Decorating my home for Christmas is one of the things I look forward to all year. For me it is a wonderfully creative and relaxing process. I also love entertaining at Christmas, opening my home up to all my family and friends, preparing special food and then sitting at the table and enjoying my time with the people that mean the most to me. And this goes for Christmas in July too.
I put a good amount of time into planning my table and place settings for each Christmas celebration so that everyone who sits at our table feels welcome. If you feel the same way about your Christmas table then let me inspire you with some of our favourite Christmas place setting ideas. Whether your theme is beachy, traditional or contemporary, we’re sure you’ll find plenty of ideas to get you started.
By the Sunny Seaside
If you’re going for a coastal, beachy vibe this Christmas, you’ll want to consider fresh whites, natural tones, burlap textures and a colour palette of aqua, sea foam green and soft blues.
For place card holders, I love tying in elements of my Christmas tree by using a personalised bauble or attaching a beautiful name tag to a beached themed decoration. Think starfish, corals, twine and white-washed wood Christmas tree decorations – these are all perfect.
For your centrepiece, fill a vase with twigs and hang baubles and decorations in silver, pearl and glass to help create a light, fresh feel to your table.
You can also create a wonderful table garland by including starfish, burlap flowers, driftwood and a pretty aqua beaded garland for a simple, elegant seaside feel.
Indulge with Classic Elegance
If your Christmas decorating style is more luxurious and sophisticated now is the time to bring out your delicate glassware and embrace rich textiles. I love to play with contrasting colours mixing soft and bold colours, think pastel pink with dark grey, deep blue with light grey or perhaps classic black and white.
For your name place holders, balance out the decadence by using a simple personalised bon bon or name tag – perhaps attached to a faux floral pick, or an elegant fresh rose.
For the centrepiece consider using elegant table top trees or a trio of candles and incorporate a lace table runner, some vintage style tea light votives and a garland dripping with crystals and beads.
Make a Statement with Opulent Luxury
Now if you really want to go full-glam, you can’t go wrong with rich colours and intricate patterned textured fabrics.
A colour palette of gold and burgundy, or black and brown, evokes a feeling of glamorous stately homes.
Add stunning jewelled and beaded florals or a pair of plaid reindeers, to ensure anyone taking a seat at your table will feel like royalty.
So if your home, or an area of your home, is a little more formal, and you’re looking for a way to decorate it for Christmas that is rich and sophisticated, these types of Christmas table settings are perfect for you.
Honour the Tradition
Now, if you’re looking for something a little more traditional, or perhaps something to suit a rustic modern farmhouse, you simply can’t go past these warm, inviting table ideas.
Even in the most urban areas these dining tables with pinecones and woodland creatures are sure to make you feel like you’re in a forested Christmas wonderland.
For the place setting, we love to bring a bit of the outdoors inside. Try attaching your personalised name tag to a piece of fir tree or spring of holly – or how adorable does it look sitting in a pine cone.
For an extra rustic feel, why not take a leaf out of the book of many hip cafes by replacing place mats with wooden chopping boards, these are ideal for a casual Christmas breakfast or brunch.
For a really special touch, tie a decoration, like this trio of bells, to the back of each chair. It’s a beautiful unexpected touch to your Christmas table decorations.
When it comes to the centrepiece, combine a few special Christmas Ornaments like a LED lantern with maybe a pair of deer or striking red cardinal birds for a really rustic Christmas feeling. Then add a floral garland entwined with burlap along your table and finish it off with some copper seed lights and candles.
A Very Berry Christmas
For those of you who love a beautiful traditional Christmas decor you can’t go past the classic Christmas berry.
Bringing in traditional holly and berries let’s you add a lot of colour to your table without overpowering it. Just choose one primary colour for your berries, perhaps red or bright green and add a festive bon bon, a simple placemat, and decorate your place setting with berry springs.
Add for something to really wow your guests, consider taking your centrepiece up and hanging berry garlands around your light fitting!
Simply Nordic Inspired
Finally if you a lover of all things Nordic take some inspiration from Scandinavian and Danish décor. To achieve this look you’ll want to stick with a very tight colour palette that incorporates white and grey and then add either a pop of red or some wooden elements.
Nordic or Scandi décor can be both minimal and cosy. In fact there is a specific term in the Danish language, Hygge that encapsulates everything your senses enjoy when relaxing in a cosy environment.
You can start with a simple placemat and incorporated some natural fir tree or a simple piece of twine.
To add a personal touch use a personalised name card in a place card holders or tie together with a mini pinecone and burlap ribbon.
And of course no Christmas table is complete without a bon bon, so choose one that works with the Christmas decorating style you are aiming for.
Watch our Christmas Table Place Setting Inspiration video for all these ideas and more.
You’ll also find plenty more great ideas in the Inspiration Gallery of our website including our Free Christmas Poster Downloads and DIY Craft projects so make sure you visit us online soon.
And be sure to connect with us via Facebook and Instagram, because that is one of the best ways to make sure you see all the fun Christmas things we get up to as we create, decorate and celebrate this most wonderful time of the year.