Christmas Table Styling Tips from Rebecca
It's time to start planning your Christmas table styling. Whether you're hosting an intimate gathering or entertaining the whole family, this is your chance to go all-out with your tablescaping to create a beautiful and memorable Christmas table.
Read on for my notes on our Victoria striped table linen design, currently available in three festive colours, as well as my advice for elevated your table this Christmas.
Our Victoria table linen design
Our Victoria linen tablecloths and napkins are available in a choice of three colours: burgundy, fir green and burnt mustard - all of which work wonderfully for Christmas.
The jagged stripe and two tone design adds texture and depth to your table. I much prefer this to a traditional printed stripe which is often one-dimensional and can feel flat, personally. Printing on linen gives a better drape, a nicer texture and is more sustainable and longer lasting.
The design features a classic ticking stripe which is digitally printed for a more contemporary feel. The delicate stripe feels more refined, and is both casual enough for lunches but sophisticated enough for evening dinners.
The colours chosen are great ‘mid-tones’ – colours I find easy to style with. Pair the mustard with olive, mid-green, raspberry, mid-blue, brown or natural – there are many possibilities to style this to your own style. The green is equally versatile. The burgundy is a fail-safe colour for autumn and winter, or for indoor dinner parties during the spring and summer.
Tips to elevate your table
Read on for advice on how to make your table feel extra special this Christmas ...
Something unexpected
I like adding something unexpected or possibly ‘clashing’ to the table. Too considered can feel contrived and doesn’t offer the atmosphere I want to create at mealtimes. For example, add a vibrant pattern (such as marble) in a different colourway as an accessory. On our Victoria burgundy table, I wrapped small gifts in a marble paper which had some antique gold tones which was a secondary colour in the table’s palette. I brought more of the antique gold into the table through accessories – ribbon, candles and napkin cording – to tie everything together and to make the table pop. Overall though, the feel of the marble paper feels less considered.
Flower style
I tend to not consider flower colours too much – mostly because the availability of flowers in the north of England tends to be more limited (I realised this after visiting both London and Leeds flowers markets!), but also because I like the table to feel slightly eclectic - but not unconsidered. This is an approach I take with interiors, too. I love to mix antique furniture with more contemporary pieces and art. To me, it’s more important that flowers are seasonal and have a whimsical, loose style. At this time of year, I especially love Hellebores. Paperwhite pots are also beautiful, and you can introduce more texture by adding moss to the base of the plants. They will also keep for longer, and can be placed in bathrooms or bedrooms after your meal.
Layering
I like a table to feel layered, whether that’s through different textures, patterns or colours. Velvet ribbons or, as previously mentioned, gifts wrapped in marbled paper are a great addition to add interest to a Christmas table. Equally, coloured or optical/rippled glassware is unexpected and adds an extra touch. Rattan is informal but I don’t mind using rattan chargers or placemats for any occasion. I used them for my wedding, as I personally don’t like tables to look too stiff for any event. If this isn’t to your taste, add texture through cutlery, glassware and candleholders.
This might sound like hard work but truthfully, a few great pieces and a considered collection of tableware makes styling a Christmas table very simple. I like to keep the following in my collection, which can be mixed and matched for different occasions: a few great tablecloths, some textured pieces, and a lovely selection of glassware and plates. I then add seasonal accessories such as flowers and ribbons and different coloured dinner candles.
Our Christmas tables
See below the four Christmas tables that we styled for this year - three using each other of our Victoria striped linen tablecloth, and one using a classic white tablecloth with simple green accessories. Ultimately, how you dress your Christmas table is down to your own personal taste, but I hope these tips have helped you to consider how you will style your table this year.
Victoria striped linen tablecloth in burgundy
As previously mentioned, I wrapped small gifts in marbled paper for each place setting. I then brought out the antique gold tones in the marbling with ribbons, candles and the trim on the napkins.
Victoria striped linen tablecloth in burnt mustard
Combining the burnt mustard striped Victoria tablecloth with chocolate placemats and plates with a gold trim created an elegant ambiance. Rattan chargers added texture while seasonal foliage and olive green dinner candles introduced height to the table.
Victoria striped linen tablecloth in fir green
A more contemporary take on a Christmas table with the fir green striped tablecloth, choosing clashing tones of pink and burgundy across the trim on the napkins and plates and the choice of flowers and candles. For a finishing touch and small party favour, I added a Christmas decoration to each place setting.
Classic hemstitch white tablecloth
If a striped tablecloth isn't for you, this table shows how you can make a simple white tablecloth feel festive with your styling choices. I stuck to one simple colour (green) for the placemats, plates, candles and ribbons. This tied in beautifully with the abundance of foliage positioned along the centre of the table. Rattan chargers and tortoiseshell cutlery add interest, while the subtle gold cord of the napkins gave an elegant touch.
Discover our Christmas table edits.