10 TIPS FOR SETTING A GORGEOUS CHRISTMAS TABLE

10 TIPS FOR SETTING A FABULOUS CHRISTMAS TABLE

Christmas is just a few days away and if you are hosting Christmas dinner you will want to set a beautiful and memorable table. And setting a sugarplum of a table is easy when you know some tips to help you! Today I have 10 tips for setting a gorgeous Christmas table.

 

Now, let’s set a fabulous Christmas table…

CREATE A COLOR SCHEME AROUND THINGS YOU ALREADY HAVE

Lots of the same elements in my Christmas table show up year after year. That’s a good thing! I just rework them to look fresh. And one way to keep your Christmas table from looking same-old-same-old is to change up the colors you use on the table. Using the cachepots pots on a table might be a favorite but the items in them and the colors are different.

This year my table was silver, white and celadon green. How about pink, red and aqua or mostly with just a touch of red and green? 

Or how about using brown with red and white for a woodland color scheme!

 

USE EVERY DAY WHITE DISHES

If you have white dishes use them. They are the perfect backdrop for every other beautiful Christmas inspired thing on your table. I used to have a set of Christmas dishes and loved them, but I can do far more and am not fenced in by the motif or colors on my old Christmas dishes. With white dishes, you are only limited by your own imagination! 

White dishes are so easy to find and inexpensive. I look for white dishes with great edges. So pretty.

USE FAUX SNOW

Oh, I LOVE to use faux snow!!! It makes the most fabulous “table runner”. It makes an instant Christmas statement… and what a statement!

I run it down the center of my table and then lightly sprinkle some over my place settings. A fantasy look for sure! When dinner is over and it’s  time to clean up the table I collect the snow and use it the next year!

 

The snow that is my first choice is one that has big flakes and are like pieces of torn plastic bags. This snow looks the best.

ADD AN ELEMENT OF SURPRISE TO EACH PLACE

Christmas is the perfect occasion to add all kinds of Christmas themed surprise elements to your table’s place settings. Most of us have appetizers and a libation before serving dinner so those fun elements can be enjoyed before they need to be whisked away. 

Here are some great little surprises to add to a Christmas table…

  • log slices that act as chargers
  • small wreaths between plates
  • snow… everywhere!
  • pinecones holding name cards
  • flatware tied up in a bow with jingle bells
  • a fun napkin fold like a Christmas tree
  • a little gift on a stack of dishes 
  • a small wreath that works like a napkin ring
  • ball jar filled with snow and a votive candle   

 

 

ADD A LITTLE TAKE-HOME GIFT TO EACH PLACE

Add a small wrapped gift or a pretty Christmas bauble to the top dish of each place setting for your guest to take home and remember their time with you. This is a signature of a dinner at StoneGable. 

One of my sweet friends had us to dinner and put together a little flipbook of a field trip we took to a local museum. We all loved it!

Some great little take home gifts are…

  • a few candy canes tied up in a pretty velvet bow
  • a bleached pinecone made into an ornament (see how to bleach pinecones HERE)
  • a Christmas ornament
  • a Chinese takeout box of homemade truffles, candy or cookies
  • a little candle
  • a little rosemary tree
  • a gilded pomegranate
  • a little picture frame
  • a little bag of coffee or tea

USE LOTS OF GREENS FAUX OR REAL

Deck your halls and your table with greens. They are quintessentially Christmas!

USE CANDLES AND LANTERNS

Even if you are having a Christmas brunch use candles and lanterns. They give off a beautiful Christmasy glow! A little light from a candle elevates even the most simple table. Run lots of pretty candlesticks and lanterns down the center of a table for a gorgeous effect!

As you can see on the woodland table below I love pinecone candles!!!!!

 

REPEAT CHRISTMAS ELEMENTS

This is a big design secret! Repeated elements are perceived by your mind as attractive. And think of all the Christmas elements you can multiply on a table! 

Repeating elements on a table make it look cohesive!

Here are a few repeat-worthy Christmas element to use on a table…

  • trees
  • wreaths
  • pinecones
  • greens
  • candy canes
  • ornaments
  • snowmen
  • snow
  • ribbon
  • berries

USE CLOTH NAPKINS

Christmas is one of those occasions that only cloth napkins will do… unless you are hosting 20+ people then go for pretty paper ones.

I don’t have any napkins with Christmas motifs on them but what I put around the napkins makes them look Christmasy!

If you don’t know what to use, GO WHITE! You can’t go wrong with a beautiful white napkin. They are perfect for any table! Just look how a white napkin highlights the other elements at each place setting!

If at all possible use linen. Oh, SIGH!

MIX IT UP!

This is my very favorite tips! I love to mix dishes, flatware, glasses, napkins and anything else that goes on my table. If I am having dinner for 10 and don’t have 10 dishes that are the same I get giddy! I then use two different dish styles on my table.

Every other place setting is different on this wintery white table. A mix of round and square plates looks so pretty!

Even if you have enough of one kind of table element mix it up anyway! 

Here are some great table elements to mix up on a Christmas table…

  • plates
  • bowls
  • glasses
  • silverware
  • ornaments
  • napkins
  • just about anything!

There you go my sweet friends! Now it’s your turn. Equipt with these festive ideas GO SET A PRETTY CHRISTMAS TABLE!

Here’s my Christmas table ready and waiting…

See more of this year’s table HERE.

You might like to follow me on Pinterest and see what I’m finding to pin HERE.

 

 

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49 Comments

  1. Your Christmas table is beautiful! Thank you so much for all of the wonderful ideas!

  2. Rozalind strayn says:

    Words aren’t adequate for all of the ideas and enjoyment that I get out of your blog. What a blessing you are as you feed my soul and my flesh .. merry Christmas to you sweet lady .

