5 Tips For Classy Christmas Table Settings 

The holidays are upon us, and this year we want to get a head start on thinking about how to style a classy Christmas table, with a festive, and chic undertone. Every family has one Scrooge, and we guarantee that even they will be ho-ho-ho-ing over your holiday spread.

Whether you're hosting a large group or just your immediate family, these table decorating tips can be personalised and will ensure an inviting atmosphere that will have everyone feeling merry and bright... even before the Eggnog hits.

Christmas table settings don't have to be overly complicated or expensive to be captivating and majestic. A little planning, creativity, and simple touches can go a long way when it comes to table decorating ideas. From colours and textures to accents and accessories, these five tips will help you set the stage for a magical evening. Start the holiday season off right by creating the perfect Classy Christmas Table Setting. Get ready to wow.

1. Dont Be Afraid to Think Outside the Red and Green Box

Sure, these are traditional Christmas colours, but there is no reason to limit ourselves; consider switching it up, a pale blue and white theme with accents of silver can be an elegant, frosted, winter alternative. If you're looking for something a bit more baroque and daring, consider darker tones like deep purples, with touches of gold or green. Other colour combinations to consider are a red and white duo, or a white Christmas with gold or silver accents, will work beautifully as well, here.

*Peak inside our most recent photo shoot:

*Launching Soon: Set of 2 Glass Gold Ribbed Candle Holders

That said, we do always celebrate a traditional style and recognize the comfort in having red and green be your thing. If you're looking for a ffresh and modern take, go for the brightest berry red and look for patterns that complement vs, being overly matchy-matchy.

For a vintage twist on this classic pairing try mixing unexpected hues like darker shades of blue, violet and/or pink. These can be enhanced through candelabras, and crystal or metallic goblets, for a grand and decadent choice.

Regardless of your colour combinations, using candles to decorate will always create a festive and glowing ambience.

Coming Soon: The Be My Guest: Lumière baroque-style candelabra will add a touch of elegance to any display. 

2. Get Creative With Your Centerpieces

Now, don't misunderstand us, because we love flowers, but we at Curated Home consider ourselves rebels, and there are no rules that say your centerpiece has to be only floral arrangements...

Natural elements like branches, candles, fruit and vegetables, can be used to create organic visual interest through various textures, heights, and colour combinations. Mixing winter vegetables, that naturally have gorgeous hues, like artichokes, aubergines, long brussel sprout sticks, red pears, and pomegranates, can create mesmerizing and memorable table settings.

We recently helped host a 25 person, seated, American, Thanksgiving dinner in Miami, FL and wanted to pull from natural fall elements. Using seasonal produce we created our centerpieces, playing with all of the various elements mentioned above. 

Mini trees, branches, pine cones, sprigs of holly, mistletoe, foliage, garland, and berries always bring a natural fresh Christmas scent and charm. Displaying these organic elements alongside ornaments, metallic or otherwise, brings an elegant wintery forest touch to your Christmas table setting.

We built on this by using complementary colours, and playing with height in our other other decor accessories, these included: various sizes, colours, and textures, of pillar candles, and candle holders, as well as other complementary ornaments. 

For a Christmas focal point consider using festive greenery, pillar candles of various sizes, and gold or silver candle holders; tea-lights in glass holders will help finish this look with a warm glow. If a celebratory feel is what you're seeking, gold-rimmed crockery and cutlery, and crystal glassware work really nicely.

For decorative elements beyond the table, consider filling tall and/or short vases with candy canes, baubles, and candles around the house, for a no-mess colourful decor idea that flows naturally from your entryway to your entertaining area.

*Peak inside our most recent photo shoot:

For those seeking an A+ on this homework assignment, consider filling the vase with baubles and/or pebbles, and then add water to fill the spaces between. Lastly, add floating candles for an elegant, ambiance inducing, touch. 

3. Layer, Layer, Layer

Your Christmas table linens are the foundation of your look, so don’t be afraid to have some fun and layer different textures, patterns, and heights, to give your table dimension.

Use a tablecloth, table runner, placemats, and/or charger plates as the base of your place settings, and then build from there with patterned dinner plates, cloth napkins, textured napkin rings, and crystal stemware, as illustrated above in our Thanksgiving example. Add colour and creativity to your table setting with a unique mixture of glassware and tableware. This will add a subtle dimension to create an effortless and opulent look.

Mix and match serving platters in natural materials, layering up wood, slate and glass to keep things fresh, regardless of your chosen colour palette. Ideas can include adorning your table with rose petals, continuing with your bauble filled vases, and adding candles and candle holders in various heights to complete the festive, elegant, touch.

Coming Soon: Our Mango Wood Pillar is the Perfect Layering Piece

Coming Soon: Our Tapered Glass Candle Holder

Be generous with length through draping, and building interest with textures such as mirror, burnished silver, gold candle holders, or a thick pine garland that spreads the length of your table, mantle, or staircase. Mixing this with a classic red ribbon will give the finishing touch to a traditional Christmas spirit. Make sure to light up the room with plenty of candlelight (being safe of course*).

Coming Soon: Medium Silver Ribbed Candleholder

Your chosen colour palette, and over arching theme should flow beyond the dining room, extending to each room you plan to entertain in.

4. Think Beyond Traditional Holiday Fare

Just because it's Christmas dinner doesn't mean you have to serve roast turkey or ham. If you're looking to really wow your guests, consider going outside the general norm, and serve up a beautiful seafood spread or an impressive beef wellington, or steak.

When it comes to dessert, we can all agree that more is more. We believe it's never the time of year to count calories, but this is especially true during the holiday season. For those seeking classic Christmas dining, there are endless options from mince pies to sticky toffee pudding.

But as we say, more is more. If you're guests are international, or even if they're not, consider pulling from wherever home means for them, for a deliciously meaningful wow factor. Perhaps American Pumpkin Pie, or German Apple Strudel with a side of fresh custard. Dessert can be a great way to get whimsical and nostalgic all in one bite.

When it comes to dessert, we opt for a dedicated dessert table and love to play with different heights like elevated cake and pastry stands, mixed with classic plates. When it comes to dessert everything is welcomed, and there is no such thing as "too much".

 

5. Make it Personal

Add some personal touches to your table by ditching the plain white place cards and opt for something more creative like using baubles for your table setting ideas. This will add a colourful personal touch that your guests can take home as a keepsake; Christmas crackers can work well here too for table-setting ideas.

If you're short on time, but still want to kick it up a notch, using a pine cone to hold the Christmas table setting is an easy way to bring in a natural, festive, and elegant twist to traditional Christmas table settings.

If you have extra mini candy canes that didn't make it onto your Christmas tree, they too, can be used to hold place cards.   

If you have the energy to kick this up a notch, something personalised is always a winner. If you can, a small, monogrammed, stocking, with your guests' names, filled with chocolates, can be used for the place settings and make an excellent candy keepsake. It's honestly so good, that no matter what you do the rest of the night, even if you burn the roast, you still automatically win.

These decorative setting ideas and elements are sure to delight your family and friends, and will not only make your table more stylish but will also add a more meaningful touch to your guests.

With these tips in mind, you can prepare youre whole house before the hullabaloo of Christmas Day, and ensure that your table decorating will be the easiest thing you get done this year. Just make sure to make a plan ahead of time, and stick to it. From choosing the right colour scheme to adding your own personal flair, your table will be sure to stand out from the rest.  Leave us a comment down below, or tag us @curatedhomeuk and show us your Christmas flair!