both the starter and main courses,
such as a water glass, red and white wine glass, and champagne flute or saucer.
And once you’ve cracked the tablescaping code, Alli
suggests making the most of this opportunity to draw on joyful and whimsical
decorations to make your home feel fresh for a few weeks.
“Have fun with your palette,” enthuses Alli. “And
don’t be afraid to stretch the home décor boundaries!”