How to style your Christmas table

A New Zealand Christmas is often a casual affair, celebrated outdoors. But while the festive feast might be cooked on the barbecue, styling the Christmas table is serious business! Here’s how to set the scene for a memorable gathering, with fuss-free decorating ideas both hosts and guests will enjoy.

Comfort first

A comfortable outdoor setting, with plenty of elbow room, makes everyone feel at ease, setting up an enjoyable dining experience. Leave circulation space around the table to make seating, serving and clearing easy. Bench seats are excellent space savers as they can accommodate two or three, and with chairs at each end you can seat up to eight. Use two tables end-to-end if you have a crowd! Older guests will appreciate chairs with back rests, and cushions or seat pads. If dining indoors, fans or air-conditioning will keep the temperature comfortable and tempers even. For settings on the patio or down in the backyard, position an umbrella or shade cloth to keep the heat and the glare at bay.

Palette pleasers

The Kiwi version of a “white Christmas” may not involve snow, but we can still enjoy traditional Christmas colours, offset by crisp white table linen. With fresh and neutral table coverings as the foundation you can then introduce coloured accents to build your table theme. There’s power in simplicity so stick to two or three accent colours, and include a metallic pop – gold, copper or silver – to glint in daylight or candlelight.

You can also work a palette in reverse: with a bright red (or pink) or green tablecloth as your base you can layer snowy white linen and basic white plates. It’s always a safe bet to look to nature for inspiration – especially when it comes to green hues.

Layers of loveliness

Cloth placemats and napkins laid on top of a tablecloth hint at a fine dining experience and add to the sense of occasion. Take it a step further with a bespoke trim for your tablecloth. A simple stencil and paint are all you need to stamp a pretty border around the edge of your fabric. A frayed edge or contrasting border is a fun detail for placemats, and embroidered initials on a napkin are another winning D.I.Y. idea.

Place settings

Make everyone feel special with a personalised place setting at the table, marked with a handwritten name tag or something a little extra. Use a wood-burning kit or an engraving pen to etch your guests’ names onto wooden pegs, then clip a fragrant bloom or sprig of herbs – it doubles as a simple but sweet take-home gift, too. Alternatively, inscribe names on bon bons or attach a name tag to guide everyone to their seat at the table. Making your own bon bons is a fun D.I.Y. activity to do with the kids and it is super easy with a Christmas bon bon kit.

Front and centre

The middle of the table is everyone’s focal point, and a decorating opportunity. A colourful runner lined with serving dishes, water jugs, seasonings and flowers brings instant good cheer. Take it up a notch with an elevated centrepiece – rest a board about 20cm wide on clean, upturned terracotta pots, then drape with a runner, and tuck pine cones, foliage and faux holly beneath it. Or take it to the next level with a hanging Christmas chandelier made with native foliage and bead lights. To bring a little glamour to the festive feast, include twinkling fairy lights in your centrepiece. Flameless candles in various sizes will brighten a twilight table and cast a golden glow during dinner.

Ready to get crafty this Christmas?

Check out our Christmas D.I.Y. and decorating ideas.

Photo Credit: James Moffat