Entertaining over the holiday season? Make every meal an occasion to remember with these unique Christmas table settings
Christmas is the time for family and friend get-togethers. Food and dinner parties often play an important role and normally in the form of a long lunch or dining into the night. These special occasions are a great excuse to bring out your inner domestic goddess and go all-out with a dressed table. Here are eight Christmas table settings to inspire:
1. Inspired by orchids
Fresh flowers are a lovely way to add some glam to your table setting this summer. The orchid is such a stunning flower you don’t need much else to create impact. The delicate pink of this dish and tablecloth teamed with burgundy and gold details creates a truly elegant look.
Shop this look: Living & Co Coast dinner plate, $2, from The Warehouse. Salt & Pepper gold-rim glass plate, $34.95, from Farmers. Charm cutlery, $89 for 16 pieces, from Freedom. Cotton tablecloth, $24.99, glass votive, $7.99, bud vase, $12.99, from H&M Home. Cocktail glass, $29.95, from Green With Envy. Other items stylist’s own.
2. Relaxed, soft colours
If you’re spending time at the beach over the holidays, this relaxed Christmas table setting will serve you not only on Christmas Day but throughout the summer season. This scheme is all about texture, with a relaxed linen tablecloth, whitewashed placemats, textured dinner plates and palm-frond place settings. Add a little glow with coconut-shell tealight holders.
Shop this look: Textured dinner plate, $2, from Kmart. Ultimate Essentials cutlery, $34.95 for 16 pieces, from Freedom. Rattan placemat, $19.90, drinking glass, $17, from Green With Envy. Hampton white linen tablecloth, $79.99, from EziBuy. Rattan coasters, $39.90 for 6, Dine linen napkin, $12.90, from Citta. Coconut tealight holder, $30, from Annabelle’s. Other items stylist’s own.
3. A natural vibe
This unexpected colour combo of peachy coral and soft lilac isn’t a traditional holiday colour scheme, but the addition of a small bunch of red berries instantly creates a festive feel. One way to keep costs down when it comes to Christmas table decorations is to sew your own linen napkins. These are easy to make. Simply take some linen in your preferred colour and sew around the edges to make a tidy border. Use any spare linen to wrap small presents and team them with a gift tag.
Shop this look: Glazed side plate, $3, from Kmart. Bespoke wrapping paper for the oversized placemat, $8.90 a sheet, from Father Rabbit. Vase, $12.99, glass tumbler, $5.99, from H&M Home. Linen for napkin and gift wrap, $16.99 a metre, from Spotlight. Other items stylist’s own.
4. Tropical luxe
If you’re going for something fun, bright and non-traditional these holidays, this punchy tropical Christmas table setting could be for you. Navy plates were chosen to tie in with the tablecloth, while gold accents were added to amp up the glamour. To ensure everyone finds their seat at the table, a simple place card on each setting is all you need.
Shop this look: Jett dinner plate, $4.95, Jett bowl, $2.95, Charm cutlery, $89 for 16 pieces, from Freedom. Tablecloth, $29.99, from H&M Home. Palm tray, $69.99, from Nood. Place cards, $3 a packet, from Kmart. Gold foil stemless wine glass, $20, from Green With Envy. Nel Lusso Champagne glass, $69.90 for 4, from Allium. Tilly@home tealight holder, $14.99, from Farmers.
5. Pastel themed Nutcracker
Festive nutcracker fabric was the starting point for this cute Christmas table setting. From this, colours were picked out for the dinnerware and glassware. Gold cutlery was the perfect match here. Remember you can also use your existing Christmas tree decorations to create a festive feel on the table.
Shop this look: Lipped dinner plate, $14.99, lipped side plate, $7.99, from H&M Home. Living & Co side plate (on dinner plate), $2, gold-look cutlery, $15 for 16 pieces, from The Warehouse. Nutcracker fabric, $12.95 a metre, from Etsy. Gold-wrapped eclairs, $3 a packet, from Kmart. Cut glass tumbler, $12, from Redcurrent. Champagne glass, $29.95, from Green With Envy. Napkin, $14.99, from Farmers. Other items stylist’s own.
6. Natural and earthy
If your interior design scheme is natural and earthy, you can easily carry this style into your Christmas table setting. Textured stoneware plates are layered and teamed with a cute wooden decoration, which guests can take with them as a keepsake. Nuts and dried foliage feature alongside natural linen napkins, wooden bowls and copper cutlery, which all serve to tie this down-to-earth scheme together.
Shop this look: Nomad dinner plate, $18.99, Nomad side plate, $13.99, Tilly@home plant, $19.99, from Farmers. Reindeer decoration, $4, from The Warehouse. Teak scatter dish, $19, from Green With Envy. Glass tumbler, $1, rose gold cutlery, $19 for 16 pieces, from Kmart. Dine linen napkin, $12.90, from Citta. Other items stylist’s own.
7. Classic red and white
A fun twist on a classic red and white Christmas table theme, this circus-inspired setting will be a hit with young and old alike. Kids especially will love the animals with their little red noses. To make these, we simply bought some cheap plastic animals, painted them white and glued small red pom poms to their noses. We also sewed pom poms onto the corners of some plain white cotton napkins to create a complementary look.
Shop this look: Hampton & Mason dinner plate, $16.99, Quid Novi cutlery, $8.99 each, from Briscoes. Rosie’s Studio ribbon, $3 a roll, glass tumbler, $2, from The Warehouse. Cotton tablecloth, $12, cotton napkins, $2 for 2, bowl, $3, from Kmart. Plastic animals, $12 a bag, from Look Sharp.
8. Green with envy
When we think of Christmas, green is one of the first colours that comes to mind. It is also very on-trend in interiors right now, with sage and muted greens appearing everywhere. If you are looking for a Christmas table setting that is classic yet modern, give this one a go. Here we took 2m of linen and turned it into a chic yet affordable tablecloth. Our Christmas crackers, meanwhile, were made with festive wrapping paper. Once the day’s food has been decided, you can also set the scene with a menu. Whether it’s printed or handwritten, your guests will appreciate this special touch
Shop this look: Dinner plate, $2, Champagne glass, $1, from Kmart. Greenwick cutlery, $179 for 16 pieces, from Citta. Linen for tablecloth, $19.99 a metre, from Spotlight. Bespoke wrapping paper for cracker, $8.90 a sheet, from Father Rabbit. Ecology rice bowl, $12.99, from Briscoes. Green glass vase, $29, from Green With Envy. Himla linen napkins, $75 for 4, from Allium.
Article by YOUR HOME AND GARDEN
Created and styled by: Vanessa Nouwens. Photography by: Wendy Fenwick.
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