How to set your table for Christmas: themes, ideas and inspiration

If you also love this time of year and go all out for the Christmas holidays, you may like to adapt your home decor or dress your table for the occasion.

Christmas is a magical time when we love getting together with family and friends to celebrate and share lots of special moments. From Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinners to Christmas Day or New Year's Day lunches, not forgetting themed breakfasts or afternoon snacks lovingly prepared at home during those special days.

Before giving you tips on how to set your table for Christmas, we'd like to offer you a little inspiration to swap the decor on beds and cots for the Christmas designs in our shop.

We love the wintry, 100% natural Mystical design, but also the Merry Christmas children's and cot bedding, which includes a charming cushion cover with two designs in one. As perfect as it is fun!

A chance to prepare a special table

A fundamental part of these Christmas celebrations is decorating the table, something that will make the occasion even more charming. Here are some ideas and tips to make your Christmas table shine.

Choose a theme or a few main colours

First of all, think about the style you want for your Christmas table, just as you once thought about which colours you liked for decorating the tree.

You can choose a specific theme or colour palette to guide your decor. It could be an all-gold style, a vintage or traditional one, or a more natural Nordic style. Whatever you like. You could also go for a more fun and original theme that includes unusual pieces!

The traditional colours are red, green and gold. These never go out of fashion, but you can also choose modern combinations with other greens, blues, fuchsias, oranges or chrome.

Choose a Christmas tablecloth or a table runner

A good starting point is to choose a tablecloth that suits your theme or colour palette. You can use a plain tablecloth and add a table runner with Christmas motifs on top for a more festive touch. Or, if you prefer, go for a fully Christmassy tablecloth like some of those in our shop.

Here's an alternative idea: why not use our lovely, charming themed tea towels as placemats on top of the main tablecloth?

Look at the delightful designs we have. You'll love them!

Add festive centrepieces

The focal point of a table dressed for Christmas is the centrepiece, which can be round, square or long, whatever you prefer!

It will be the star of the decor, and you can design it using ornaments typically used to decorate the tree.

Create a simple centrepiece with candles and pine or holly branches, or add flowers, real pine cones or Christmas decorations such as baubles or bells. Don't forget to keep it low enough not to block the view between guests, so conversation can flow during lunch or dinner.

Choose special tableware, glassware and cutlery

The occasion deserves your best, most elegant tableware, or a festive-themed set. Also use lovely glassware and gold, copper or silver cutlery for the occasion. Plates with gold or silver rims are very effective, but there are dinner sets with classic Christmas motifs, such as snowflakes, holly or little stars.

Complete the tableware with pretty cloth napkins, neatly folded and with decorative napkin rings. A more informal alternative would be to use paper napkins decorated with Christmas motifs.

Personalised touches that make a difference

If you enjoy crafts, we recommend creating a personalised touch made by you or someone close to you to finish off your Christmas table.

Examples include name tags for your guests, or natural details made with satin ribbons and small twigs to place on each plate or decorate the napkins.

Another option is to add small ornaments or sweets at each place setting as a thank-you to your guests.

The importance of warm lighting

Lighting is key to transforming the atmosphere and creating a sense of cosiness, warmth, closeness and intimacy… Use candles for this, but also warm-toned lights on or around the table.

You can also use garlands or glass pieces with little lights inside to create a warm, cosy atmosphere on your Christmas table. LED lights add that sparkle without overloading the atmosphere.

A few natural touches always help

These days it's very popular to bring some 100% natural elements into the Christmas decor throughout the house, including the table. Some examples: pine cones, eucalyptus branches, fruit such as pomegranates or dried oranges, pumpkins, cinnamon sticks… They don't just add beauty, but also delicious scents that evoke this time of year.

Remember that the key is to enjoy the process, share it with family and friends, and let your creativity flow freely.

Christmas is the perfect time to show off your style and create a cosy, festive atmosphere for the people you love most!