The holidays are coming up, and you might be wondering how to beautify your holiday table? Are you looking for easy and budget-friendly tips to impress your guests with stunning decorations this Christmas?
I will help you.
As a florist, the holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. I always have to get creative to offer my clients unique and festive centerpieces and table runners for the big celebrations.
In this article, I will share my secrets for creating a beautiful Christmas dinner decoration that will amaze your guests.
To successfully set the table for your holiday gathering, you should plan to match your tablecloth, napkins, and dinnerware. You can draw inspiration from decor trends that often combine two colors, such as gold and white, red and green, blue and silver, gold and natural tones, or the currently popular blush pink. Next, don’t forget to add sources of light to your table, whether it’s candles or string lights. This will give your table a festive and vibrant look. Finally, to enhance your decor, you can create or order a centerpiece or table runner. You can choose to use seasonal plants (like holly or fir) or opt for preserved plants for a lasting decor. If you go this route, a display of everlasting roses under a glass dome will create a stunning effect.
Want to know more details? I invite you to read the following lines, where you will discover:
- How to plan your decorations in advance so you’re ready on the big day
- The latest party decor trends, from classic to unique
- Tips for saving money and creating your own floral arrangements
- Original ideas to elevate your New Year’s Eve table
What can we plan for decoration?
To avoid being caught off guard on the big day, it’s important to get organized in advance to prepare your holiday dinner table. To help you with this task, here’s a short list of items you can consider for decorating your table on that day.
The Tablecloth
To break away from the everyday routine, it’s the perfect time to bring out a beautiful tablecloth, in colors that match your decor. Avoid selecting a busy pattern if you plan to place many decorations on your table, as it could look overly cluttered.
You can choose a natural color, such as off-white, linen, or the shade of natural kraft paper, to make the colors of your garlands and plants stand out.
Consider ironing it, either in advance or right before you place it on the table, just like they do in fine dining restaurants.
👉 Don’t forget to have matching napkins with your tablecloth for a stylish and cohesive look!
The Dishes
The Christmas meal is also a perfect time to bring out your beautiful dishes, coordinated with the colors of your decor.
🍽️ If you don’t already have some, you can buy inexpensive white porcelain plates in bulk, along with special markers for dishware. You can find these markers at any craft store or directly online.
Next, to create a personalized service, simply draw on your plates and then place them in the oven as instructed on the marker’s instructions. These markers are non-toxic, and your creations will be dishwasher safe.
For the designs, stick to simple patterns, such as polka dots, little Christmas trees, and stars… Don’t hesitate to purchase metallic markers to keep the festive spirit alive.
🍴 For the cutlery, you can spruce it up with a small sprig of evergreen and tie it together with twine. This elegant touch will enhance your table setting!
A Centerpiece or a Table Runner
If you want to wow your guests by creating a true festive atmosphere, you can have a florist create centerpieces that match your decor colors.
More economical and easier to create, table runners are a decorative element that runs from one end of the table to the other. You can add a few flowers or berries to enhance their beauty. To do this, simply gather some winter greenery and arrange it carefully on your table.
↪️ For more details, I recommend checking out the last section of this article, which is dedicated to plant decorations for festive tables.
Candles
To create a true festive atmosphere, nothing beats playing with light by placing small candles all around your table. For this, tea lights are perfect.
They can be placed in small votive holders that you have purchased or made yourself. To do this, simply collect some glass yogurt jars: then, just wrap a simple ribbon around them or coat a strip about 1 cm wide with glue and glitter.
🛑 To prevent the risk of fire and/or burns, be careful not to place candles near plants or within reach of children.
Garlands
Today, there are many battery-operated string lights that you can easily find at low prices in supermarkets and specialty stores during the holiday season. They are perfect for table decorations, as they eliminate the need to connect to an electrical outlet.
Unlike candles, string lights can be placed very close to plants. For instance, if you’re creating a table runner with evergreen, you can weave in a string of lights to enhance your decoration.
You can also place string lights in pretty clear or colored glass vases. It will definitely create a festive effect!