    1. HI ROZALINDA!!! Thanks so much for letting me know. I’m thrilled you are enjoying StoneGable. Merry Christmas to you too!

  3. Yvonne THANK YOU for a year of great posts. I have listed to all the tricks and tips. so many GREAT ideas. Looking forward to 2018.

  4. Hi Yvonne,
    Love all these tips! So helpful! I pinned the ideas so I don’t forget them! I’m on the hunt for white dishes. They just add such easiness to the table. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Thanks for all you do Yvonne. Even in the rush of preparations I stop to read what you post because I know it will help. May you have a blessed Christmas.

  6. Yvonne, you have inspired me ever since I started reading your blog, six or seven years ago. I made your best choc. chip cookies Monday for my grandchildren. They devoured them. Bought our beef brisket for Christmas dinner. Everyone raved about it last year. One of your BEST recipes. Oh, how I wish we were neighbors. A very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  7. Beautiful! Love that you use white dishes with edges! Love the mix and match too!

  8. Loved the idea of the artificial snow down the middle of the table!
    Merry Christmas ?

  9. Kim Phebus says:

    I love what you do!!! I always learn something from your blog and your pictures are great too!!

  10. You take tablescaping to a new level. That is what led me to your wonderful blog. Thank you for all you do for others, as well as godly exhorting.

  11. I’d love to see where and how you store all your dishes, glasswear, etc.

  12. Jill Miglin says:

    As always, great tips Yvonne. This year I was lucky enough to find a reclaimed pine farmhouse trestle table (that I love) for my dining room. You inspired me to get creative this year and it was fun and came out beautifully. I used gold, sage green and aubusson blue with plenty of various faux greens, along with varying heights of rustic wood candle holders. Thank you again for all your inspirational tips. And Merry Christmas!

  13. Tammie N. says:

    I always enjoy your posts, Yvonne. You have such practical, yet elegant, ideas. Merry Christmas!

  14. Lana Nicol says:

    You have inspired me all week! Today I am getting ready to set the most awesome Christmas lunch table for my family that I’ve ever imagined, thanks to you.

  15. i’m going with my stand by holiday china (mixed from 2 sets) and some plaid a little red and green!

    1. If you love it then you should use it! And mixing two Christmas sets must look stunning!

  16. As always, you did an awesome job with your holiday table! It’s beautiful! I really appreciate all the helpful tips you give about what to use & how to use! That is so valuable cause it gets my creative juices going! I love it! Thank you again!

  17. Katherine says:

    Totally in love with the orchids in the gorgeous silver cache pots. Never would have thought of orchids on a Christmas table but they are just perfect with the touches of Christmas greenery and pine cones. And those cachepots — look like family heirloom silver. I think many of us (sadly) leave those pieces in the cupboard instead of bringing them out to shine. I’d love to recreate this table — incredible inspiration!

  18. Your table settings are so beautiful ?You inspire me!

  19. Norma Rolader says:

    As always Yvonne such wonderful inspirations for us to take to our homes with us Thank you and God bless Merry Christmas to you and your family

  20. Stonecable is such a inspriring blog. Such wonderful suggestions.
    wishing you a dazzling new year. happy holidays to all and to all a good nite

  21. Chloe Ward says:

    You always have the best ideas. Wishing you and your family a Blessed Christmas.

  22. Beautiful tablescapes and such great ideas!
    I do have a question. How do you actually use the dishes for eating when they have been decorated with greenery on top of them? And where do you put the greenery when it’s removed to plate the food. I love beautiful tablescapes but also have to be practical. I know that you have a trick to all this!

    1. Hi Deb. When it is time to eat I whisk away the plates and all the greens. I put the greens in a plastic container and use the plates to serve dinner. If there is a little gift on top of the dishes my guests usually put them at the head of their plate. Hope this helps.

  23. Orchids for a Christmas centerpiece??? Gorgeous! I am a “tablescaper”, and your tips are spot on for creating beautiful table settings. Thank you for putting all the tips in a written, list type format!

    Counting the days ’til Christmas…

  24. Wendy Howell says:

    Lots of ideas here!! Thank you and Merry Christmas 🙂

  25. Laura Harrie says:

    I believe that cloth napkins are must for every well set table! Glad you mentioned it.

  26. Faux snow adds so much whimsy

  27. I might have to try the snow down the center of the table. It looks so festive!

  28. kathy olson says:

    Where do you purchase those tiny wreaths?
    Thank you for all the holiday inspiration.

  29. Just beautiful tablescape…you’ve reminded me that I have a bin of mercury glass..candle sticks, a vase…I’m going to get those out now ,Thanks ! Down the middle of the table they go…..Home Depot has orchids..good prices…save me a white one or two !!!

  30. Your tablescapes are the best.

  31. Your tables/ideas are beautiful…. This is my first visit…. and I am hooked already!

  32. Denise carlson says:

    I absolutely love all the tablescapes you create such a talent. I enjoy setting a beautiful table as well it makes your special events so much more meaningful. I also think it makes your guests feel special. Mix and match is so much fun and interesting to. Please enter me into the drawing.
    Thanks, Denise

  33. mary loughlin says:

    You’re o right about white dishes! And I love the green glasses!

  34. can hardly wait to its time for me to set my Christmas table. as always, yours is fabulous,

  35. linda jensen says:

    You just challenged me to take my Christmas table to a new level. A bit of a task as I have 4 little people at my table. But well worth it

  36. Marilyn Petitto says:

    I loved everyone of your table decorations, and I will try one or two of them because I am having two dinner parties. Thank you for all of your wonderful ideas, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
    Marilyn Petitto