At Christmas, the table decoration is part of the overall look. Year after year, the dining table becomes the place where everyone gathers during Advent and especially on Christmas Eve. We'll show you how to set your Christmas table properly and decorate it festively – with a modern Nordic feel and just a few simple touches.
How to decorate your Christmas table – here's how:
- Preparation: colours, table linen and your decoration concept
- Setting the table properly
- Christmas decorations – on and above the table
- Atmospheric lighting
In a hurry? Jump straight to the Christmas table decoration overview.
1. Preparation: colours, table linen and your decoration concept
Christmas table linen
A tablecloth is the classic base for a festive table. As a rule, it should hang down 20 to 30 cm on each side, though you can choose a longer or shorter drop to suit your taste. Natural materials such as linen or cotton in particular give your Christmas table decoration a natural and therefore modern touch.
Do you love a truly festive look? Then choose a Christmas tablecloth. The Hammershøi Christmas tablecloth from Kähler Design features popular Christmas motifs on 100 per cent cotton.
Table runners and placemats are alternatives – with Christmas patterns or motifs, or entirely natural. Matching napkins complete the arrangement. LindDNA shows that simple placemats made of high-quality materials can look festive too: the plain, high-quality leather provides a wonderful base for your Christmas table decoration.
Decoration to suit the shape of your table
When planning your Christmas table decoration, consider the shape of your table. A round table works particularly well with a single decorative element placed in the centre. Often an Advent candle holder or Advent wreath is the centrepiece of the Christmas table (1).
On a rectangular table, you can emphasise the central axis with evenly spaced pieces (2), or leave the centre free and decorate the ends of the table instead (3) to create a balanced overall look.
An oval table suits a pyramid arrangement, with the main element in the centre and the decoration tapering off towards the sides, so that every guest has enough space in front of them. (4)
As a general rule, arrangements shouldn't be too lavish, so that guests can still see each other. A symmetrical arrangement also looks clear and tidy and brings visual calm to the Christmas table.
The colour concept
When choosing your Christmas table decoration, you can take your cue from your existing table linen, your tableware or your interior style. Whichever tones you choose, stick to a consistent style. A table decoration limited to just a few colours looks elegant and really puts you in the Christmas mood.
Red and gold is the classic Christmas table colour scheme, but elegant white with touches of brass or gold also looks festive. Scandinavian-style Christmas table decoration is a popular choice: minimalist, with light colours and decorative elements made of wood.
2. Setting the table properly
A perfectly set table is a must, especially on festive occasions. Here's how:
On festive occasions, a charger plate is the eye-catcher, set off by an elegant napkin. Depending on the menu, it is joined by a soup bowl, starter plate, main course plate and bread plate.
Traditionally, cutlery is laid in the order of the courses, working from the outside in. Forks always go to the left, soup spoons and knives to the right of the plate. Dessert cutlery is placed above the plate. Use imaginary lines as a guide to create a straight arrangement.
Glasses are placed above the knives. The earlier a glass is needed, the further out it stands. First comes the water glass, to its left a white wine glass and on the outside a red wine glass.
3. Christmas table decoration – on and above the table
Christmas tree decorations as table decoration
Bare branches hung with modern Christmas decorations made of paper, or recycled from fashion-industry fabric scraps, add something special to any table.
Anything that normally hangs on the Christmas tree can also be used for creative table decoration. Arrange your baubles and other Christmas ornaments on a cake stand or in a bowl in the centre of the table, mixing large and small baubles.
Christmas table decoration with natural materials
Decorate with natural materials: a wreath or an arrangement of conifer branches and spruce or pine cones makes a beautiful centrepiece. Wooden decorations bring a natural, rustic feel to your Christmas table. Natural linen pairs well with white candles and details that appeal to several senses – crackling cones and fragrant greenery, for example.
Table decoration with paper stars
"Take your Christmas table decoration to a new level and create a starry sky of paper stars above the dining table. That way, you'll have more space on the table for beautiful tableware and the festive meal." – Viktoria, interior expert
4. Atmospheric lighting
Christmas table decoration with candles
Candles are among the loveliest accessories for a Christmas table and complete the look. Their soft glow makes porcelain and wine glasses sparkle and bathes the table and the festive meal in enchanting light. An Advent candle holder or a traditional Advent wreath also combines well with Christmas table decoration.
Unless it's an Advent wreath, use an odd number of candles. Three or five decorative objects together create an inviting and harmonious look.
Table decoration with string lights
As well as candles, string lights are an eye-catcher – on the dining table too. Arrange them in a bowl or lay them along the length of the table.
Christmas table decoration at a glance
To create a festive atmosphere, choose
- a consistent colour concept in classic or modern combinations,
- festive tablecloths, table runners and placemats with Christmas patterns or motifs,
- beautiful charger plates and a table set to suit your menu,
- Christmas decorations with tree ornaments, natural materials or stars, and
- atmospheric lighting with candles, an Advent wreath or string lights.
Enjoy setting and decorating your festive Christmas table!
Photo credit: Christmas Advent wreath by Pepper Schmidt (@heimatbaum)
