I absolutely love tablescaping at Christmas (and, to be honest, any time of year). There is something almost therapeutically satisfying about looking at a table as a blank canvas and building – piece by piece - something that feels gorgeous and special.

As much as I do this for my own enjoyment, I do believe that a thoughtfully themed tablescape is always appreciated by guests. It doesn’t have to take long or cost much money either. Many of the key elements of a table theme can move from season to season.

The Key Elements

The key elements in tablescaping include:
• Table Centrepiece / Focal Point
• Placemats, Chargers and Coasters
• Tablecloths
• Napkins / napkin rings
• Glass wear
• Cutlery
• Crockery

In my tablescaping dreams, I have a collection of these key elements for each season. Meanwhile, I use the same selection of glass wear, cutlery and crockery pretty much year-round. I do, however, change my placemats/chargers and table linens and I always redesign my table’s centrepiece (spoiler alert: this is where I have the most fun!).

Seasonal Accessories
Once you have the key elements for your table, you can begin to collect your seasonal accessories. Of course, there are no rules here. You can indulge and include whatever decorative elements you fancy. For me, I like to include a mixture of materials (metals, wood, linens), textures and a range of widths and heights.

My Christmas table, for example, includes:
• Table linens
• Chargers and coasters
• Glass wear and crockery
• Candles – large and small
• Garlands
• Fairy lights
• Foliage
• Decorative accessories including ceramic trees and houses

Putting It All Together

The fun of tablescaping is that there are no rules.

Have fun and decorate your table the way you want. Experiment with colour or keep things monotone. Play with pattern or stay neutral. Include talking points and humour or keep things formal.

Just because we associate Christmas with red, green and white does not mean we cannot mix things up – I love Christmas decs in all colours!

5 Step To A Stunning Christmas Table!

Your first step is to create your canvas! Cover your table with a tablecloth (although, for some tablescaping designs you can use a runner or ditch this base layer altogether). I love my off-white linen tablecloth. 

Now add your coasters, placemats/chargers, crockery and cutlery. This will allow you to see the space you have to work with. If you are not entertaining in the near future, you can remove these elements at the end of the “design process”.

Step two involves your colour scheme. Do love gold or silver - or a mix of both? Do you prefer reds and greens? Blush pinks or midnight blues? My ultimate aim is to collect a number of colour options involving table linens, crockery and glass wear. In the meantime, I add colour to my collection of whites and neutrals with decorative accessories, flowers and foliage (branches and leaves etc).

Your next step (step three for those counting), is to place your larger items on the table – creating a centrepiece. These items could include candles, candlesticks and larger decorative accessories (trees, houses etc). After you place an item on your table, take a step back and see if your design feels balanced.

Now, I am usually all for “go big or go home” in interior design, but no accessory should get in the way. You really don’t want your guests to ditch your tablescape as soon as they sit down. If in doubt, take a seat and see for yourself!

Step four involves adding medium-sized items to your table - votives, festive foliage and shorter pillar candles. Add different textures, widths and heights. Then, fill the remaining space with your smaller accessories.

I am always on the lookout for decorative accessories to add or repurpose. For example, in this design, I have used a couple of pieces from a bag of (non-scented) potpourri.

Your final (and fifth) step is all about the fun. I love playing with both symmetry (echoes and repeated patterns) and chaos. Every time I add a new element or accessory, I take a step back to make sure my centrepiece and overall table design is not getting too “busy”. I look at the table from a variety of angles, make adjustments and experiment with different accessory placements.

There is, of course, a fine line between creating something that is pleasing on the eye and designing something that is, well, overwhelming visually. However, don’t be afraid to fill any blank spaces… more is definitely more!

Happy decs! Jane x