How to Dress Your Dining Room Table for Christmas
Words by Emma Hughes
December 03, 2021
|
4m
Christmas is a time for fun and getting together with loved ones, but it can be a very hectic experience for those who are hosting. While the focus is usually to make sure the food turns out perfectly, often the art of dressing the Christmas table can be overlooked.
If you need a little guidance, we’ve put together some simple steps for dressing and styling your Christmas table – covering everything from dinner essentials to Christmas table décor.
What do you need on a Christmas table?
There’s nothing worse than sitting down to dinner and realising you’ve forgotten something, so save yourself the trouble and create a checklist that helps the day go smoothly. Every family has their own traditions, but these are the five main areas to think about when setting your Christmas table.
1. Place Settings
Place settings can be as simple or as showstopping as you like. As well as placemats, there are Christmas staples such as crackers and cloth napkins, but you can also introduce homemade name cards for a personalised touch if there are a lot of guests. Charger plates are optional, but many consider them a Christmas Day must-have.
2. Crockery and Cutlery
Make sure you have the correct crockery for whatever’s on the menu as soon as possible; you don’t want to start setting the table to discover that one person will be eating their main course from a cereal bowl! Your table will look nicely put together if you lay out the cutlery for each course in advance too – starting from the outside.
3. Glassware
A dinner table is traditionally set with a water tumbler and a wine glass, so make sure you have plenty of those. If you want it to be spot on, your guests’ glassware should sit to their right. Ice buckets and jugs of water are a great idea if there’s space, but if not – these can be popped on a sideboard or drinks trolley for guests to help themselves to.
4. Serveware
If you’re serving food at the table, you’ll need some good quality dishes, preferably with lids. You’ll also want to provide a few tongs and serving utensils, so guests don’t have to wait their turn. A good size gravy jug is crucial at Christmas – you may even wish to invest in two for larger parties!
5. Finishing Touches
It’s the small, thoughtful touches that will make your dinner one to remember. If there are children at the table, you may want to put out fun favours such as novelty Christmas headwear or party poppers. And why not get the adults a small gift too? You should also lay out any condiments, sauces, and salt and pepper in advance to save yourself trips to the kitchen.
How to style a Christmas Dining Table
When it comes to styling your Christmas table, it all comes down to personal taste. Some people prefer a single centrepiece as the main focus, whereas others opt for clusters of carefully selected accessories. You’ll find a wide range of Christmas table décor in our collection, such as tabletop Christmas trees, festive candle holders and more.
Tablecloths and Runners
First, decide whether you’d like to use a tablecloth or a runner, or if you’d prefer to show your dining table off. If you choose the latter, make sure you have plenty of placemats and trivets to protect your table from hot plates, serving dishes and spillages. Trays offer a nice touch, as they can double up as decorative pieces, too, or somewhere to serve fruit, crackers and cheese.
Lighting
Perfect for winter, lanterns have a distinctly traditional feel, but they complement almost any look. For something a little more festive, we’ve got tealight holders in a host of yuletide designs. If candles aren’t your thing, how about a decorative LED tree? Our selection of battery-operated tabletop trees look even more beautiful when lit up.
A Table Rack
A table rack is a brilliant way to decorate your Christmas table without taking surface space away from all of the food! Among other things, you can drape your table rack in seasonal foliage, wrap it in fairy lights, or suspend decorations and baubles from it.
Christmas Table Ideas
No two Christmases look the same, which is why we offer a unique range of Christmas accessories and décor to suit all kinds of tastes. Whether you want to step away from the traditional red and gold, or you simply wish to update your collection with some contemporary items, you’re sure to find something stylish here at Barker and Stonehouse.
Looking for a little inspiration first? Here are three very different Christmas table ideas to try…
Nordic Christmas Table
For a pure, simple and elegant look, opt for snowy white accessories and glacial ornaments. Beautifully combined with fluffy foliage and a pale wooden table, it’s natural yet festive.
Mystical Christmas Table
Embrace the dark side with dramatic jugs and vases alongside twigs and soft candlelight. Add a few metallic streamers and baubles for a touch of glitz.
Rustic Christmas Table
Dried flowers and neutral tones are an alternative choice for your Christmas table, but striking nonetheless. Illuminated by a single candle and LED Christmas tree, the effect is understated yet special.
More Christmas Inspiration
We hope you’ve found our Christmas table ideas helpful, and would love to see how you style your Barker and Stonehouse pieces! Tag us in your Instagram posts for the chance to be featured.
Looking for even more inspo? Check out our guide on Christmas decor you can use all year round and learn how to be the perfect host with our top tips on how to host a festive night in.