The little extra: decorating your plates and dishes
For the finishing touches, nothing beats planning to make beautiful dishes or plates. To achieve this, feel free to create patterns with sauces on your dishes before serving.
You can also place herbs around the edges of the plates or salad to add a nice touch of greenery.
Choosing a Design Trend
Not sure what colors to choose for your holiday decorations? In the following lines, I’ll give you an overview of the main Christmas decoration styles to help you make your decision.
❕ If you’re planning to decorate your home with one of these color combinations, consider matching your holiday table to create a cohesive look throughout.
Classic: Red and Green
These two complementary colors are traditionally associated with Christmas for most people. This type of shade will work especially well in a traditional home, in the countryside, with wooden family furniture.
You will recreate for your family the atmosphere of the Christmases of yesteryear, warm and inviting.
Modern: Blue and Silver
This more modern style is particularly suitable if the dominant colors in your interior are white and/or gray. These colors evoke winter, snow, and cold. They will pair well with a white tablecloth or a whitewashed wooden table.
These bright shades will add a vibrant glow to your decor.
Romantic & Chic: Gold and White
These vibrant colors will give your table a chic and understated look. They pair well with traditional decor for a warm ambiance, as well as modern interiors, where they will create a very elegant setting.
Boho Chic: Gold and Nature
These colors blend perfectly with a vintage or rustic style. If you have many thrifted furniture pieces and items and appreciate the charm of the old and the simplicity of natural materials, this color combination is perfect for you!
Original and Trendy: A Blush Pink Christmas
If you want to impress your guests and break away from the ordinary, you can choose this very recent trend! Blush pink, paired with darker shades of pink and gold or silver accents, will create a celebration atmosphere that is both warm and bohemian.
This shade pairs especially well with wooden and vintage interiors, but it can also create a stunning contrast in a modern home.
Create a Greenery Decor 🌿
Are you looking to create a natural and trendy setting for your New Year’s Eve table? Consider a floral centerpiece or table runner!
I will provide you with tips and advice on how to choose your plant creation.
👉 The choice of decoration is influenced by the shape of your dining table:
- If it’s round, opt for a round arrangement
- If it’s rectangular or oval, choose a table runner or an elongated centerpiece
Decorating with Seasonal Plants 🍃
Even if you’re not a plant expert, I bet you already know some Christmas flowers and greenery… The famous Christmas tree, for example, is perfect for creating beautiful decorations. Once cut, it can last for several weeks without water (especially the Nordmann variety) and gives off a lovely fragrance.
To help you out, I’ve prepared a small list of seasonal plants that you can forage in nature or purchase at a garden center or florist.
Foraging for Plants in the Woods 🌲
- Holly
- Conifers: Fir, Cedar, Pine…
- Small Greenbriar
- Pittosporum
- English Ivy
- Laurustinus (also known as Viburnum)
💡 Also consider collecting pine cones, acorns, grains, or other small dried berries throughout the year, which you can then spray paint with gold or silver. This will create beautiful and very affordable natural decor for your home.
Plants to Buy at the Store 🌷
- Bulbs: Hyacinths, Amaryllis
- Hellebore (also known as Christmas Rose)
- Christmas Cactus
- Poinsettia (also known as Christmas Star)
- Foliage: Pistachio (also known as Mastic), Eucalyptus…
Decorating with Preserved Plants 🌹
Finally, if you dream of a decoration that is both elegant and long-lasting, you’ll surely find what you need with preserved flowers and foliage. Through a chemical process conducted in a laboratory, they retain their freshness and vibrancy for many years.
Among these plants, the most iconic and trendy are definitely eternal roses. You can find all the shades of roses you love, as well as unique colors like blue and purple.
For a unique table setting, you can choose our illuminated eternal roses under a cloche. Protected by the cloche, your roses will be safe from stains, which is quite convenient during a meal!
You now know everything you need to create a stunning Christmas table. Feel free to take inspiration from the ideas presented in this article to design a decoration that you love and that reflects your style…