How To decorate your Christmas Table : A Shopping Guide

I don’t want to stress you out or add anymore things onto your Christmas to-do list, but a beautifully decorated Christmas table really makes your Christmas dinner feel extra special – well, I think so anyway. So, this week I’m taking a break from writing about weddings to share some tips on creating a magical Christmas tablescape. 

So if you fancy updating your tableware collection, these are my top picks on what to buy from the shops to create the perfect Christmas tablescape. 

Tablecloth 

If you’ve not got a plain white linen tablecloth in stock then I would recommend Dunelm’s Cartmel Linen Table Cloth. Measure your table before ordering and always max out on the size, a long draping tablecloth always gives a more luxurious feel. Alternatively, if you would like extra festive sparkle then Dunelm’s Sparkle Table Cloth has a lovely silver thread weaved through the cotton – why not, it’s Christmas! 

Napkins

Continuing on the linen theme, let’s talk napkins. Using fabric napkins as opposed to paper ones will give that ‘posh restaurant’ feel to your meal. Plus, you can reuse them for another special occasion or keep them until next Christmas. Don’t worry too much about stains, give any mark a good 10 mins with Waitrose Pre Wash Stain Remover and the napkins will look as good as new. For this tablescape I would choose a versatile White Cloth Scalloped Napkin which I would then tie with a Black Velvet Ribbon. If you have a pine tree nearby then cut a few sprigs to tuck into the tied ribbon – or you could pinch some off your Christmas tree!

Charger Plates 

For a festive treat, splash out on these Eucalyptus Glass Charger Plate from Dunelm. I love the delicate white design on them and as they are glass they won’t look too overbearing on the table.  

Cutlery 

If you really want to push the boat out, then Gold Cutlery is a super stylish addition to any tablescape. I love gold cutlery and it is an item that you can definitely reuse at dinner parties throughout the year. However, if you are sitting a large number of people down for Christmas lunch then you might want to give this one a miss, as the cost can soon add up! 

Glassware 

Like the cutlery, new glassware is a bougie extra but could be a great early Christmas present to yourself. These Gold Rim Wine Glasses and Gold Rim Water Glasses are my go-to hire for many weddings but are also available to purchase at home. Super timeless and versatile. 

Candles and Candlesticks 

Real candles really add to the festive atmosphere. For a 6ft table I would choose five of these Black Metal Candlestick and pair them with these Off-White Taper Candles from our wholesaler, who also retails on Amazon. These candles are beautifully made and have a burn time of 15 hours! So you can enjoy them throughout the Christmas evening.

Table Runner 

The table runner is the big statement of the table. Now (florists don’t shoot me), what I have chosen here is using faux foliage for ease. However, if you are green fingered and have access to pine, holly and greenery then I 100% recommend creating this look with real foliage – if not just for the pine smell! To create your statement runner, start off with this Snow Tipped Christmas Pine Garland and lay it down the centre of the table. Then slot in your candles (detailed above) and finish with a selection of Baubles and Metallic Baubles dotted through the pine garland. Try to be sporadic with the bauble placement and not too regimented. 

Thank you to the wonderful Tanya Flannagan Photography for this image

So, if you fancy exercising the purse strings a bit more, then these are my recommendations for creating a modern, elegant and timeless Christmas dinner table. I’m all for shopping more sustainably, so hopefully the majority of these items can be repurposed and reused at other celebrations during the year. I would love to go out and purchase everything and create this beautiful Christmas tablescape, however time is working against me at the moment, so I’ll have to leave it to your capable imagination. 

If this blog has inspired you, then I would love to see your Christmas tablescape creations, don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @oakandopalweddings