what size christmas tablecloth you need when the table grows

The most common mistake at Christmas is using the usual tablecloth on a table that is no longer the usual one. You open the extending table, add a leaf or push the living-room table against the kitchen one, and the tablecloth falls short at one end. Before choosing, measure the table exactly as you will set it up on the day, not as it is now.

And if you end up with more people than chairs, remember the drop counts too: with lots of guests sitting elbow to elbow, a short drop at the sides is more comfortable than a long one. You will find the available sizes in our tablecloths.

christmas colours beyond red

Red is the colour we all associate with Christmas, but it is not the only one that works, and it has a drawback: after 6 January it is hard to use again. A festive tablecloth does not need reindeer or stars to feel festive. These are the palettes that dress the holiday table best and keep working for the rest of winter.

If you already have very colourful tableware or decorations at home, choose a calmer tablecloth; if your tableware is plain white, the tablecloth can bring the print. You will find ideas for the season in our Christmas collection.

The best Christmas tablecloth is the one you feel like laying again in January.

one tablecloth for christmas eve, christmas day and new year’s eve

Three big meals come one after another in a single week, and you do not need a different tablecloth for each. With a good Christmas Eve tablecloth as the base, simply changing the accessories gives each celebration its own feel.

Christmas Eve is the most intimate dinner: low candles, cloth napkins and a centrepiece of greenery. Christmas lunch is longer and busier; daylight takes over, so fruit centrepieces and warm colours work well. New Year’s Eve calls for some sparkle: swap the napkins for darker ones, add gold touches and raise the centrepiece a little.

Between one celebration and the next, remove the crumbs by gently shaking the tablecloth outdoors and store it folded along the same creases so you do not add new ones.

layers for a christmas table with more depth

The simplest way to make a Christmas table look magazine-worthy is to build it in layers. It is not about piling things up, but giving each piece its place.

On a plain tablecloth, a printed table runner marks the centre and guides the eye. On a printed tablecloth, a plain or natural-fibre runner that does not compete works better. The napkins complete the look: repeat one of the tablecloth’s colours in them and the table will be coordinated effortlessly.

christmas table mishaps (and how to fix them)

Candle wax on the tablecloth

It is the classic stain of the season and the most alarming. Do not rub it while warm: wait for the wax to cool, or put an ice cube on it to harden it, and gently scrape it off with the edge of a spoon. If a film remains, place kitchen paper above and below the area and run a warm iron over it: the paper absorbs the melting wax. For other common stains, such as wine or oil, see our guide on how to wash and care for your cloth tablecloths.

Getting it ready a week ahead

Take the tablecloth out a few days early, check the size on the table as it will be set up and, if it has been stored since last year, wash and iron it calmly. Then store it rolled on a cardboard tube or hung up: that way it reaches the day without crease marks. If there will be children at the table, consider a stain-resistant tablecloth; we explain the differences in stain-resistant or cloth tablecloth.